i am travel addict

Travel Addiction Is Real

By Eliot Stein

Ever since humans first created maps , we’ve had a compulsion to fill them in. Our desire to see what lies beyond that distant peak, that vast sea, or this planet is an essential part of who we are, and studies show that our inherent wanderlust can also make us smarter , happier , and more creative .

But is it possible to overdose on too much of a good thing? Can this natural instinct to see and better understand the world actually spill over into a legitimate addiction?

“The short answer is yes, it's possible,” says Dr. Michael Brein, a social psychologist who specializes in travel and intercultural communication. “But figuring out what causes it is incredibly complicated.”

It’s a question that’s been puzzling experts since 1886, when a French gas-fitter named Jean-Albert Dadas wandered into a hospital in Bordeaux. After deserting the French army five years earlier, the “pathological tourist” relentlessly crisscrossed Europe on foot for five years, reaching Berlin , Prague, Moscow, and Constantinople before succumbing to exhaustion. By the time Dadas arrived in Bordeaux, he had no memory of his travels.

After treating Dadas for several weeks, psychiatrists sought to explain his extreme version of the travel bug with a diagnosable condition: “dromomania."

Sometimes called “vagabond neurosis,” the term was officially added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as an “impulse-control disorder” and “psychiatric problem” in 2000. The definition states: “sufferers have an abnormal impulse to travel; they are prepared to spend beyond their means, sacrifice jobs, lovers, and security in their lust for new experiences.”

“Travel addiction is much more psychological [than biochemical],” Dr. Brein says. “Like anything, if you let it overwhelm you, it can have serious effects on other aspects of your life.”

If you make it your life’s mission to go to obscure towns and territories like Aargau, Zug, and everywhere in between, does that bring you closer to knowing the world or take you further from reality?

While no one (that we know of) has blacked out on a multi-year odyssey since Dadas’s epic trance, the term “dromomania” has recently reemerged as a common way to describe and diagnose a new breed of extreme wanderers: competitive travelers. Fueled by time, money, and compulsion, competitive travelers dedicate their lives to going—literally—everywhere. Sometimes called “country collectors” or “tickers,” they've carved the world into an endless jigsaw puzzle of cities , provinces, regions, territories, atolls, oblasts, and impossibly remote volcanic specks, and race around the globe accumulating places the way other people collect stamps. What drives them is somewhat paradoxical: They’re on a quest to “know” the world, and to keep score while doing it.

Today, between sites like Most Traveled People , The Best Travelled , and Shea’s ISO List that keep a running tally of each collector’s territory total, there are more than 30,000 humans actively competing to be crowned the world’s most traveled person. It’s a fascinating case study: If you make it your life’s mission to go to obscure towns and territories like Aargau, Zug, and everywhere in between, does that bring you closer to knowing the world or take you further from reality?

“I know a lot of these people, and you can just tell that they’re not right. They can’t stop and are willing to risk everything in life to travel,” says Lee Abbamonte, who, at 32, became the youngest American to visit every country . “Just go down the lists and you’ll see a lot of people who have lost their spouses, their fortunes, and even their houses.”

One such person was John Clouse, a trial lawyer from Indiana who held the title of “World’s Most Traveled Man” in the Guinness World Record book before the company decided the category was too subjective and discontinued it. When a rival closed in on Clouse’s record, he famously declared, “This title cost me six marriages, and I don’t intend to surrender my sword lightly!”

Dr. Brein says that he’s known people so desperate to continue traveling that they’ve ended up in foreign prisons after engaging in illegal activity to fund their journeys. Yet, only a tiny fraction of travelers he’s encountered actually have an impulse-control addiction reminiscent of dromomania.

So, what’s keeping the rest of these self-described “travel addicts” from pumping the brakes?

“Well, once you realize that the experience of travel is extremely rewarding and unlike anything else, the more you want to keep doing it,” Dr. Brein says. “It’s a kaleidoscope of new sights, sounds, and experiences at every turn, and successfully navigating these unfamiliar situations is the best way for a person to achieve the higher-level needs found in Maslow’s pyramid .”

Travel is an escape, but it shouldn't only be an escape.

In other words, the addiction some backpackers, digital nomads, and 3.5 million Instagram #traveladdicts claim is likely just a learned behavioral response to the emotional fulfillment travel offers.

As Dr. Brein explains, in reference to Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs, most people subconsciously organize their daily lives to be as predictable, easy, and stress-free as possible in order to achieve the basic human needs of safety and survival. The longer you maintain these routines though, the more you limit potential opportunities, rewards, and personal growth. Escaping this environment and challenging yourself not only feels exhilarating, but it also helps you experience the needs of accomplishment and self-actualization found at the top of the pyramid.

“Travel is an escape, but it shouldn’t only be an escape,” Dr. Brein cautions. “You can only do it so much.”

It makes perfect sense. So much of why travel is rewarding and special is because it’s a physical and psychological escape from your routine. But once travel becomes routine, the less exciting each trip feels and the more you may long to return home—as Abbamonte was doing when we spoke.

These days, when he’s not running his own business or planning an upcoming trip to climb the Vinson Massif in Antarctica , Abbamonte advises younger travelers about the risks and rewards of the road.

“Whenever someone asks me how feasible it is to quit your job, leave your home, and travel full-time, I tell them, ‘Don’t even think about it,’” Abbamonte says. “It’s a slippery slope to madness.”

41 Signs You Are a Travel Addict

The travel bug. Chances are if you’re on this website, you’ve got it (or will soon). If you’re always dreaming of far-flung adventures, pining for a change of scenery, or incessantly adding things to your Bucket List then I have some news for you: you are a travel addict.

