Hodophobia - The Fear of Travel

What Is Hodophobia? Hodophobia is an intense, irrational fear of travelling. Individuals coping with this phobia may limit travel, away from their home, to a certain distance or amount of time. Other hodophobic people fear certain forms of transportation and will not travel by boat or airplane, for example.

People impacted by Hodophobia may fear that they will become lost while travelling. In the example of specific forms of transportation, the individual may fear a loss of control while travelling.

Hodophobia derives from the Greek word "hodos", meaning path and "phobos" meaning fear.

What Causes Hodophobia?

As is the case with all phobias, the person impacted by Hodophobia has experienced a real-life trauma. That traumatic experience is then associated with travel or with travel via a specific mode of transportation.

Perhaps the hodophobic person has an underlying, undiagnosed physical condition that results in vertigo when travelling. Maybe this individual simply has severe motion sickness. Maybe, as a child, the person impacted by this phobia, became lost or separated from parents while travelling. Possibly this person's parents never travelled, preferring to stay at home. In this example, the hodophobic person would have simply learned imitate the responses of others.

Whatever the cause, the hodophobic person can experience anxiety and emotional turmoil that is completely disruptive to their ability to function.

What Are the Symptoms Of Hodophobia?

The symptoms of Hodophobia are individual and will vary from person to person. Some people, when confronted with their fear of travel, may begin to perspire, feel slightly uncomfortable or become nauseated. At the opposite end of the spectrum, other people are so severely compromised by this phobia, that they may experience paralyzing anxiety and/or panic attacks.

Other symptoms of Hodophobia may include:

* A Dry Mouth

* Heightened Senses

* Breathlessness

* Feeling Dizzy

* Muscle Tension

* Hyperventilation

* Trembling

* Rapid Heartbeat

* Feeling Out of Control

* Feeling Trapped and Unable to Escape

* Intense Feeling of Impending Disaster

How Is Hodophobia Diagnosed?

The vast majority of cases of Hodophobia are self-diagnosed. The individual realizes that their fear of travel is irrational and is severely compromising their ability to function on a daily basis.

The hodophobic person may discuss their phobia with the primary physician. Rarely would the doctor diagnosis Hodophobia based on that initial discussion with the patient. More routinely, after ruling out any medical reason for this phobia, the doctor will refer the person to a mental health professional for comprehensive assessment and evaluation.

How Is Hodophobia Treated?

When the fear of travel becomes so intense as to disrupt an individual's ability to function, there are a number of ways to treat Hodophobia.

These can include:

* A referral from the primary physician to a therapist who specializes in the treatment of phobias.

* Traditional "talk" therapy that will teach the person to recognize and control their phobia.

* Hypnotherapy.

* Exposure Therapy.

* Self-help techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation.

* Support groups with other people who are coping with this specific phobia.

* Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Desensitization Therapy.

* Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and visualization.

* In severe cases of Hodophobia, anti-anxiety medication can be prescribed.

Hodophobia is an intense, irrational fear of travel. Sometimes that fear can become so overwhelming as to completely stop a person's ability to function on a daily basis. Unchecked, Hodophobia can become a debilitating condition that interferes with an individual's personal life, their social life and their job responsibilities. Untreated, Hodophobia can impact every aspect of a person's life.