Travelling with Schizophrenia: Essential Considerations Before I Go

When travelling with schizophrenia, ensuring your safety (and enjoyment!) can take some key considerations. Lesley McCuaig explores five challenges she's faced during travel and how she manages them, including brief increases in symptoms, needing to adjust to new routines, and the obstacles when looking for travel insurance.

Travelling across the country to visit friends and family is one of my favourite things. I cherish the adventure and the opportunity to reconnect with loved ones.

Yet, for someone with schizophrenia or other severe mental illnesses, travel can be particularly challenging. It's not something I undertake lightly.

5 considerations to prepare for travelling with schizophrenia

Travel is often romanticised, but it comes with hidden costs, especially for those managing schizophrenia. Beyond the financial burden, there are significant disruptions to sleep and medication regimens.

The stress of new environments, including unfamiliar sights, sounds, and foods, can make potential complications – like a psychotic episode - even more daunting.

1. Managing changed sleep and rest schedules

Sleep is crucial for everyone, but it is even more vital for managing schizophrenia.

When you hear auditory hallucinations all day, every day, 365 days a year, you get very tired of hearing noise. Without adequate rest when travelling, these hallucinations can become more intrusive. And, because of the constant noise of my hallucinations, I tire more quickly than the average person. Fatigue and stress from travelling add to this strain, making it harder to maintain the stability needed to manage my condition.

2. Medical adherence and time zone challenges

When I’m travelling from Nova Scotia to British Columbia, the latter being my favourite destination, it introduces a 3- to 4-hour time difference. 

This change affects my medication schedule and sleep habits, which are critical for keeping symptoms under control. Setting alarms to remind me to take my medications can help ease this transition.

Likewise, stress from travel can exacerbate psychosis symptoms. Although I don't travel abroad often, a trip to Northern Ireland is in the works. This separation from my familiar surroundings—home, culture, and country—adds another layer of challenge. 

Planning ahead to adjust my medication regime with my doctor’s guidance and maintain a healthy sleep schedule is essential. Understanding how travel may affect my schizophrenia is key when planning a trip.

3. Finding travel insurance for schizophrenia

Travel insurance for schizophrenia (i.e., insurance that covers a pre-existing mental health condition) also provides a necessary safety net if I experience a psychotic episode or other related health issues on a trip.

However, many travel insurance plans may not cover mental health conditions, pre-existing or otherwise, as standard. You may need to search for specialised brokers with a plan that covers psychiatric care.

For travel insurance companies that will cover pre-existing mental health conditions, you may be assessed as a "high-risk" customer. This means the company thinks you will be more likely to make a claim due to your schizophrenia (or any other mental illness), prescribed medication, or treatment. In such cases, the insurer may charge you a higher premium.

When applying for insurance, please read the policies carefully, answer everything as truthfully as possible, and be patient. In some instances, an insurance company may reject your request and not give an adequate answer as to why. Though this can be frustrating and upsetting, don't give up on your trip or consider paying for insurance without the correct coverage.

In other instances, you may be asked to provide further information from your doctor with a doctor's report. Insurers cannot access your medical records without your consent, and they will need your written permission to contact your GP. If you refuse permission, they can legally deny your insurance request. However, if a company asks for full access to your medical records as a condition for providing insurance (a subject access request or SAR), that is against the law.

Finally, it's essential to read the small print. Some companies will say they offer mental health coverage but won't cover pre-existing mental health conditions like diagnosed schizophrenia. It's an easy thing to overlook, so keep this in mind when comparing insurers.

The Association of British Insurers offers an in-depth resource for seeking travel insurance when living with a mental health condition. The mental health charity Mind provides a specialist insurer guide with useful contacts.

4. Adapting to a new routine without my dog

At home, my dog provides emotional support and a stabilising routine. While my dog isn't a registered emotional support animal (ESA), my responsibility for her ensures that I also get a good sleeping, eating, and exercise schedule. Separation from them during travel can be stressful, as it disrupts my regular daily routine, and I miss the companionship.

Thankfully, technology means it’s easy to check up on my pet. Staying in regular touch with the dog sitter and receiving text, video call, and picture updates on my phone helps alleviate some stress.

5. Adjusting to new environments

When I travel to British Columbia, my auditory hallucinations usually increase for the first few days of the trip. But this is a familiar pattern, so I don’t panic. My flare-up of symptoms will diminish as I adjust to the new time zone and routine.

If my symptoms escalate during a trip, I return to the basics: eat well, sleep well, exercise, and take my medication on schedule.

If these measures are insufficient, I seek medical help from the nearest healthcare provider.

Remaining patient during this adjustment period helps me manage symptoms a lot better.

Final considerations

So, to sum up, here are my key considerations before travelling with schizophrenia:

·       How I’ll adjust my treatment and sleep schedule accordingly

·       Where I’ll find travel insurance that covers pre-existing mental health conditions

·       Plan for the temporary absence of my dog and their companionship

·       Manage stress, which can intensify auditory hallucinations

My friends and family often support me through mental health challenges on a trip. They help with emotional support, medication management, and finding local healthcare resources.

I love the anticipation and excitement of travel. If I plan carefully and keep to my routines, the benefits often outweigh the difficulties.

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© 2023 Life Effects by Teva Pharmaceuticals

The individual(s) who have written and created the content in and whose images appear in this article have been paid by Teva Pharmaceuticals for their contributions. This content represents the opinions of the contributor and does not necessarily reflect those of Teva Pharmaceuticals. Similarly, Teva Pharmaceuticals does not review, control, influence or endorse any content related to the contributor's websites or social media networks. This content is intended for informational and educational purposes and should not be considered medical advice or recommendations. Consult a qualified medical professional for diagnosis and before beginning or changing any treatment regimen​.

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Date of preparation: October 2024
D: COB-GB-NP-00525 (V1.0) / T: COB-GB-NP-00527 (V1.0) / M: COB-GB-NP-00526 (V1.0)