- Andrea McKenna Brankin is an American mother living 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 have helped her reduce travel stress.
I was at the airport and there were lines at the entrance to the runway. There were already a few delays and I was getting nervous. Will I miss my connection? Will there be enough overhead space for my bags? Will they supply water? These questions plagued me for an eternity until I finally heard the announcement that we would be boarding soon. When the airline called for disabled boarding, I felt a sigh of relief. Although the check-in person looked at me quizzically — my disability is invisible.
Traveling can be stressful for anyone, but even more so for me as I have bipolar disorder. External stressors such as delays and even grumpy passengers make coping with the condition much more difficult. But it’s something I’ve had to learn to manage, especially since my husband and I moved from Chicago to Singapore 12 years ago. I travel between the US and Asia at least twice a year, along with regional travel in both the States and Southeast Asia. These flights range from 90 minutes to almost 20 hours.
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that affects more than 40 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. The condition is characterized by extreme mood swings between depression and mania and can affect behavior, especially in high-stress environments.
I take various medications to prevent these fluctuations and symptoms – such as severe anxiety and paranoia. I need the medicine every day, so it’s always the first thing on my packing list. This is the first of several challenges I’ve unpacked over the years.
I make an effort to avoid medication accidents
When I travel, I need to carry enough medication to last the entire trip, plus extra in case of delays. Many of my trips are long, especially those to the US, so they can take up a lot of space. Whether it’s short or long, it’s important to me to carry a letter for customs written and signed by my psychiatrist.
The letter describes what my medications are – as well as the dosages and why I’m taking them – in case I’m stopped. That’s because mood-altering drugs – called psychotropics – are marked as illegal without a prescription. Many countries, including Singapore and the US, have strict laws against carrying this type of medication.
I was able to plan ahead as best I could, always packing the letter in my carry-on, carrying enough medication for at least two extra weeks, and having a doctor on call in case I needed more.
Being bipolar and a mother adds another layer of stress
Traveling with kids is stressful. Point. Other passengers don’t want to be around you in case you cry, the airline staff get sick of having to do more for you, and you yourself don’t get much rest at all. These challenges are exponential in bipolar disorder because stress, especially in other people, is a real trigger.
I have been treated poorly as a traveling mom on more than one occasion. The most amazing thing was when a flight attendant handed me a big garbage bag and told me it was for my baby’s diapers. “So I have to keep the diapers in place in this bag?” I asked. She explained that leaving diapers in the bathroom bothered the other passengers. I was sitting in business class when this happened, and I handed her the bag back and said, “Talk to my husband about this. He paid for the business class tickets.”
I manage this part of flying by being very prepared as a mom, with supplies like extra diapers, toys, headphones, snacks, and clothes. A nightmare flight left me tending to my daughter every 10 minutes for 14 hours. But as my child grows – she’s almost 12 – the journey gets easier. Just being able to control her own devices and TV in the seat was a game changer.
Being prepared for traveling with bipolar disorder means eating well and getting plenty of rest and exercise before your trip. The body releases endorphins when you exercise, and it’s also said to fight stress, according to Healthline. I also make sure my meds and symptoms are okay. I carry lavender oil to inhale as well as lots of skin care products to take care of myself on the go.
Quality time spent with family is worth all the trouble
One of the biggest overall challenges of traveling with bipolar disorder is jet lag. It messes up your biorhythms, your sleep, your nutrition, and your medication schedule. Since my prescription includes day and night medications, it took me a while to figure out how and when to take each when crossing the international date. Now I focus on taking the night meds and sometimes double up on the mood stabilizers.
I don’t use sleeping pills, but I do take melatonin a few days before a long flight and continue for as long as needed after I arrive. My family tried different flight times to make it easier for me, from arriving at dawn to arriving at 9pm to see what worked best. Honestly, there is no perfect time. But if I take good care of myself before the trip, I’m usually mentally and physically in a good place to start my vacation.
Whether I can sleep or not, I rely heavily on distractions. I fail to read books, but I watch movies, especially Harry Potter. Downloaded to my phone or the TV on the seat, the Harry Potter series includes seven films with more than 15 hours of viewing time. That pretty much takes me all the way from Singapore to San Francisco. Mischief managed.
Having bipolar disorder always presents daily challenges, whether I’m in the air or on the ground. But I think I’m doing pretty well. The ultimate goal is to be with my family and that is always worth the effort.
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