As a travel writer I’m used to flying around the world, often in economy and on small, cramped planes, so it may surprise you to learn that I suffer from claustrophobia. In truth, I don’t know exactly when or why it started. Possibly when I was caught up in the 2007 tube bombings or it could be the stresses of life. Who knows? What I do know is that sometime after, I was on the Central Line on the way home from Kensington to Essex after staying late for press day and the train stopped in the tunnel. It was probably only for two or three minutes, but to me it seemed ages. I felt myself overheating, I felt uncomfortable and a rising sense of panic. When the train moved on I jumped off at the next stop and took a convoluted journey home to avoid going on the tube. Thus began a pattern of taking longer to get to places, spending money I didn’t have on taxis, annoying people with my lateness and so on.

Then came the flying fun. A year or so later I got on a packed night flight home from Las Vegas and had to fight the urge to run off the plane. My partner sat and did a crossword with to calm me down. Over the years I’ve found I can either be perfectly fine or feel rising claustrophobia as the doors close. I get around it by booking aisle seats as near the front of the place as possible and make sure I'm wearing loose clothing, usually a vest and thin jogging bottoms to feel less constrained. Sometimes I take a low dose of Diazepam. This also causes money stress as I can’t take the tube to the aiport - the quickest and cheapest way.

Like a leaky tap in your bathroom that you don't fix and just accept, I’ve skirted around the issue without properly dealing with it until last year when I tried two things: meditation and hypnotherapy. The meditation continues and I believe contributes towards being able to deal with that panic I feel once onboard as well as a calmer feeling in general. The hypnotherapy was more surprising. Firstly, because my first association with hypnotherapy was that cliched image of a drunken student making a fool of themselves on stage as a ham hypnotherapist gets them to strip or pretend to be a sheep...

In fact, it's far less hyped than that. I booked an appointment with Claire Ivey, a hypnotherapist, psychotherapist and life skills coach, who practices from her suburban home in Wickford, Essex. Claire uses both hypnoanalysis - a form of regression therapy - and hypnotherapy during our session, which began with her asking me to close my eyes and relax my muscles from head to toe before regressing me to a time when I've been on the tube and struggled with it. The theory is the subconscious mind does this rather than the fully aware, conscious part. I can still carry on a conversation with Claire as opposed to being ‘under her spell’.

With her guidance, I visualise being on the Tube and controlling how I feel based on multiple journeys. Working through the feelings that situation evoked and using a control technique helped me to see that I can navigate travel in a more positive way, free from fear. I’m gathering the tools to deal with something that has threatened to get in the way of one of my great loves, starting with the journey to the airport.

* Claire Ivey, hypnocaring.com

Wellbeing on the Go: Three Calming Products for Travel

Tropic So Sleepy Pillow Mist, £20, comes in a portable 70ml spritzer so you can carry it around easily. This vegan and cruelty-free calming product combines lavender, rosemary, chamomile and frankincense to soothe nerves and aid sleep. Spray it on your pillow or a tissue and breathe…

Some people have a glass of wine or take a tablet before flying. Cubid Oil, cubidcbd.com, £35, 30ml, is an increasingly popular way to relax before you travel, just by placing a few drops under the tongue or add to a drink. The full spectrum THC-free blend contains 66% CBD and other cannabinoids, plus natural proteins, fats and carbohydrates. For those that find the original taste is little smokey, the peppermint will be a welcome addition.

Neom De-Stress On The Go Collection, £26, is a pale grey cotton pouch so small you can hold it in your palm stocked with four mini Neom products, all infused with that expensive spa smell the organic brand is known for from blending lavender, jasmine and Brazilian rosewood. Wash with Real Luxury Body & Hand Wash, 50ml, before massaging in Real Luxury Body Oi, 25ml. Next, warm a pea-sized amount of Nourish, Breathe & Calm Hand Balm, 10ml, and inhale and exhale then roll Stress Relief Pulse Point, 5ml, to your temples and pulse points.