And there is no cure.

Once you are infected with the travel bug, it never leaves your system. It only gets worse. You’re going to be hooked for life!

But that’s ok because you’re not alone! I have the bug – and everything I do revolves around travel. Travel is always on my mind, and I’m constantly planning my next trip. Sound familiar?

In case you’re worried you might be infected with the travel bug, here are some signs you might be a travel addict too:

You start all your stories with “When I was in…..”

You’re always asking friends to go on trips.

You’ve watched everything related to travel on Netflix.

Anthony Bourdain will always be your spirit animal. (RIP)

You’ve also seen every episode of No Reservations and Parts Unknown.

You read guidebooks for fun.

You plan trips you will never take.

Google Flights is your homepage.

You’ve signed up for every flight deal newsletter in the world.

You always ask people “Where are you from?” even when you can tell by their accent.

You wear flip-flops in the shower.

You take toilet paper everywhere you go out of habit.

Google Translate and XE Currency Converter are two of your most-used apps.

You have more than one currency in your wallet (just in case).

You keep a packed suitcase handy.

You have a travel playlist on your iPod.

You speak in airport codes, not city names.

You have more SIM cards than you can count.

You can tell where people have been by the cheesy logos and sayings on their shirts. (Same Same = Thailand, Yellow Star = Vietnam)

You have elite flyer status on multiple airlines.

You attend travel conferences multiple times a year.

You don’t have paintings on the wall — you have maps.

If you haven’t been anywhere in a few months, you get the shakes.

You can breeze through airport security with your eyes closed.

You spend two hours each day reading travel blogs and travel websites.

You subscribe to multiple travel magazines.

No matter how often you travel, your bucket list is always getting longer, not shorter.

When you think of prices, you value things in terms of how many days in your next destination it costs. “That TV is 10 days in Paris! Let’s get this one — it’s only 5 days!”

You don’t do cashback. You do points.

You have a collection of luggage tags that have been gifted by friends and family over the holiday.

You pretend you are a travel writer.

When people ask you about your hobbies, all your answers contain the word “travel.”

Some people cry when they leave home. You cry when you have to go back.

When people ask you your profession, you say vagabond.

You filled your first passport before the first year was over.

You have trips planned for next decade — just for fun.

You keep your used guidebooks in your bookcase as a badge of honor.

You have a map tattooed somewhere on your body.

You plan your next trip while on a current trip.

People you haven’t spoken to since kindergarten randomly message you on Facebook asking you for advice about their upcoming trip.

You write a travel addict post.  

Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner . It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld . If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

• SafetyWing (best for everyone)
• Insure My Trip (for those 70 and over)
• Medjet (for additional evacuation coverage)

Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.

Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.

Hi, I’m Nomadic Matt, the New York Times best-selling author of How to Travel the World on $50 a Day and Ten Years a Nomad, as well as the founder of this website! And I’m here to help you save money on your next trip.

Got a comment on this article? Join the conversation on Facebook , Instagram , or Twitter and share your thoughts!

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above may be affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I earn a commission if you make a purchase. I recommend only products and companies I use and the income goes to keeping the site community supported and ad free.

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TWENTY SIGNS YOU ARE A TRAVEL ADDICT

It has been ten years since my travel obsession started. I wasn’t brought up in a family where we travelled to far flung destinations on a regular basis. I am still trying to figure out where the travel addict in me has come from. Since leaving university, I have been working as a nurse in the UK.

It’s such a great job to have because it fits in so well with travelling. Bunching long shifts together allows for a straight run of days off, meaning I have travelled extensively without quitting my job. In truth, I wasn’t too keen on having kids young. I honestly thought that would be the end of my lifestyle. I had always thought 35 would be the age we would start a family.

Here we are now aged 33 with two kids that we love and adore (obviously). In true travel addict style, it has been quite the opposite. With two kids under fours years old, I surprised myself in travelling to over 40 countries across six continents with both of them since they were newborns.

As you may already know, I’ve used my maternity to travel twice! Don’t worry I don’t intend on continuously producing off-spring for the sake of a year off work to travel. Two kids is plenty, we have no intentions of being outnumbered.

We are just coming to the end of our gap year and Im taking notes of little things that only someone who is obsessed with travel could relate to. Here are some  signs you are a travel addict !!!!

Passport stamps are like an orgasm ~ I have to admit I get very excited for a new stamp in my passport. I examine it, look at it lovingly and feel very proud to be filling all of the pages. I flick through it more times than I count, reminding myself of the many adventures. This is SO sad!

In Europe, they don’t give you stamps if you have a European passport. I beg them to please give me a stamp! Sometimes they say no, and sometimes they can see its like giving a child candy, so they give in. 

Map obsession ~ Its real, I am absolutely obsessed with maps. There is always one on my wall (when I have a home that is). Everyone buys me gifts that have something to do with maps, wether it is a scratch map to keep track of all my adventures, or a diary with the globe on it. I am forever dreaming of adventures to new places and taking screen shots of continents to examine on my phone.

You always have a holiday booked ~ Is it totally ridiculous that I haven’t even got home from my year away and I am already booking flights? Despite my credit card being maxed out? It feels wrong not having something booked, I literally can’t help myself.

SIGNS YOU ARE A TRAVEL ADDICT

You pack like a pro ~ I honestly look at people with multiple suitcases and think what the hell have you got in that? I can’t understand why people overpack. This has become even more pertinent since having kids.

I have to carry a kid on my back usually, so, there is no way I am dragging lots of extra stuff around. I love a packing cube, a vacuum bag, a light weight towel, I have all the gadgets to pack like a pro!

