A 22-year-old's meticulously planned solo trip to Granada, Spain ended on day three when anxiety escalated into what felt like a medical emergency. The experience, shared on r/solotravel, highlights a reality rarely discussed in the Instagram-perfect world of solo travel: sometimes your brain simply won't cooperate - and that's not failure.
The Setup
The trip was planned five months in advance. A self-described introverted traveler with anxiety had researched Granada's history extensively and felt "beyond excited" for the five-day trip.
Days one and two went well - "amazing," in fact. Conversations flowed, the city was beautiful, and while some anxiety was present, it felt manageable and "normal as I'm coming out of my comfort zone."
The Evening of Day Two
After visiting the Alhambra - Granada's famous Moorish palace complex - the traveler returned to their hotel and felt like they were having a heart attack.
"I hate going hospitals but staggered to get myself to a taxi and go to hospital. It was awful. My heart was weak and shaking," they wrote.
The medical tests - ECG and bloodwork - came back fine. The diagnosis: likely anxiety.
The Impossible Decision
Despite wanting to stay, the traveler felt terrified of dying alone in a hotel room. By the third afternoon, they were on a flight home.
"It was such a battle," they wrote. "I wanted to stay but it's as if my brain couldn't get to me via the normal anxiety loop it decided to punish my body."
The question they now face: "Should I stop going on these trips? I was looking forward to growing and improving."

