- Andrea McKenna Brankin is an American mother who lives in Singapore with her husband and daughter.
- She has bipolar disorder and finds traveling between the US and Asia stressful.
- Lavender oil, exercise, and Harry Potter all helped reduce stress during the trip.
I was at the airport and there was a line at the entrance to the jetway. We had already experienced some delays and were nervous. Will I miss a connection? Is there enough headroom for my bag? Will the water come out? These questions plagued me for what seemed like an eternity until I finally heard the announcement that I would soon be boarding. I breathed a sigh of relief when the airline made boarding instructions for people with disabilities. The check-in agent looked at me questioningly, but my disability was invisible.
Traveling can be stressful for anyone, but it's even more stressful for me as someone with bipolar disorder. External stressors such as delays or disgruntled passengers make this condition even more difficult to deal with. But she has had to learn how to deal with this issue, especially since her husband and I moved from Chicago to Singapore 12 years before her. I travel between the US and Asia at least twice a year, and I travel to both parts of the US and Southeast Asia. The duration of these flights ranges from her 90 minutes to almost 20 hours.
According to the World Health Organization, bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that affects more than 40 million people worldwide. This condition is characterized by extreme mood swings between depression and mania, which can affect behavior, especially in high-stress environments.
I take various medications to control these unstable symptoms such as anxiety and paranoia. Medications are needed every day, so they are always first on my packing list. This is the first of several challenges I've identified over the years.
We strive to avoid drug accidents.
When you travel, you should carry enough medication to last you for the duration of your trip, plus additional medication in case you are delayed. Many of my trips are long-term and can require a lot of space, especially to the US. Short or long, it is important for me to carry a letter to customs written and signed by a psychiatrist.
The letter will tell you what my medication is, the dosage, and the reason for taking it in case I stop taking it. This is because it has been pointed out that mood-altering drugs called psychotropic drugs are illegal without a prescription. Many countries, including Singapore and the United States, have strict laws regarding the entry of these types of medicines.
I am able to plan ahead in the best way possible, always packing a letter in my carry-on, carrying at least an additional two weeks worth of medication, and making sure my doctor is on call in case I need more. did.
Being bipolar and being a mother adds added stress
Traveling with children can be stressful. Full stop. Other travelers don't want to be around you when you cry, airline staff get tired of having to do more for you, and you yourself get little rest. With bipolar disorder, these challenges increase exponentially, as stress, especially with others, is a real trigger.
More than once, as a traveling mother, I have been treated poorly. The most incredible part was when the flight attendant handed me a large garbage bag and told me it was for the baby's diaper. “So should I leave the diaper in this bag on the seat?” I asked. He explained that leaving diapers in the toilet would be a nuisance to other passengers. I was sitting in business class when this incident happened, and I handed her back her bag and said, “Please talk to her husband about this. Her husband will pay for the business class ticket.'' “I did.”
I pack essentials like extra diapers, toys, headphones, snacks, clothes, and more to make sure I'm well-prepared as a mom to get through this part of the flight. On one nightmarish flight, I ended up caring for my daughter every 10 minutes for 14 hours. But as my child grows, she's almost 12 years old, her travels are getting easier. Just being able to control her own device and her seat TV has made all the difference in her situation.
Preparing to travel with bipolar disorder means eating well, getting plenty of rest, and exercising before your trip. According to Healthline, when you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which are also said to fight stress. We will also check to see if your medication and symptoms are appropriate. I'll be bringing lots of lavender oil and skin care products for inhalation so I can do some self-care along the way.
Spending quality time with family is worth the effort
One of the biggest challenges overall when traveling with bipolar disorder is jet lag. It throws off your biological rhythms, sleep, eating, and medication schedules. My prescription includes daytime and nighttime medications, so it took me a while to figure out how and when to take each as I crossed the International Date Line. I now focus on taking night time medications and sometimes double the dose of mood stabilizers.
I don't use sleeping pills, but I take melatonin a few days before a long flight and continue as long as needed after I arrive. My family tried all different flight times to make things easier for me, from arriving at dawn to arriving at 9pm, to see which worked better. Honestly, there is no perfect time. However, if you take care of yourself before your trip, you can usually start your vacation in a better mental and physical state.
I rely heavily on distractions to help me sleep or not. I can't read books, but I watch movies, especially Harry Potter. When downloaded to your phone or your seat TV, the Harry Potter series includes over 15 hours of his 7 movies. This will take you almost from Singapore to San Francisco. The prank was managed.
When you have bipolar disorder, you constantly face daily challenges, whether you're in the air or on the ground. But I think I'm handling it pretty well. The ultimate goal is to be with family and that is always worth striving for.
Do you have a personal essay you would like to share about living or raising children abroad? Contact the editor: akarplus@businessinsider.com.