Air miles guru  ~ I have the credit card, the companion vouchers, I know every trick and trade to do with air miles. If there is anything that can assist with getting free or discounted flights, I know about it. Cheap skate or air miles guru? Hmmmm

It’s not a holiday ~ I find people often confuse the word holiday and travel. I mean that doesn’t bother me. However, for me, the two have a different meaning. A holiday is about relaxation and unwinding. Whereas travel is not always relaxing, its about seeing and doing as much as possible.

Experiencing the culture and getting into the community! My dad often says to me “you are on a permanent holiday”. If only he could experience how much hard work it is to take a 24 hour bus across Peru, to catch a flight, and then a taxi to see Machu Picchu. You get me?

You have friends all over the world ~ My friends are literally sprawled all over the place. Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, UK and Ireland to name a few. My bestie is Ethiopian, married to a Swedish man and our wedding had people from just about everywhere.

We have met so many good friends from travelling. The hardest part is not seeing them all regularly. That is the only downfall. Otherwise its pretty nice to have a place to stay in so many countries. Oh and did I mention my husband is from New Zealand and I am from Ireland? Literally opposite ends of the planet!

You prefer experiences rather than gifts ~ Talking of friends and family, they all know not to buy us physical gifts. Experiences are everything. My parents bought me Ryaniar vouchers for every birthday and Christmas throughout my twenties. It meant I have seen almost every country in Europe. Only Andorra left!

You don’t watch movies on the aeroplane ~ We already mentioned map obsessions. Is it just me, or do you consistently watch the aeroplane GPS map?

Your wallet is full of random currency ~ I just looked in my wallet. I found GBP, NZD, Argentinian and Indonesian money. If it’s not in the wallet, I’m always finding it in random places around the house.

Your a sunset and sunrise chaser ~  I see jet lag as an opportunity to see the sun rise! I am never ordinarily out of the bed at that time, so why not? Travel is all about the sunrise and sunset over beautiful landscapes. We have some of our fondest memories of travelling. Wether its a beer on the beach in the evening with the glowing orange sky, or an early morning trek to the top of a temple in Angkor Wat.

Travel envy is real ~  Despite sitting in Bali, a dream destination for most, I still look at Instagram and think oh my godddd I want to go there!!

You can name the capitals of most countries ~ Maybe its from map staring, or layovers in weird and wonderful places, but naming the capitals of a country is a strong point for any travel addict.

Travel partners are important ~  When picking my life partner, a mutual love of travel was one of my highest priorities. Of course, hubby has lots of other amazing qualities, but I feel so lucky that he is on board with adventure, and even more so that he sees it as an education for our kids! 

You love photography ~  Although I love to think I am present in the moment of new experiences, we love capturing everything on video our in a photo. We have lots of equipment and its one of the few things we are materialistic about. Photos are one of our most prized possessions.

Kids won’t stop you ~  Being a parent travel blogger, its only right to finish off with this one. Kids won’t stop anyone that loves travelling. On a personal level, I wanted my kids to be a reflection of me, so, we just incorporated them into our way of life. 

Does this post about being a travel addict resonate with you? Leave comment, I would love to hear from you.

You may also like:

Five ways a child can enhance your travel experience 

Sunday 6th of January 2019

Every SINGLE one! ?

Friday 4th of January 2019

Yes! I can relate to all of them! Fun post!

I thought I was the only weirdo who checks the GPS map in the airplane all the time ?

Wednesday 9th of May 2018

This is spot on! You could have been writing about me lol

Saturday 5th of May 2018

Yes to all! Except the kids thing... don’t have those :) But that shot of you all at Machu Picchu is just incredible!

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Depressed After a Trip? Travel Addiction is a Real Thing

(Photo: Thinkstock)

My name is Maggie Parker, and I am a travel addict.

Many people say they are addicted to travel, but the difference between being a travel fanatic and being a travel addict lies in what happens when you return home. When I get home from a trip, I come down so hard it’s as if I spent a week on cocaine or ecstasy (I imagine).

I enter into hibernation, where I don’t leave my house for a week, claiming I need to “recover” from the exhausting trip I just had, but in truth it’s a lot more than that. I feel like I’m in a black hole and I cry a lot. About what, I couldn’t tell you — it’s different after each trip. I miss the people I met, the culture I learned about, the things I did. I need to get back on a plane again soon, even though I wouldn’t be going back to the place I’m missing or to see the same people. I just need to feel that high again. When I am finally back on the road, I get that high automatically. No matter where I am and who I’m with, I’m in my element and it feels like I’m soaring high above that black hole that is waiting for me at home. There are times, however, when I feel that I’m just on a trip to satisfy my craving for travel and discovery, and that I’m not actually there for any other reason. I’m just going through the motions of travel and discovery so that I can get my fix.

The author traveling through Koh Samui, Thailand. (Photo: Maggie Parker)

Related: I Lost My Home and My Marriage So I Climbed Kilimanjaro Solo

But is travel addiction a real thing?

After a trip do you just want to be alone? (Photo: Thinkstock)

“It can be an addiction. Whether this is a medical condition depends primarily on how it affects your life,” explains Dr. Art Markman , a cognitive science specialist. “If the lows you experience after travel are so bad that you can’t really function in the rest of your life, then you want to get some help to deal with it. If you have to travel in ways that eat into the budget you need for life’s necessities, then that is a sign you should get some help.” On the other hand, he says, “if you don’t feel that your life is unmanageable, despite your real need to travel, then you are probably just at the extreme end of a continuum that includes lots of travelers.”

