How To Get Over The Fear Of Flying

Sweaty hands… intermittent breathing… gnashing of teeth… images of plane crashes take over your mind. Even if you wanted to, you can’t plan a single trip because of your fear of flying, as your fear will make you panic.

You will miss the opportunity to experience beautiful places, visit friends and family living elsewhere, or even a dream trip with your partner: a visit to the Egyptian pyramids, a hulahula dance in Hawaii, kangaroos in Australia.

Did you know that fear of flying is quite common? An estimated one in four will suffer from it. That is almost a quarter of the population. And you are one of them! The most common fear is dropping a plane, and because humans are “terrestrial” creatures, air and water often cause distrust.

No matter how many times your relatives try to tell you, car accidents are significantly more likely than plane crashes. Or that airplanes are the most advanced modern vehicle found on our planet. None of these rational statements that seem to come from self-help books mean anything to you.

Just like other fears, the fear of flying can be due to emotions, past experiences, or simply a movie about a plane crash you see. The worst part is that others don’t seem afraid to fly, so they can’t understand you. They think you’re exaggerating, or that you don’t value your chance to get to New York, Rio de Janeiro, or Hong Kong enough.

Overcoming the fear of flying requires flying

You can go to a psychologist, get information to understand the sounds and movements of the plane, or even use a flight simulator. However, none of these techniques eliminate flying as effectively as… flying!

It is understandable to panic at the mere thought. As you read this article, your knees are likely to tingle, you have started sweating, and your heart is beating faster and faster. Instead of suffering from symptoms every time flying comes up or taking your dream trip, it’s important to take a deep breath and start treatment.

Take the hour offered by the airline. Many airlines have programs that help passengers get over their fear of flying. Start with a personal interview and then move on to the theoretical part of the course along with the pilots and mechanics. Finally, you also have the opportunity to use the flight simulator to try out all the situations you may have to face (ascent and descent, turbulence, technical problems, etc.)

Meditate or relax. It makes it easier to reduce the stress and anxiety caused by just thinking about flying. Practice the techniques for a few days before the start of your trip so that they have time to develop into automatic ones.

Avoid taking drugs. Many fears of flying end up taking medication or drinking alcohol on the day of the flight. Neither of the above will take away your fears, but it will help you take a more calm approach. However, this is not recommended as it lowers sensory accuracy and clogs the stomach, causes headaches, etc.

What to do on the day of the flight

You’ve built courage (or at least you think so) and finally accepted your husband’s or wife’s suggestions for Machu Picchu to travel or camel ride in the desert. Congratulations! While you’re planning your trip, packing your bags, and trusting your plant in the hands of your neighbors, panic is almost non-existent.

Everything changes when you arrive at the airport and check in for your flight. There, your unpleasant feelings begin to make a comeback. You are ready to run away through the terminal, despite the fact that your partner has to travel alone. Take it easy. You can overcome your fears. How? Here are some tips:

• Avoid the window seat. Otherwise, your nervousness will increase on the rise, or when you travel during the day you will only see clouds. It is recommended to choose a place near the wings. In this case, you will have to suffer as little as possible from the movements of the machine.
• Observe the crew. They are likely to laugh, be calm and confident. They show that there is no reason to fear. I encourage you to tell the flight attendant about your fears so they can pay more attention and help you through critical moments.
• Take a deep breath. Close your eyes if necessary. Remember that turbulence is only a possibility at airspeed speed and does not affect the safety of the aircraft.

• Bring things you can do. Maybe your favorite book, magazine, or entertaining movie ? You can also think about what all awaits you after your flight.
• Dress lightly. Since you are likely to sweat, and want to feel as imprisoned as possible, your clothing should be as comfortable as possible.

You can always fly with someone who has been on a plane before. That’s when the serenity grabs, and when fear surprises, you can hold them by the hand.