Has flying kept you from exploring the world? Here’s some easy ways to help you get over your fear.
For years I found excuses not to travel out of the country. It cost too much. I had to finish my education. I simply couldn’t go when the weather was cold.
The truth of the matter, however, was that I was afraid to fly.
This went on until my desire to explore the world overpowered my innate fear of rising above the clouds in a steel soda straw. So I had a few martinis and hopped on a flight out of the United States.
I realized I had nothing to fear after all. Since that first triumph, I’ve become an avid overseas traveler. Still, every time I fly I find myself nervous. I’ve picked up a few tricks to alleviate my fear of flying.
Here are five tips that will help those who suffer from similar anxiety.
1. Know What To Expect
Familiarize yourself with the sights and sounds of flying. Understand the bumps and movements of an airplane.
Without knowing what to expect at the airport and on the flight itself, your mind tends to wander.
Familiarize yourself with the sights and sounds of flying. Understand the bumps and movements of an airplane.
Getting an idea of what flying is actually like beforehand will help you form a realistic notion of what you’re experiencing during take-off or when the plane hits turbulence.
Talk to friends who have flown. Ask them to describe the process from start to finish. Question them about turbulence. Do they have a “bad turbulence” story? Chances are that they do. Then, realize they are still here to tell you the story.
Flyingwithoutfear.com is a wonderful site that is loaded with free content. You can listen to the sounds of every aspect of flying - from engine noise at take off, to final boarding calls in the airport.
There are videos that describe exactly what you will see and help you understand what to expect. You can even find a support forum to discuss your concerns with other travelers.
2. Understand Why Flying Is Actually Safe
We have all heard the saying: “You’re more likely to die in a car accident on the way to the airport than on the plane”.
This is certainly true. Statistics show you are in fact 500-1000 times more likely to meet your end on the highway. But let’s face it; this does not really help calm your nerves. You are still not in control of the plane!
But consider: how many drivers are actually in control of what other drivers are doing on the road around them…none! I’m fairly confident that 40,000 + Americans are not dying each year in a car wreck because they have control over the situation.
Then consider that since 1970 there have been only 58 fatal events between 16 different U.S. and Canada airlines. That is an estimated total of approximately 36.6 fatal events (at least one person died) per 16 million flights.
Granted, crunching these numbers might not make you feel comfortable flying. It should however give you hope that your chances of getting to your destination on a plane are pretty darn good.
3. Sit On The Wing And Breathe The Fresh Air
If the idea of turbulence is your nemesis, grab a seat on the wing of the plane.
Getting yourself onto the plane is only half the battle. You still have to deal with your nerves acting up while you are in your seat.
The cool air from the valve above you is a great way to chill out and relax. Open the nozzle full blast and direct it onto your face. The rush of air will not only help calm your heavy breathing, but will also keep your underarms a bit dryer. (You want to minimize the amount of sweat you will have to wear for the next few hours).
If the idea of turbulence is your nemesis, grab a seat on the wing of the plane. While the jury is still out on this one, there is a general consensus that sitting over the wing of the plane will provide the most stability.
It’s possible the turbulence you will feel in the back of the plane isn’t going to be significantly worse than in the middle.
Still, if you think of the plane like a teeter-totter or seesaw with the wings as the pivot in the middle, it makes sense that you would feel less bumpiness sitting in the center. It certainly works for me.
4. Just Pretend You’re On A Bus
It sounds too simple to work, but it does. Closing your eyes and imagining that you are just taking a bus ride can really help.
When it comes down to it, being on a plane doesn’t feel that much different from being on a Greyhound bus (once you’re in the air).
Turbulence often resembles a bumpy road. And the possibility of your neighbor being too big for their seat and nodding off onto your shoulder no matter is real, whether you’re on the highway or 35,000 feet over Alaska.
5. Sedatives Are Just A Doctor’s Appointment Away
When there is simply no way to get around your fears, and thoughts of canceling your flight flash in your head, make an appointment to see your doctor.
Explain the situation and ask for a prescription of sedatives such as Xanax (brand name) or Alprazolam. There is nothing to be ashamed of. These little pills come in .25m .5, and 1 mg doses. You and your doctor will decide what dosage is best for you.
As a 5′8″ male who weighs about 160 pounds I can say the 1mg pretty well knocks me out for a good portion of a 7 hour flight. I prefer the .5mg pill.