Sarah Bentley, a 28 year old former travel agent, explained that she feels the anxiety hit while she’s still traveling. “It almost impedes my trip because as my departure nears, my stomach forms knots and my mood completely shifts,” Bentley said. “I start to shut down before I get home, as a means to prepare myself I guess,” she adds, “which actually just makes the first week back even worse. By the time I’m leaving, the anxiety is so bad that I cry the entire flight back and am usually physically ill by the time I get home, with nothing to blame but my mental state. The next week involves a lot of anger and frustration.”

Many academic studies address compulsive travel as a “behavioral addiction.” There are three elements to a compulsive behavior that make it a behavioral addiction, according to a study on compulsive consumption: a drive or urge to engage in the particular behavior, denial of the harmful consequences of the behavior, and failure in attempts to modify the behavior.

Related: 67 and Dumped — a Woman on Her Own in Rome

Travel addicts are ready for anything, even if it might be harmful (Photo: Getty Images)

Travel addicts feel an intense urge to travel. There are definitely times when taking a trip can be harmful in more ways than one (think terrorism, environmental effects, monetary restraints), but we still hop on a plane, mostly because we are in denial of the negative effects travel might have on our lives. The terms “dromomania,” “hypermobility,” and “binge-flying” have all been coined by researchers and authors to unofficially to describe an addiction to travel.

Related: I Moved to Singapore and Changed My Life

(Photo: Getty Images)

Why do travel addicts feel so depressed when they get home? I am extremely happy with my home life; I love my job, my friends, and my lifestyle. Plus, I travel every other month. So if I have no reason to dread coming home, why are those first few days after a trip so miserable for me? “It seems that after you finish traveling, you find it hard to engage any other goals,” Markman says. “You have planned a trip, and you have had a set of wonderful experiences, and now it’s over. The combination of being drained from the trip and having focused your life and preparations on this particular trip make it difficult to really engage any other significant goals. So, for at least a week after, you feel aimless,” he nailed it. “That is actually quite normal,” Markman says. “It is hard to switch gears immediately from a great experience to return to the routine of life. It takes some time to readjust to life after the big event you have planned for.”

According to Markman, the reason travel addicts are never satisfied is because, “Whenever you achieve a goal, there is an initial sense of satisfaction, but quickly your brain looks for something else to do.” Travel is a real “process goal,” Markman says. “There is not a particular outcome you are seeking, but rather a process you love, which in this case is travel planning,” he explains. The problem is that “you expect that the trip itself will have some set of outcomes that will create a sense of completion for you.”

Can travel addicts be cured?

To balance the highs, Markman suggests acknowledging not only that we are addicted to travel, but also that we are addicted to travel planning . “One thing you can do to improve your overall reaction to travel is to recognize that you are excited by the process,” he said. “Accept the fact that there will be no perfect trip that will end your desire to travel, because you are deeply engaged with the process of being a traveler.”

To avoid the low, or just make it go by faster, Markman suggests having a plan for when you get home. “Ahead of time, assign yourself something to do for when you get home (anything that excites you) so that as soon as you have gotten some rest you have another goal to engage.” This will help with that aimless feeling.

In terms of long-term treatment, ask yourself why you are addicted to travel. If it is because you have an insatiable urge to see the world, “then it would be helpful to find ways to align the rest of your life with the thing that brings you joy,” Markman suggests. For example, find a job that allows you to travel. If you are traveling because you have an urge to escape your daily life, “you will need to do some work to understand what you are escaping. Until you address that issue, travel will not be as enjoyable,” Markman warns.

If our daily lives make it impossible to travel whenever we want, we need to find ways to make our daily lives as exciting as our travel lives. Pretend you are traveling in your hometown, try an activity that you would normally try only when traveling, take some day trips, learn to cook exotic foods. There are many ways to make your daily life mirror your travel life so that you can get a little bit of that high that travel gives you without actually traveling.

Related: I Quit My Job to Visit All 50 States in 365 Days

Are there recovered travel addicts out there? (Photo: Getty Images)

After speaking with Markman about how to cope with travel addiction, it occurred to me that if travel addiction were indeed just like any other addiction, there would be recovered addicts out there. I wanted to find one to see what the recovery process was like and if there is a light at the end of the tunnel for us addicts.

Bridget Crocker’s travel addiction began long before she got her first passport stamp. “I escaped an abusive childhood by creating a safe place for myself in my closet,” Crocker reveals. “I pasted the walls of my refuge with glossy pages ripped out of National Geographic , spending hours crouched on the floor plotting my getaway to the African savanna. For me, being far away meant being safe,” the 43-year old memoirist explained. “I landed a job guiding canoe safari trips in Zambia when I was twenty, and left to distance myself from my past.”

Related: Adventure Travel — Finding the Real Zambia

Crocker believed that if she could just find the right place, she would discover who she really was and finally feel comfortable and safe. She continued looking for this “right place” for 12 years. When she stayed put for too long, she would start to feel irritable, discontent, lonely, and disenchanted. “I felt cut-off from the world, like I was missing out on the life I was supposed to be living, an elusive life that was happening somewhere else. I’d fantasize about how my life would improve if I started fresh in a new spot,” Crocker said.

The thrill of boarding the plane was one that never gets old (Photo: Getty Images)

Once Crocker finally got her fix, she felt hopeful again. “I’d feel the thrill of possibility each time I’d board the plane with my new life ahead of me. I felt liberated — like the bars of a cage had fallen away and no one could touch me. With every river guide location change, I thought, ‘This time, I’d find my utopia.’” But she never did, and the glamour of travel started negatively affecting any stable life she did have. “While traveling gave me the space I needed to develop a self outside of my troubled family of origin, it failed to give me the deep sense of belonging that I was desperate to have,” Crocker confirms. “I began to feel increasingly lonely, like a perpetual outsider.”

