Oh man, we all have that one friend. You know, the one who doesn’t take the corners too well on a long road trip, and before you know it, you’re pulled over and they’re dry-retching into a ditch.
Well, safe to say that you better be quick when that request is made known, because we all know it’s better out than in, and it generally comes sooner rather than later. Cleaning up the mess can put a real dampener on the good times, to say the least.
Motion sickness isn’t fun for anyone, to state the obvious. It can pop up while travelling by any vehicle, whether it’s a car, boat, or an aeroplane (remember those?). In fact, some people even experience motion sickness when they’re playing video games.
We’ll note here that statistically, motion sickness affects more females than males.
Why do people get car sickness?
Motion sickness occurs because the brain receives contradictory information from the inner ear, eyes, joints, and muscles. The ears detect motion, but the eyes and body do not detect the same movement, leaving the brain perplexed. The outcome might be a wide range of unpleasant symptoms, including dizziness, tiredness, and vomiting. Lovely!
In some cases, side effects from prescription medications can also increase the chance of getting motion sickness. This is usually stated on the medication packaging, if this is relevant to you.
Car/motion sickness symptoms
- Headache
- Cold sweats
- Fatigue
- Retching
- Moodiness
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Inability to walk
- Vomiting
- Feeling nauseous
Way to treat car motion sickness
- Let clean, fresh air enter the car – crank down those windows!
- Avoid looking at your mobile phone or reading a book
- Avoid eating a heavy meal before you travel
- Practice mindfulness and other zen road trip activities
- Over-the-counter medications can sometimes help, too.
What to do if someone has car sickness
The best thing to do is stop somewhere safe and encourage your passenger to take a short talk, maybe even spend a bit of time on their backs with their eyes closed to stop the dizziness.
Place a cool towel on their forehead, then just encourage slow, deep belly breathing to calm down and regain composure.
When they’re ready to get back in the car, ask them to sit in the front seat, open the windows, and direct their sight directly in front of the vehicle.
If you have a friend or family member who suffers from car/motion sickness, be mindful of their needs and enquire about what they require to make the trip more comfortable.
So there we go, hope this one helped a little bit! Remember to check out our Zen Guide to Peaceful Family Car Trips too, for a bit of inspiration for an easy time on the road.