Tips to Stay Calm and Comfortable During Your Flight
Let Sleep Calm Your Flighty Nerves. ...
Keep Yourself Distracted On the Plane. ...
Don't Fight the Bumps. ...
Avoid Caffeine When Flying. ...
Listen to Music or Meditate.
People Also Ask
Many nervous flyers find that the loud noises of the plane trigger anxious thoughts. You may find it helpful to bring along earplugs to reduce these sounds. You can also bring headphones and listen to your favorite music or a relaxation guide to help you feel calmer.
Medication is sometimes prescribed on a temporary basis to treat the symptoms of a flying phobia, such as anxiety and nausea. These drugs are usually taken shortly before a flight. They include: Anti-anxiety medication, such as diazepam (Valium) or alprazolam (Xanax).
The list of triggers is long: turbulence, take-off, landings, terrorism, crashes, social anxieties, or being too far from home. Some people fear fire, illness spread through the air system, using the toilets, or violence on a plane.
So many travelers struggle with this fear, so the best way to cope is to find a seat with plenty of space. The least crowded section of the plane is first or business class. But if upgraded flying isn't in your budget there are still options. Try sitting in an aisle seat in an exit row towards the front of the plane.
See a therapist. If your fear is truly paralyzing, you're probably best off seeking professional help. Mental health professionals can help individuals overcome a fear of flying through the use of cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure and response prevention, says Dr.
Fear of flying afflicts as much as 40 percent of the U.S. population. The nation's armrest-grippers may be heartened to know that “aviophobia” is perfectly normal, and easily treated. Only about 5 percent of Americans have aviophobia so severe that they cannot fly.
Many nervous flyers find that the loud noises of the plane trigger anxious thoughts. You may find it helpful to bring along earplugs to reduce these sounds. You can also bring headphones and listen to your favorite music or a relaxation guide to help you feel calmer.
Fear of flying, or aviophobia, is an anxiety disorder. About 40 percent of the general population reports some fear of flying, and 2.5 percent have what is classified as a clinical phobia, one in which a person avoids flying or does so with significant distress.
As technology in the industry has advanced to have passenger safety as a principal consideration, airplane seats can withstand 16 times gravity's force. These seats are also fireproof and do not emit toxic fumes if they were to catch on fire.
Most people with aerophobia aren't actually afraid of the plane crashing. Instead, you might fear the overwhelming anxiety that comes with being on the plane. The anticipation of flying, or thinking about flying, is often as troubling as being on the flight itself.
“When someone is anxious about flying, you don't want to add stress of being late to their anxiety about the flight,” says Matthews. 3. Talk to flight attendants and crew. Matthews recommended having the anxious flier tell the flight crew that they're anxious.