Crocker began having difficulty making it through a guiding season. She would quit or be fired from jobs before the season was even over.

“I became angry and despondent. I realized that in order to find the peace and sense of well-being I craved, I would have to stop running,” she said. Crocker finally accepted that she had to fix what she was running from in order to find the happiness she was searching for. “I learned how to face uncomfortable emotions instead of distracting myself by running away, never giving myself the opportunity to really heal,” she reveals. Her recovery process required help from mentors, therapists, and 12-step programs. After working through her inner problems in a stable environment, she was able to start traveling again because she was no longer trapped in the cycle of using travel to escape pain.

Related: An Accidental Pilgrimage to Italy Put Life In Perspective

"I’ve developed other tools to move through uncomfortable emotions,” Crocker said.

Travel addiction doesn’t have to be dangerous. Travel addicts should recognize it and adjust their lives and their travel routines so that everything is manageable, and no aspect of their life is suffering, which might require professional help.

“There is nothing inherently dangerous about travel, and so the problems come when you are doing things that get in the way of the rest of your life,” Markman said. “If you can align your obsessions with the rest of your life, it can be quite healthy. Everyone has some need for sensation-seeking. For some people, just going out and seeing friends can satisfy that. Other people need more extreme and risky experiences. For other people, that sensation-seeking may require getting away from everyone and seeing new things, which is where travel comes in.”

Want more like this? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter so that we can inspire you every day.

Maggie Parker is a New York-based journalist specializing in travel and entertainment. Follow her on Twitter @maggie_wp

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Yes it is possible to become addicted to travel

Jan 17, 2019 • 2 min read

Sometimes we travel because we have to; perhaps we need to go to a wedding with relatives who live on the other side of the world or we have meetings in cities that aren't our own. But most travel isn't involuntary. Instead, we travel because we want to or because we want to explore someplace new . Because work is too much and we need an escape . Because we got a good deal on flights. Because we want to see April in Paris .

But is it possible to have too much of a good thing? Can this urge to fill in maps and charter new territory lead to an actual addiction? Is there such a thing as a compulsive urge to wander?

"In rare instances, yes, there is," says Dr Michael Brein, a social psychologist who specialises in travel and intercultural communication. "I know and have met many people, some of whom seemed to live to travel in such a manner that they could conceivably get themselves in trouble, for, say, running out of money."

Dr Brein believes that if travel becomes too much for people, too much a form of escapism that overwhelms a life and all other meaningful pursuits and goals are postponed or ignored until it becomes too late, then travel can be as disruptive as any other addiction.

"Most of us are focused on a variety of life goals like education, careers, companionship, marriage, family formation, and planning for and working for retirement," says Dr Brein. "When these are put on hold—when life itself is put on hold—there is the possibility of responsible living getting derailed, maybe even permanently."

He adds: "It is one thing to put life on hold by endless travelling, but there can be a heavy price to pay."

In 2000, the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) officially added ‘dromomania’ to its list as an "impulse-control disorder" and a "psychiatric problem." Generally speaking, it's classed as an uncontrollable psychological urge to wander. People who suffered from the disorder, it said, had "an abnormal impulse to travel" and were "prepared to spend beyond their means, sacrifice jobs, lovers and security in their lust for new experiences."

Yet, for Dr. Brein only a tiny percentage of travellers he’s met actually have an impulse-control addiction similar to dromomania. Travel is a basic human desire. We're a migratory species. Travel broadens the mind , makes people more open-minded, creative and can improve their lives in a myriad of ways. For Dr Brein, travel is a positive experience and the benefits outweigh any negatives.

"I am more left in awe of the matter, understanding what I do of the psychology of travel and realising just how awesome travel is and how it mostly and mainly benefits us rather than harms us."

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After traveling on business for 30 years, what was I going to do after I sold my company in 2013? Answer: Travel more, but to the off-the-beaten-track and obscure places on planet Earth. After visiting almost 100 countries and living in 5 countries, I officially became a Travel Addict. Today, I am contracted by various Cruise Lines to perform enrichment and educational lectures to passengers on various journeys around the World. A podcast or two will be published from time to time when I am back in my office and of course it will be about travel. Oh, almost forgot. I write travel books - factual and quirky. Check me out at malcolmjteasdale.com.All my guests have an inspiring story to tell. Tune in and be amazed. "Of all the books in the world, the best stories are found between the pages of a passport"

The Travel Addict Malcolm Teasdale (aka The Travel Addict)

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Porn Addiction Signs

Traits in Other People and Questions to Ask Yourself

• Signs in Someone Else
• Signs in Yourself
• Addressing Addiction
• What It Means

Porn has always been a controversial topic—but is consuming porn addictive? There are some signs, such as negative effects on relationships and employment. It is typically treated with therapy.

This article is for anyone wondering if their porn use is crossing the line into addiction and for anyone wondering if someone they care about is experiencing porn addiction. Read on to learn the signs, risk factors and causes, and where to find support for yourself or someone else.

Carlos Barquero / Getty Images

Signs of Porn Addiction in Someone Else

Many people can consume porn without experiencing addiction. Others will experience unwanted or adverse effects from porn consumption. Here are some signs to watch for in someone else. 

A Word From Verywell

A strong indicator of pornography addiction is feeling an unrelenting urge to repeatedly view pornographic images even when doing so interferes with completing daily activities, experiencing emotional distress when unable to satisfy this urge, and struggling to reduce or stop this behavior despite repeated attempts.

Behavioral Effects

It can be hard to tell for certain that behavioral effects are linked to porn addiction in someone else. For example, someone may find ways to consume porn that aren’t always obvious to others. 