With one or two of these pills you may not be able to alleviate all your apprehensions, but you certainly won’t feel quite as tense. Just be sure to wait until you get to the airport to pop the pill, or have someone else drive you there.
Likewise, don’t fall asleep in the waiting area and miss your flight!
If a prescription is not an option for you, remember that most major airlines are now taking credit cards for alcohol purchases during a flight and many foreign carriers still offer complimentary booze.
One or two drinks can calm your nerves, but don’t drink too much, because alcohol hits your body much harder in flight than on the ground.
Giving into your fear of flying can cause you to miss out on the fantastic chance of traveling the world.
The confidence and sense of accomplishment you gain by visiting a distant land is only more gratifying when you arrive by conquering your fears.
Do you have tips for flying? Share in the comments!
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13 Comments... join the discussion!
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Fantastic article, I sincerely hope that it can reach those people. Everyone should be able to travel without fear and maybe actually ENJOY the travel part. I liked the bus suggestion but I think the size of the plane itself also helps; I usually feel safer in larger planes, but that’s just me
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Just hearing those facts on airplanes and flying can really help ease someones mind. Thanks Cedric, my nerves are even releived. Samantha, I too feel safer on larger planes. I guess I just sort of forget where I’m at after awhile…of course the martinis help.
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I don’t like flying - but I love travel, so I have to put up with it. I recently flew to Central America on a plane that had some kind of outside camera - we watched the takeoff and landing and some bits in-between. That reduced my fear enormously - it’s that lack of control thing. You can’t control what you can’t see and however illogical, seeing a potential situation allows me to feel a bit more in control.
An odd thing that has helped my fear of flying is sitting next to someone whose fear is even worse. Now you can’t always guarantee that person will sit near you, but if you see someone grabbing the armrest tightly, start talking. I once flew from Malawi to Tanzania without even noticing it because the gentleman sitting next to me was panicking. I talked him down and completely forgot my own fear.
I can’t say this enough to pilots: let us know what’s going on! British Airways (however much we might hate going through the Heathrow cattle pen) is stellar at this - the slightest deviation or or bump and the pilot is on the loudspeaker, telling us what’s happening. Again, illogical, but if I think the pilot knows what’s wrong, I’ll think he knows what to do about it. Result: feeling of safety increases. Conversely, on a recent Iberia flight, we went through major turbulence. The light went on. That’s it. So I wonder: is the pilot too scared to even talk to us? I need that reassurance that if I’m not in control, someone who actually is is flying the plane.
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Scribetrotter - yes! having the pilot explain what’s going on does wonders I find. I never knew why, until you just explained it there:
“I need that reassurance that if I’m not in control, someone who actually is is flying the plane.”
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Hi
Perhaps we can help too.
We’ve got a site at flyingwithoutfear.com which provides loads of free help for anxious flyers.
Pod casts, videos, audios descriptions explanations and we’ve got the biggest free forum in the world with over 6500 messages of support and help for anyone who has a fear of flying.
Keith
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Hey Captain Keith,
Your site is a great resource. In fact it it reccommended in the article above. Thanks.↵ -
I actually used suggestion #4 with my kids. I just kept telling them to close their eyes and pretend they were on a bus. They could feel the occasional “pothole” but they didn’t panic, and the next time there was a class trip at school, my youngest child said the bus ride felt like she was on a plane!
I also definitely would recommend that the pilots explain what’s going on when there’s turbulence. Not all of them do and it definitely eases everyone’s minds when we know what’s going on.↵ -
That is great to hear Kathy. My first flight actually came when I was 24 and just said “you gotta do it sometime”. I think if I had grown up flying, like your kids, my fear of such and nervousness would not have built up so much.
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Not bad… Not bad.
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I grew up flying every other weekend from Tulsa to Austin and back again alone. I was a seasoned traveler for sure! However, I started developing an unhealthy fear when I got pregnant with my daughter, and it has been steadily worse since then. I am due to fly out this Saturday morning, ALONE, and I’ve got some Xanax ordered up from my DR. But the last time I took Xanax for a flight it didn’t seem to help. I am hoping it works this time! Honestly, I wish I didn’t have to rely on drugs to help me deal with the experience. I wish that I could just get over it!
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this helped me alot
thanks↵
