Flying is generally considered to be one of the safest ways of public transportation, yet that does not protect millions of travelers from suffering from aviophobia – the fear of flying, which sometimes results in turning holiday dreams into nightmares. For some people it is caused by an obsession with hijacking or other forms of terrorism, while others visualize injury and death from such incidents as crashes and accidents or else the ever-changing weather conditions.
There are a range of physical and emotional symptoms that are typical of the fear of flying: sweating palms, dry mouth and heart palpitations, lack of concentration on what others may be saying and even hyperventilating, vomiting or losing all sense of control.
If you have such problem, follow reading this post to get acquainted with the steps that will surely help you to cope with the anxiety felt when on board the plane. We have never met a case of fear of flying that couldn’t be overcome.
- Think about statistics first to prepare you mentally. Keep in mind that flying is 20 times safer than driving a car.
- Know what to expect. Ask yourself: ‘Why is the plane going so fast?’ or ‘Why are we being asked to keep our seat belts fastened?’ and many other questions like this. This will help to get ready for what is going to happen next.
- To become a fearless flier, make your plane trip as comfortable as possible. Reading a newspaper or listening to an mp3 player can provide a positive means of coping with the situation. You can also bring your own pillow to feel at ease.
- Take doctor-prescribed anti-anxiety medication with you to calm you down during the flight.
- Use meditation techniques to fly without fear. There are many fine audio CDs combined with soothing music, in which psychologists and former fearful fliers guide you through the entire airport experience, from boarding to landing. Another way of meditation is to learn how to control your thoughts. Think about something else, which will take your mind off your fears. If you have patience to you close your eyes and count to 5,000 : )
- Do not be embarrassed or ashamed to talk out your fears, it’s quite natural and more common than you think. Feel free to share your fear with a flight attendant, who has so much experience and knowledge about it.
- Stay away from middle row seats, which will contribute to the feeling of claustrophobia – the fear of enclosed spaces. A better choice is an aisle or window seat near the wing; you can watch what’s going on with the landing gear.
- Wear something loose, as your body swells in the thinner air of the cabin.
- Do not indulge in alcohol as a way to cover-up your fears, instead, drink lots of water and avoid spicy food before takeoff and on the plane.
- Accept that you are not in control and risk is a part of life!!!