Behavioral effects of porn addiction may include:

• Isolating, including staying home from events and social gatherings
• Being secretive about their devices including cell phone, laptop, tablet
• Neglecting relationships and responsibilities
• Denying impact of porn on self and others 
• Lying about or denying porn use
• Job loss due to repeat absences, distracted performance, or consuming porn during work hours 
• Continuing use despite experiencing negative effects 

Emotional Effects

The emotional effects of porn may be even more difficult to see in others. Some examples of emotional effects of porn addiction may include:

• Experiencing discomfort, craving, or unpleasant feelings when trying to stop
• Feeling shame, guilt, or embarrassment about use
• Feeling like porn use is problematic and interfering with everyday life
• Using porn as a way of coping with emotions or as an escape mechanism 

Sexual Effects

Sexual effects of porn addiction vary. Research findings are conflicting. Some common examples are:  

• Feeling performance pressure or performance anxiety when having sex with a partner 
• Sexual or erectile dysfunction
• Spectrum of sexual changes from having less partnered sex to engaging in paid sex or having more sexual partners

Do I Show Signs of Porn Addiction?

More research is needed to fully understand the effects of porn addiction. Some studies suggest consumption of pornography is associated with the following:

• Lower self-esteem
• Lower sexual satisfaction 
• Poorer relationship quality
• Lower sexual quality and sexual intimacy
• Feeling guilt, shame, and/or regret around porn consumption 

Some questions to consider when evaluating your porn use include:

• How do you feel before and after consuming porn?
• Have you tried to stop consuming porn without being able to?
• Are you avoiding responsibilities and obligations in favor of consuming porn?
• Has porn become a problem in an existing relationship?
• Are you engaging in risky use (such as using porn during work hours or in public spaces)?

How to Address a Porn Addiction

Research on how to address an existing porn addiction is lacking. What studies do exist have limitations, meaning it’s hard to draw conclusions about most effective treatments or how to cope.

Psychotherapy 

Several types of psychotherapy may be useful for someone experiencing porn addiction. These include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help with behavior-based changes
• Psychodynamic psychotherapy that explores unconscious processes and is insight-based
• Interpersonal or family and couples therapy

Anonymous Groups

There are many support groups and programs to choose from if you are looking for peer support and understanding for porn addiction. They are all based on the 12-steps of Alcoholics Anonymous , the original "anonymous group." 

Examples of anonymous groups of value for porn addiction are: 

• Sexaholics Anonymous
• Sexual Compulsives Anonymous
• Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous
• Sexual Recovery Anonymous

There are no approved medications for treating porn addiction per se. However, some research suggests selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors ( SSRI antidepressants ) may have some benefits for managing behavioral addictions, including sexual addictions.

Other medications may be used to help relieve symptoms associated with porn addiction or comorbid (co-existing) conditions, including:

• Anxiety disorders
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Mood disorders
• Substance use disorders

Understanding What Porn Addiction Means

Porn addiction is problematic porn use as defined by a person continuing to watch, read, or listen to pornographic content despite experiencing negative consequences.

Porn addiction is not an official diagnosis in The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). The DSM-5 is the standard classification of mental disorders that mental health professionals use in the United States.

However, porn addiction is considered a behavioral addiction . Behavioral addictions are defined by loss of control, impairment, and risky use.

Causes of porn addiction are not clear. This is because there isn’t enough evidence-based and empirical research about porn addiction to draw conclusions.  Still, some theories exist.

'Supranormal Stimulus'

Nobel Prize winner and biologist Nikolaas Tinbergen coined the term "supranormal stimulus." The theory is that porn stimulates the brain’s reward system beyond what human ancestors typically encountered and experienced, making it possible and plausible for someone to develop an addiction.

Pornography use causes activity in the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, which is a similar response as when a person is financially rewarded for something.  

Compulsivity Model

The compulsivity model sees porn addiction as more similar to an obsessive-compulsive disorder than addiction. This model explains porn addiction by dividing it into an obsession (i.e. repetitive sexual thoughts) and a compulsion (i.e. watching or consuming pornographic content).

Negative Effects

The compulsivity model further links the obsession-compulsion to anxiety and distress. Someone may engage in stress-inducing behavior to relieve stress momentarily, only to experience more negative emotions afterward.

Risk Factors for Porn Addiction

Researchers link the rise in online porn addiction to three factors, considered the “triple A influences," which are:

• Accessibly 
• Affordability

Risk factors across cultures include:

• Having easy access and frequent internet use
• Being prone to sexual boredom and novelty seeking
• Negative mood states
• Religiousness
• Having any substance use disorder
• Experiencing childhood trauma

Support and Help for Porn Addiction

Support and help for porn addiction is available. Working with a healthcare provider, mental health professional specializing in porn addiction, sex therapist, recovery coach, or relationship coach (if applicable) are all options. The following online resources are also available:

• DailyStrength.org : Sex/Pornography Addiction Support Group  
• American Psychological Association : Psychologist Locator
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) : National Helpline 800-662-4357

For Another Person

Supporting someone with a porn addiction can be challenging, especially if they do not want help or do not agree that they have a problem. While you can provide resources and support, you can’t do the work of recovery and managing the behavioral addiction for them.

If someone else’s porn addiction is interfering with your quality of life or relationship, you may consider seeking support from trusted friends, family, and trained professionals or support groups.

For Yourself 

If you’re experiencing distress about your porn use, consider using the resources above to find support for yourself. You may need to try several paths to recovery before finding what works.

Porn addiction is not an official diagnosis, but it does have real impacts. As a behavioral addiction, porn addiction is associated with personal, relationship, and even career problems. Help and support are available from trained professionals and peer groups.

