How to Overcome Flight Anxiety

Do you run horrific scenarios in your head before heading off on a flight? Don’t worry; you are not alone. Flight anxiety is familiar to most people. Flight anxiety is a fear of flying, which is deep-seated anxiety. It can stop a person from traveling by air or cause a person significant distress when it is essential to travel by air.

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When people experience flight anxiety, they sometimes go to their physicians because they think they have panic attacks. This fear of flying is understandable, especially if you have seen flying accident news and such. These scenarios cause anxiety within us.

However, there may be times that we need to fly via air to reach our destinations faster, or maybe it is the only way to reach the place we need to be. Here are seven tips you need to remember if you want to overcome flight anxiety.

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Flight anxiety is normal; however, when needed, we have to overcome this fear. Photo credits to: https://calstate.aaa.com/via/travel-tips/how-overcome-fear-flying.

Separate Flight Anxiety from Danger

Work on separating your fear of flying and the possible dangers that may come your way. Photo credits to: https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-advice/flights/how-virgin-australia-is-about-to-make-flying-a-lot-less-stressful/news-story/6e92c7a854723afd79bfd329530ffd9e.

Separating anxiety from danger is often hard because your body responds to both in precisely the same manner. Make sure to label your fear as anxiety. Say that anxiety makes your concerns feel more likely to occur, and remember that feeling anxious doesn’t mean you’re at risk. Even when you feel intense fear, you are secure.

Days before your flight, slowly process how to separate fear from danger. You can write down a list of what fears you have and what types of hazards can possibly happen.

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Distract Yourself

Soothing music helps you ease your anxiety. Photo credits to: https://traveltips.usatoday.com/overcome-claustrophobia-plane-105483.html.

During your flight, distract yourself by listening to your favorite music. You can also read a magazine or newspaper. This way, your mind accommodates another stimulus that you enjoy.

It can be delightful to listen to songs that stimulate both sides of the brain while using headphones with your eyes closed, mainly when the music is harmonious and emotional.

Ask Your Doctor About Flight Anxiety

Sleeping during your flight helps avoid the fear; however, ask your doctor about safe sleeping pills. Photo credits to: https://www.jetsetter.com/magazine/sleep-on-a-plane/.

A licensed therapist or counselor can help you figure out the root causes of your fear and how to overcome them. If your anxiety is particularly weakening and you are unsuccessful after trying relaxation techniques, consult with your doctor. You can ask if it might be worth taking an anti-anxiety medication or a sleeping pill before flying.

Hydrate Yourself

Do not drink caffeine-based drinks before the flight. Photo credits to: https://www.thehealthy.com/travel/traveling-plane-affects-body/.

To calm their nerves, many fearful flyers turn to alcohol. While this is okay in moderation, remember not to combine the alcohol with anti-anxiety drugs. Alcohol can also contribute to dehydration, especially in an airplane’s arid setting. If you have a cocktail treatment, be sure to follow it up with plenty of water.

It is also important to avoid caffeine-based drinks before flying. Too much caffeine can lead to increased anxiety or complicate an existing anxiety disorder by growing symptoms.

Familiarise Yourself with Your Flight Anxiety

Talk to cabin crew members and ask them about how to smoothly deal with your fear of flight. Photo credits to: https://www.irishmirror.ie/lifestyle/travel/secret-code-flight-attendants-use-11682240.

Ignorance and overthinking help anxiety to thrive and feed off of “what if?” But once you’re well-informed, you will become less fearful. Get to know the facts. They’re not going to eliminate your anxiety, but they’re going to handle it.

Talk to the cabin crew about the flight; many fearful flyers create conversations with the cabin crews to create a fun and light environment. You can ask if your trip is safe, how they overcome their fears of flying, if they have any fears, and other such questions.

Choose the Aisle Seat

Ask your airline before checking in to assign you in an aisle seat. Photo credits to: https://time.com/5354042/travel-etiquette-mistakes-fly-experts/.

Most airlines and booking engines enable you to request a seat assignment. Request an aisle seat, especially if you are susceptible to claustrophobia. This way, you will feel less hemmed in by other individuals, and you will be able to get up and move more readily around the cabin. This also makes it simpler if those sky-high views make you nervous to prevent looking out the window.

Know What to Expect; Know the Basics

Know the basics about airplanes. This way, you will know how it works to avoid your unnecessary fear of flying. Photo credits to: https://blog.sunmaster.co.uk/window-or-aisle-what-your-plane-seat-choice-says-about-you/.

Learning the basics of how aircrafts function can go a long way towards alleviating anxiety for many fearful flyers. For example, knowing how an aircraft can keep flying even if an engine fails can assist you to feel less worried about the malfunction of your plane.

Conclusion

Fear is normal; it makes us feel human. However, when there will be times that we need to overcome our fears, learn to know how to manage them. These tips will help you overcome your fear of flying; it is also important to research about your anxiety and consult with your doctor for medication, when necessary.

If you want to know more tips about flying, click here.