How To Get Over Fear of Flying in No Time
Published on January 15, 2022 – Last Updated on March 29, 2022
Are you someone who has a fear of flying? If so, you are not alone. Millions of people around the world have a fear of flying. This can be an embarrassing and frustrating thing to deal with, but don’t worry – there are ways to get over your fear of flying in no time!
While it may be a normal fear to have, a fear of flying can get in the way of your life. This is because you may avoid certain flights when traveling for work or pleasure. This blog post will discuss some tips and tricks that can help you overcome your fear of flying. Keep reading for more information!
What is Flight Anxiety?
Flight anxiety (or fear of flying) can be a pretty serious issue for some people, but it’s not as rare that you’ll find an aviator with this phobia. Many fliers are worried about being in enclosed spaces and heights- which makes sense given how uncomfortable they might feel on their trip!
The fear of flying is not just a fear of the airplane itself, but it can be linked to other phobias such as claustrophobia and acrophobia (fear of heights). With this in mind, you might want to test yourself if your anxiety impacts your life.
Even though statistically, you are more prone to a car crash than an actual flight crash, fear of flying is still widespread today. If you are afraid of the airplane itself or all the things that surround it (i.e., turbulence), then this fear is called “aerophobia.”
The Symptoms of Fear of Flying
If you have extreme fear or anxiety about flying, you might experience some of the following symptoms:
- Racing or pounding heart
- Shortness of breath
- Sweating even when it is cold outside
- Trembling or a shaky feeling
- Nausea or abdominal distress
- Even a full-blown panic attack
People who fear flying tend to avoid this sort of travel when possible. This can lead to problems when traveling for business, pleasure, or vacation with friends and family! If you tend to struggle when going on your next flight, you might want to try and see a therapist to get the help you need.
How To Get Over Flight Anxiety?
If you’re one of the nervous flyers about air travel, some steps will help alleviate your fear. Of course, no one can make this decision for yourself but keep reading below!
1. Use A Meditation App As Your Flight Attendant
Managing anxiety works like a charm when using guided meditations. If you are an anxious flyer and want to control your fears, you don’t need anti-anxiety medication. Instead, you can start using a flight anxiety app developed by a licensed clinical psychologist that helps you get over your fear of flying.
Focusing on your breath and widening your awareness helps you to obtain the capacity to be aware of what’s going on in your mind. You can learn to see negative thinking patterns for what they are: just thoughts. Being aware of the present moment isn’t always easy, so doing it during a guided meditation may be great if you struggle with mindfulness.
Download this mental health app for Android or iOS.
2. Understand What Turbulances Are
Airplanes can indeed be thrown off course by turbulence, but this only temporarily affects their flight. This is because they are specially designed to handle and minimize these fluctuations in air pressure!
It’s also important to know that the weather accounts for most turbulence rather than your airplane. The best way to explain this is by explaining what an aerodynamic stall is. Your plane is designed so it can fly at high speeds with little resistance, but when weather conditions disrupt these forces, your aircraft may have a tough time flying.
3. Learn About Plane’s Safety Features
When you’re anxious about flying, learning about the plane’s safety features can help to alleviate some of your fears. For example, knowing that the aircraft has multiple backup systems in case of an emergency can help to calm your nerves. Understanding how the crew is trained to handle emergencies can give you peace of mind. Finally, knowing that aviation experts regularly inspect the plane can help you feel confident in taking to the skies.
4. Analyze Plane Crash Information
Watch selective, educational shows like “Mayday” to help you feel more at ease on a flight. The show educates viewers about plane crashes and what went wrong; it tells them why this happened to prevent future incidents from happening again.
These shows also provide insight into how the industry has changed since these events occurred for better safety precautions. You can feel more confident traveling once you have learned about these features designed to keep you safe.
5. Look For Triggers That Cause Anxiety
It’s important to know what triggers your anxiety about air travel so that you can be prepared for it when it happens. If there is something specific, like turbulence, make sure to avoid it while flying if you know that it upsets you.
6. Pick A Seat That Won’t Trigger Your Anxiety
Passengers have a choice of seats on flyings, and those who are afraid to fly may want the extra comfort that comes with choosing their seats. If you’re worried about heights- stay away from windows as they give an impression of being confined within a small area.
7. Talk To A Flight Attendant
Ask the attendant to help you find your seat on an airplane- they are used to all kinds of passengers and can offer some interesting stories about their experiences. This may put you more at ease during your journey.
8. See a Therapist
“The more we know about our fears, the less they have power over us.” With professional help from mental health professionals at hand for individuals who are afraid of flying or other triggers that cause paralyzing anxiety attacks – these doctors can use CBT techniques and exposure therapy and response prevention tactics to overcome those anxieties.
9. Use Breathing and Relaxation Techniques
To reduce their anxiety during flights, passengers should deep breathe and try not hyperventilate. If someone is very anxious, it’s hard for them to calm down because the breathing pattern doesn’t change- but you can take long breaths, which will trigger a calming response in your body!
Try holding your breath while taking these bales or force yourself into relaxing by outlasting those panic feelings, so they don’t get worse.
10. Practice Helpful Distraction Techniques
Instead of giving passengers nothing to do during a long flight, airlines are now providing little luxuries such as televisions for people to keep themselves occupied and distracted from any noises or bumps by playing music. This can be beneficial if they associate television sets with feeling safe at home, and there’s one on every plane. In addition, it will make them feel more comfortable because its familiar environment helps create feelings associated with comfort zones.
Dr. Shipp says, “people need distractions when going through new things.” This seems true since most would rather watch something than dwell on their worries about what might happen next; this way, allowing ourselves some relief while traveling outside our own country.
11. Think Positive
It’s essential to think positive thoughts regarding fearful things like airplane travel. Remind yourself that the plane is regularly inspected and is safe for travel. Then, watch educational shows about plane crashes to help you understand why they happen and how aviation experts prevent them from happening in the future.
Remember that you are not alone in your flight anxiety- many people share this anxiety. By practicing positive thinking, you will manage stress hormones that trigger your anxiety disorder.
12. Acknowledge That Your Fear is Irrational
Sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference between being anxious and feeling danger, so make sure you label your fear. Then, remind yourself that anxiety means some thought-provoking situation or event happened, in which case remind yourself how safe YOU are!
You do not have to worry about other things that could happen- you should only be concerned about the plane leaving on time and landing safely. Remember, your worry is irrational because you will get through this to see your family again!
13. Try To Avoid Drinking Alcohol Before You Fly
Drinking alcohol can blur a person’s reasonable judgment, making them less aware of what’s happening and more likely to make a wrong decision.
14. Be Patient With Yourself
Everyone has fears and phobias! The most important thing is not to give up and know that you will one day be able to face your anxiety and fly as any other regular traveler would.
Conclusion About How To Overcome Flight Anxiety
Flying is an essential part of many people’s lives. It can be stressful for some, but it doesn’t have to be! If you are a fearful flyer, we have created this blog post just for you! We hope that the information we’ve provided will help you get over your fears and enjoy life more by taking flights with ease. What tips do you find helpful? Have any other advice or tricks worked well in overcoming your fears? Please share them below!
