How travel saved a woman from Covid anxiety
(Image credit: Kimberly Davis)
With a former medical scare and prolonged isolation due to the Covid pandemic, Kimberly Davis’ mental health was deteriorating – until a friend offered her a vacation to France.
D
Despite her nervousness and panic attacks, British resident Kimberly Davis went from her apartment for nearly two years to getting on a plane and heading to France. For her, the trip alone was a huge step forward. However, once there, she was able to face her fears one step at a time by doing things like sitting on the beach, enjoying ice cream, and dining out. She began to notice that all of her senses were completely heightened, and in the end the experience had changed the way she coped with Covid.
“The vacation really invigorated me. It changed my life. It was essential for my mental health,” she said. “I’m starting to slowly reintegrate myself into the life that I missed so much… So, I think this trip saved me.”
How Travel Can Improve Mental Health
For more on this story and others, watch The BBC Travel Show – every weekend on BBC News Channel and BBC World News.
If you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter called “The Essential List”. A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Culture, Worklife and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday.