The wanderlust syndrome, the obsession with traveling

Wanderlust syndrome is a term that refers to the obsession that some people feel with traveling. A desire that is born from a “need”, out of the ordinary, to know new corners and discover other cultures.

Its etymology comes from wandern (excursion, trip, walk) and lust (desire, longing). From the union of the two lexemes the term “desire to travel” is born. The literal translation of wanderlust in Spanish would be ‘passion for travel’, similar to the meaning of ‘dromomania defined by the dictionary of the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language (RAE) as an excessive inclination or pathological obsession with moving from one place to another.

The wanderlust syndrome, the obsession with traveling

Until a few years ago, traveling for pleasure looking for adventures to tell and giving free rein to the traveling spirit of young people was something unimaginable. The wanderlust syndrome is much more than the desire to go on vacation, which in some way we all have, It is a need that drives the passion for traveling and discovering new places and different cultures.

This syndrome affects men and women equally, usually between the ages of 20 and 40. They have an irresistible urge to go out, they love to escape to any part of the world and are always looking for new destinations. Some surveys and studies have shown that it is the priority and interest for this generation. To achieve your purpose, The Internet is your best ally, since the network becomes your best travel agent. Reservations, purchases, tickets and information; everything is solved through new technologies.

These inveterate travelers spend most of their time reading travel guides, surfing the Internet for flights, hotels, hostels, etc., enjoy watching documentaries about exotic places, and spend a good portion of their income on travel. The destination takes a secondary place in the planning of the trip, a mere excuse to enjoy the pleasure of traveling, It is then that the wanderlust experience takes on all its meaning and becomes a way of life.

Traveling enriches the person, opens new perspectives and enables other points of view. Getting to know other cultures, soaking up traditions and living in different places helps us broaden our vision and feed – and at the same time satisfy – that curiosity for the unknown.

Wanderlust syndrome and genetics

There are people who do not feel the need to travel, who do not have a special interest in discovering places. Vacations are considered a time to rest and be calm or perhaps to go to a hotel and disconnect from preparing meals or cleaning. Logically, this approach is the opposite of wanderlust syndrome, where the need not to spend too much time in one place prevails and the desire to travel becomes the center of the life of those who suffer from it.

Beyond a fad, some experts say that the adventurous spirit or wanderlust syndrome is actually It is found in our genes, and more specifically in the so-called DRD4-7r, a dopamine receptor (pleasure neurotransmitter) that has been dubbed “the traveler gene.”

For David Dobbs, researcher at National Geographics, this gene causes people who have it to “better accept change and adventure, and they also feel a greater affinity to take risks in terms of new ideas, foods, relationships, etc.” In addition to the constant need to travel, individuals who carry this gene are bold, creative people who seek to discover new cultures and other ways of life. In short, anything that brings personal growth.

Do you suffer from wanderlust syndrome?

People who suffer from wanderfust syndrome have characteristics that differentiate them from the rest:

They always have their passport updated and on hand in case the opportunity to travel unexpectedly. They are not afraid to leave their comfort zone because they like changes. Curiosity about discovering new places and other cultures goes beyond imagination and becomes a necessity. All the money they can save goes towards living new adventures.As soon as they return from a trip they are already planning the next one.: consulting specialized Internet pages, watching documentaries or reading guides.

The passion for traveling and seeing the world is not only reduced to possessing the traveler gene, but is also related to childhood, the time when we learn through play and imagination. It is at this stage when the interest in knowing what lies beyond the limits of the home develops. Beyond the border of school and homework, there are adults who continue to feel the same (or more) passion than they did then.

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