• Andrea McKenna Brankin is an American mom who lives in Singapore with her husband and daughter.
• She has bipolar disorder and finds traveling between the US and Asia stressful.
• Lavender oil, exercise, and Harry Potter have all helped her reduce stress while traveling.

I was at the airport, and lines were building up at the entrance to the jetway. There had already been several delays and I was getting nervous. Would I miss my connection? Would there be enough overhead space for my bags? Will they serve water? These questions vexed me for what felt like an eternity until I finally heard the announcement that we'd be boarding soon. When the airline called boarding for people with disabilities, I felt a sigh of relief. Although the check-in person looking at me questioningly — my disability is invisible.

Traveling can be stressful for everyone, but even more so for me, as I have bipolar disorder. External stressors like delays and even snarky passengers make dealing with the condition much harder. But it's something I've had to learn to manage, especially after my husband and I moved from Chicago to Singapore 12 years ago. I travel between the US and Asia at least twice a year, along with regional travel in both the States and Southeast Asia. These flights range between 90 minutes to almost 20 hours.

Bipolar is a mood disorder that affects more than 40 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. The condition is characterized by extreme mood swings between depression and mania and can affect behavior, especially in high-stress environments.

I take a variety of medications to keep these swings and symptoms — like high anxiety and paranoia — at bay. I need the meds every day, so it's always the first thing on my packing list. This presents the first of several challenges I've unpacked over the years.

I make an effort to avoid medication mishaps

When I travel, I have to carry enough medication to last the whole trip, plus extra in case of delays. Many of my trips are long, especially the ones to the US, so it can take up a lot of space. Whether short or long, it's important for me to carry a letter for customs, written and signed by my psychiatrist.

The letter describes what my medications are — as well as the doses and why I take them — in the event that I get stopped. This is because mood-altering drugs — called psychotropics — are noted as illegal without a prescription. Many countries, including Singapore and the US, have strict laws on carrying this kind of medication.

I've managed to plan ahead the best way I can, always packing the letter in my carry-on, carrying enough meds for at least two extra weeks, and having a doctor on call in case I need more.

Being bipolar and a mom adds another layer of stress

Traveling with children is stressful. Full stop. Other travelers don't want to be around you in case of crying, airline staff get fed up with having to do more for you, and you yourself don't get much rest at all. These challenges are exponential with bipolar disorder because stress, especially with other people, is a real trigger.

On more than one occasion, I've been treated poorly as a traveling mom. The most unbelievable was when a flight attendant handed me a large garbage bag and told me it was for my baby's diapers. "So, I have to keep the diapers at my seat in this bag?" I asked. She explained that leaving diapers in the bathroom bothered other passengers. I was seated in business class when this happened and handed the bag back to her and said, "Talk to my husband about it. He paid for the business class tickets."

I manage this part of flying by being very prepared as a mom, with supplies like extra diapers, toys, headphones, snacks, and clothes. One nightmare flight had me tending to my daughter every 10 minutes for 14 hours. But as my kid grows up — she's nearly 12 — traveling is getting easier. Just her being able to operate her own devices and seat TV was a game changer.

Being prepared for the trips with bipolar disorder means eating well and getting a lot of good rest and exercise before the trip. The body releases endorphins when you exercise, and it's also been said to combat stress, according to Healthline. I also make sure my meds and symptoms are in order. I bring lavender oil for inhaling as well as lots of skincare products to do some self-care along the way.

Quality time with the family makes it worth all the hassle

One of the biggest overall challenges of traveling with bipolar disorder is jet lag. It screws up your biorhythms, sleep, eating, and meds schedule. As my prescription includes day and night medication, it took me a while to figure out how and when to take each when I was crossing the international date line. I now focus on taking the night meds and sometimes double up on the mood stabilizers.

I don't use sleeping pills, but I do take melatonin a few days before a long flight and continue for as long as needed once I arrive. My family has tried all different flight times to make it easier for me — from arriving at dawn to arriving at 9 p.m. to see which works better. Honestly, no time is perfect. But if I take good care of myself before the trip, I'm usually in a good place mentally and physically to start my vacation.

Whether I can sleep or not, I rely heavily on distractions. I can't manage to read books, but I do watch movies, specifically Harry Potter. Downloaded on my phone or on the seat TV, the Harry Potter series includes seven films with more than 15 hours of viewing time. That almost gets me all the way from Singapore to San Francisco. Mischief managed.

Having bipolar disorder always presents daily challenges whether I'm in the air or on the ground. But I think I'm handling it pretty well. The ultimate goal is to be with my family, and that's always worth the effort.

Got a personal essay about living abroad or parenting that you want to share? Get in touch with the editor: akarplus@businessinsider.com.

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