You really want to go on that trip! But you’re just too afraid to fly!
It might be the fear of heights, the engine malfunctioning, a terrorist attack or the obsession of the wings of the plane snapping off causing the plane to fall from the sky. Whenever you have to fly, you spend days, weeks and months panicking, so much that you don’t even look forward to your vacations.
If that’s you, or if mid-flight panic attacks are a normal part of your flight experiences, you are not alone. At least one of six adults suffer from aviophobia – the fear of flying.
And while we know the fear will never completely go away, you should check out these 6 tips that will help ease your fears of flying.
1. Know the Facts
“Fear of flying is a feeling. Feelings aren’t facts”. The first way to fight aviophobia is to understand what turbulences actually are and how precisely planes are designed with built-in safety features for emergencies. In fact, turbulences are equivalent to a car driving over a speed bump and planes are built to withstand very strong turbulences. In addition, pilots take professional flight training courses and are very experienced when it comes to flying.
2. Pick A Middle Aisle Seat
We all know it is the bumpiest riding in the backseat of a vehicle. The same thing goes for flights. Request for a front to middle seat to feel less of potential turbulence. If heights cause you extra anxiety, you might want to pick an aisle seat over a window seat to avoid looking out the window.
3. Avoid Rushing Before Flights
Set aside plenty of time before your flight is scheduled to depart to get to the airport, consider check-in and immigration time or the potential of being caught in unforeseen circumstances. Rushing to the departure gate will increase anxiety. Take deep and slow breaths along the way to relieve stress.
4. Avoid Caffeine
Consuming Coffee or Chocolate before flights is a bad idea! Not only will caffeine elevate anxiety and nervousness, but it will also keep you up on flights.
5. Tune In & Zone Out
Canceling out the sound of the planes running engine or the sound of the plane taking off the ground and turning into calm soothing music will create a blissful ignorance. Keep yourself physically and mentally occupied with an exciting read, a Sudoku game, or even putting on an eye mask.
6. Pop A Pill
If you have tried all of the above and nothing is working, it might be worth it getting a doctor’s prescription for some anti-anxiety medication or a sleeping pill for your flights. Or why not a glass of wine as an alternative?
What have you tried that works? Leave a comment below!
Header Image : Miro Medium
