Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

I'd never heard of travel jitters (which is a fine term in itself, I would say).   But it just now occurs to me that I used to suffer from them myself, without realizing it:   For years, when I was about to take a long trip, I'd have dreams in the weeks before leaving that I was missing my flight, or getting lost.   Most of the dreams were ridiculously unrealistic, but they always involved a sense of shame and failure at not being able to get where I was going, and often included getting on the wrong plane.

For some years I traveled almost every week by plane, and the dreams faded; apparently use makes master.   But other anxieties take their place; for some reason a year or two ago I started having dreams about not knowing what classroom I should go to or what textbooks I needed, though I haven't been in college in decades; I cannot imagine what triggered those.   I would have guessed I was just weird, but judging by your question maybe not?