Do you think the worst before you take off? Do you have a fear of flying? If getting in the air is met with high anxiety, then these tips will certainly settle you down.
1. Have a little faith
This one doesn’t have anything to do with prayer either, although, if you’re that way inclined, it probably can’t hurt. Fear of flying is mostly based on irrational beliefs. It may sometimes come in the form of mild claustrophobia and the feeling of loss of control. Yes, plane seats are cramped, but you are safe, and no, you can’t fly the plane, but your pilot is a pro – so, too, are the flight crew – and the cabin crew will do everything to make you comfortable. Meditate on these thoughts as you take your seat and you’ll be better able to get over your anxiety.
2. Go with the flow
If you are feeling a bit anxious, the worst thing you can do is to fight it. The best thing is to recognise those feelings, accept them, breath and move on from them. Something along the lines of: “I know I am feeling anxious. My heart is pounding and I am very nervous.” Then follow it up with something like, “I can deal with these feelings. They’re only thoughts and I am the thinker. I will get through this.” Then breathe, breathe and relax.
3. Don’t try to drink away your anxiety
If you’re prone to anxiety, alcohol isn’t going to fix the problem. And if you end up drunk on your flight and fall asleep, can you imagine how much fun it will be to land on foreign soil hungover and feeling ill from one or five too many drinks?
Avoid excessive alcohol intake, as well as caffeine and too much sugar. Water is your best friend, although one or two tipples won’t do you any harm.
4. Trust the facts
If you made it to the airport, then you just overcame the most dangerous part of your journey. The chances of an air disaster are around one in 3 million, in other words, miniscule. If you’ve never flown before, speak to someone who has, or watch some YouTube videos to get a feel for the sound, size and normal movement of a plane. Yes, the wings move around a bit – it’s nothing to panic over.
5. Distraction is often an ideal cure
Anxiety can be difficult to overcome, especially once it takes hold. So surround yourself with distractions. Watch your favourite show on the inflight TV or on your tablet or smartphone, bring a good book, your favourite lollies and a big bottle of water. Crosswords and Sudoku are great, too.
And you’ll always have your cabin crew there to assist you if you’re feeling really nervous. They see this all the time and are well equipped to handle situations much worse than what you’ll throw at them.
Read more about handling travel anxiety
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Make flying more comfortable
