If you have a problem with car travel, always ride in the front seat. This allows you to see a greater distance and have a more open concept than when you sit in the rear seat. Look at the horizon, or the sights along the road to keep your body in balance.
If being a passenger doesn’t seem to work, try driving. When you are the driver, you have to look straight ahead and concentrate on traffic. This helps you foresee any changes in motion and direction. It helps greatly to relieve the symptoms of motion sickness.
Don’t Read
Get someone else to look at the map and never read while traveling, unless it is in your hotel room. The movement of transportation makes the text on the page of the book look like its moving and this can cause dizziness and nausea.
Tips to Curb Motion Sickness
If you must be the one to read the map or the travel guide, here are a few tips on curbing motion sickness.
Hold the map or travel guide at eye level.
Slouch in the seat. Reading doesn’t cause motion sickness, but the angle at which you are reading does. When you look down when traveling in a car, the motion from the side windows hits the eye at an unusual angle and causes the symptoms of motion sickness.
Put your hands up to the side of your eyes and use them much as you would use blinders on a horse. This blocks the motion from the side window.
Turn your back to the side window and only look out the windshield when traveling by car. If you are traveling by plane, try to get an aisle seat. This will do much to prevent motion sickness.
When traveling by ship, try to get a cabin in mid-ship where tossing and rolling of the waves is minimal. On small boats you don’t have this option, but if you are going to be below deck, stay near the front of the boat where motion is less.
Don’t stay below deck if traveling on a ship. Get out on the deck in the fresh air and where you can see the horizon.
Try to look at something stationary in the distance, if possible.
If you know that you will experience motion sickness when traveling, buy an over the counter medication such as Bonine or Dramamine, which prevents motions sickness, or ask your doctor for a prescription for motion sickness medication.
When you are experiencing motion sickness, you may wish your life could end immediately. However, motion sickness doesn’t kill. It’s uncomfortable, irritating and frustrating, but once your body adjusts to the environment, it will pass. This can take a few days, so don’t expect immediate relief.