American Psychological Association. Is pornography addictive?

Addiction Center. Behavioral addictions .

de Alarcón R, de la Iglesia JI, Casado NM, Montejo AL. Online porn addiction: What we know and what we don’t—a systematic review . Journal of Clinical Medicine . 2019;8(1):91.

Sniewski L, Farvid P, Carter P. The assessment and treatment of adult heterosexual men with self-perceived problematic pornography use: A review . Addictive Behaviors . 2018;77:217-224. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.10.010

George M, Maheshwari S, Chandran S, Rao TSS. Psychosocial aspects of pornography . Journal of Psychosexual Health . 2019;1(1):44-47. doi:10.1177/2631831818821535

What's Ok? How will I know when my porn use has become a problem?

Malandain L, Blanc JV, Ferreri F, Thibaut F. Pharmacotherapy of sexual addiction . Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2020 May 7;22(6):30. doi: 10.1007/s11920-020-01153-4.

Sahithya BR, Kashyap RS. Sexual addiction disorder— a review with recent updates . Journal of Psychosexual Health . 2022;4(2):95-101.

Camilleri C, Perry JT, Sammut S. Compulsive internet pornography use and mental health: a cross-sectional study in a sample of university students in the United States . Front Psychol. 2021;11:613244. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.613244

Sharpe M, Mead D. Problematic pornography use: legal and health policy considerations . Curr Addict Rep. 2021;8(4):556-567.

By Michelle Pugle Pulge is a freelance health writer focused on mental health content. She is certified in mental health first aid.

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If I do not select an option now, will I still have the option to choose a meal on the flight (when we might possibly find out what the meals contain), or will we just get whatever they decide to give us?Thanks in advance.

6 replies to this topic

"or will we just get whatever they decide to give us?"

You either go with the standard meals (frequently beef, chicken or pasta), or you pre-order a special meal (e.g. vegetarian, etc.).

Most passenger will take the standard meal. It is never fine dining but fills a hole in the stomach.

Are you flying in a premium cabin?

In my experience on almost every single airline I've flown on that has a flight longer than say 7 hours, whether overnight or daytime, irrespective of time of flight and time you will land at the destination, you will be offered a drink soon after take off (except on dry airlines ), then served the main meal of the flight . Then after a gap a couple of hours before landing a lighter meal will be served, sometimes labelled as breakfast after an overnight flight or supper if a daytime flight . Economy meals are rarely memorable but they fill a hole. Most airlines will come round with water or juice during a longer flight , but you can always go to the galley at the back and ask for water, etc. I'd suggest you bring a snack anyway for mid flight or if you really don't like the food or know you are picky.

Thank you for the advice. No, just economy (unfortunately!). I was hoping that there would be some way to find out what the meals are beforehand, but it sounds like that is not possible. Never mind, as recommended, we will take snacks just in case the food is not to our liking!

We last flew Kenya Airways in May 2022.

If you're a vegetarian, pre order or if you're a fussy eater, take your own.

We've used them twice and wouldn't hesitate to use them again if travelling to that part of the world.

There is no guarantee that you will get the full choice depending on where you are seated and where they start serving from.

I flew BA PE both outbound and inbound. Outbound i was in the first row and all options were available to select from. Inbound I was in the last row (7 rows in the section). I wanted the beef but my choice was chicken, vegetarian or nothing. The beef had been the popular choice that day and they had none left.

Menu links at bottom of page: https://preprod.kenya-airways.com/en-gh/experience/on-board/meal-options

https://preprod.kenya-airways.com/contentassets/7d804ba5174f4569a824c9da7567bd79/longhaul-menu-binder.pdf

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Alito Refuses Calls for Recusal Over Display of Provocative Flags

“My wife is fond of flying flags,” the justice wrote in a letter to members of Congress who had demanded he step down from two cases related to the Jan. 6 attack. “I am not.”

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By Adam Liptak

Reporting from Washington

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. declined on Wednesday to recuse himself from two cases arising from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol after reports that flags displayed outside his houses appeared to support the “Stop the Steal” movement.

In letters to Democratic members of Congress who had demanded his recusal, Justice Alito said that the flags, at his home in Virginia and a beach house in New Jersey, were flown by his wife, Martha-Ann.

“My wife is fond of flying flags,” the justice wrote. “I am not. She was solely responsible for having flagpoles put up at our residence and our vacation home and has flown a wide variety of flags over the years.”

The revelation that provocative flags flew outside the Alitos’ property has raised questions about the appearance of bias in two cases the Supreme Court is considering related to Jan. 6. In the weeks after the Capitol attack, an inverted American flag that Trump loyalists have adopted to contest Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s electoral victory was aloft at Justice Alito’s residence in Alexandria, Va. Last summer, an “Appeal to Heaven” flag, carried by rioters at the Capitol and now a symbol of support for a more Christian-minded government, was on display at his vacation house on Long Beach Island.

Former President Donald J. Trump, who is making another bid for the White House in the shadow of a series of criminal charges, welcomed Justice Alito’s decision to participate in the cases related to Jan. 6. One involves whether Mr. Trump is entitled to immunity from prosecution on charges that he plotted to subvert the election. The other concerns a federal obstruction statute used to charge hundreds of rioters who stormed the Capitol.

“All U.S. Judges, Justices, and Leaders should have such GRIT,” he wrote on his social media site.

In his letter on Wednesday, Justice Alito repeated his explanation for the upside-down flag while disclosing that his wife resisted his appeals to remove it after he learned of its existence.

