Anxiety is not the best travelling companion, but for some of us, we can't decide to leave it at home for the week. I'm leaving the safety of my bed in six days to travel to my dream holiday spot, New York City, where I will be spending my 18th birthday (!!!). Even though this all sounds amazing, when you have anxiety travelling can stop you from enjoying the holiday to it's fullest potential. So, I have compiled a small list of ways to help you lower your anxiety levels a little, before you arrive and when you have reached your destination.

Tips for Flying:

1. Be organised.

Make sure you have an A4 wallet or small folder in your bag where you keep all the documents you will need to show, passports, boarding passes and even doctors notes. This way when you are running to the gate to catch your plane (Home Alone 2 style), you won't be scrabbling frantically in your bag to find your ticket - you will have it all ready.

2. Get there early.

At airports you don't really have any other option, they like you to check in hours before boarding, but I would recommend being a little early to everything. The worst thing for a worrier is being late.

3. Prepare for the flight.

You're allowed a bag on the plane with you, make the most out of it. Pack a pillow to help you sleep, an iPod with a playlist of your favourite songs or even a book of crosswords to take your mind of the fact that you still don't really understand how planes work.

Exploring the place:

1. Knowing what your doing.

Personally, my anxiety is helped by being super organised and knowing what I will be doing each day. Before you leave make a list of all the places you want to visit, work out which of those attractions are closest together and how long you might spend there. This will help you to plan you days and you don't wake up in a panic, not knowing what you're doing. However, don't over plan, if you try to organise it by the hour something will go wrong, inevitably, causing more unnecessary stress, don't worry if things don't go exactly to plan. (Leave a spare day towards the end which you will be able to fill with the things you missed, or just wandering around and eating).

2. Find your escape.

When your on holiday (especially in a city) the days will be long and busy, so try and find a nice, small place, where you can relax and have a few minutes to yourself. Whether it's a small coffee shop, a library or your hotel room, have somewhere you can escape to when thing's get a bit too much.

3. Know your limits.

When you feel yourself becoming anxious or panicky you need to recognise that and get yourself out of that situation. Don't let it built to an anxiety or panic attack, which could ruin your day. Try not to push yourself too far, and if you wake up feeling anxious know that maybe you shouldn't go too far out of your comfort zone today.

4. HAVE FUN

Holidays are meant for relaxing and exploring. Even though both of those can be hard for people with anxiety, you can't let it stop you having the time of your life. Buy silly gifts for your friends and take loads of photos, just have a great time.

P.S

When packing plan your outfits, look up the weather for your holidays, think through what you're taking and make sure you will be comfortable. But also remember that you're not going to know anyone there so be adventurous, wear the dress in the back of your cupboard you've been saving for a special occasion. This is your special occasion, wear it!