“I had nothing whatsoever to do with the flying of the flag,” he wrote. “I was not even aware of the upside-down flag until it was called to my attention. As soon as I saw it, I asked my wife to take it down, but for several days, she refused.”

He said he had been powerless to remove the flag.

“My wife and I own our Virginia home jointly,” the justice wrote. “She therefore has the legal right to use the property as she sees fit, and there were no additional steps that I could have taken to have the flag taken down more promptly.”

Notably, Justice Alito’s letter did not dispute that the upside-down flag conveyed support for the “Stop the Steal” movement.

On the other hand, Justice Alito wrote that the “Appeal to Heaven” flag at his New Jersey beach house did not convey the meaning critics ascribed to it. The flag, which shows a green pine tree against a white backdrop, dates back to the American Revolution and had mostly fallen into obscurity until a far-right Christian figure helped repopularize it in recent years.

“I was not aware of any connection between that historic flag and the ‘Stop the Steal Movement,’ and neither was my wife,” he wrote. “She did not fly it to associate herself with that or any other group, and the use of an old historic flag by a new group does not necessarily drain that flag of all other meanings.”

He added: “As I said in reference to the other flag event, my wife is an independently minded private citizen. She makes her own decisions, and I honor her right to do so.”

In sum, he said he would not disqualify himself from the two cases.

“A reasonable person who is not motivated by political or ideological considerations or a desire to affect the outcome of Supreme Court cases,” Justice Alito wrote, “would conclude this event does not meet the applicable standard for recusal.”

The court recently adopted a code of conduct for the justices, which Justice Alito said required him to participate in the cases. He quoted what he said were the relevant provisions.

One provision says that “a justice is presumed impartial and has an obligation to sit unless disqualified.”

A second provision says that “a justice should disqualify himself or herself in a proceeding in which the justice’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned, that is, where an unbiased and reasonable person who is aware of all relevant circumstances would doubt that the justice could fairly discharge his or her duties.”

The two incidents do not satisfy the second provision, he wrote, “and I therefore have an obligation to sit.”

Justice Alito said his wife was entitled to express her views, adding that the upside-down flag she had raised in Virginia was prompted by a heated dispute with neighbors. In his explanation, he offered some details of the dispute that were at odds with the account that the family involved and another neighbor told The New York Times , as well as text messages and a police record. The discrepancies include whether one of the encounters Justice Alito described precipitated the flag flying or came afterward.

“My wife is a private citizen, and she possesses the same First Amendment rights as every other American,” the justice wrote. “She makes her own decisions, and I have always respected her right to do so.”

“She has made many sacrifices to accommodate my service on the Supreme Court,” he wrote, “including the insult of having to endure numerous, loud, obscene and personally insulting protests in front of our home that continue to this day and now threaten to escalate.”

Justice Alito said his wife was exceptionally fond of flags.

“In addition to the American flag, she has flown other patriotic flags (including a favorite flag thanking veterans), college flags, flags supporting sports teams, state and local flags, flags of nations from which the ancestors of family members came, flags of places we have visited, seasonal flags and religious flags.”

Their beach house, on Long Beach Island in New Jersey, he wrote, was Mrs. Alito’s property.

“Our vacation home was purchased with money she inherited from her parents and is titled in her name,” he wrote. “It is a place, away from Washington, where she should be able to relax.”

Jodi Kantor contributed reporting.

Adam Liptak covers the Supreme Court and writes Sidebar, a column on legal developments. A graduate of Yale Law School, he practiced law for 14 years before joining The Times in 2002. More about Adam Liptak

Watch CBS News

Severe weather slows Memorial Day travel around NYC. Maps and live radar show the current conditions.

By Matthew DeLucia

Updated on: May 28, 2024 / 12:19 AM EDT / CBS New York

NEW YORK --  Thunderstorms and flash flood risks  were in the forecast Monday around the Tri-State Area as people made their way home from Memorial Day weekend travel .

The CBS New York First Alert Weather team extended its Red Alert due to severe weather risks. Flood advisories were issued for Bergen, Essex, Orange, Passaic and Rockland counties late Monday night. 

A severe thunderstorm watch for most of the area ended at 9 p.m.

Strong storms in Pennsylvania prompted tornado warnings that could've reached New Jersey, but the storm lost some intensity once it reached our area.  

Stay up to date with the  latest forecast and live radar here .

Weather today calls for thunderstorms, possible tornado

We saw a cloudy start to the day, along with some dense fog in spots along the coast. A few showers and thunderstorms continued to move through north/east of the city, with another batch in southern New Jersey.

Meanwhile, clouds thinned out to the west, which only helped fuel the second round of storms for the afternoon. We had a bit of a lull until then, although a shower or storm was still possible at any time (we call that pre-frontal convection). 

More storms fired up to our west in Pennsylvania after 1 p.m. or so. The window of concern shifted slightly earlier compared to over the weekend, from approximately 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. from west to east (2 p.m. western N.J., exiting the east end 9 p.m.).

Main concerns are for heavy rain and damaging winds, but an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.

Timeline for weather this week

Monday (Memorial Day): Mostly cloudy, showers and storms likely, especially into the afternoon and evening. Cooler, but humid. Highs in the 70s.

Monday night: Leftover showers and storms will exit the area by midnight, then it turns partly cloudy overnight. Lows in the 60s.

Tuesday: Much brighter day and warmer. Just a slim chance of an evening pop-up shower. Turns less humid. Highs in the low to mid 80s.

Wednesday: Sun and clouds. PM showers or storms possible. Highs in the mid to upper 70s.

Thursday: Partly sunny, nice and comfortable. Highs in the low to mid 70s.

Friday:  Pleasant finish to May as of now. Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 70s.

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