Flying with Anxiety
Flying with Anxiety
Are you scared of boarding your plane every time you fly? Do you thank the 'Plane Gods' after every successful flight? Well, you're not alone. You may have experienced or seen family or friends suffer from flying anxiety but, this is completely normal! One of the biggest fears in the world is Aerophobia (the fear of flying). Flying can a little bit scary at first, however, once you have read this article we can guarantee that your fear of flying will disappear in no time. We have put together a couple of tips and tricks on how to overcome the fear of flying below.
What is Aerophobia?
Aerophobia is the fear of flying. Several people suffer from the fear of flying - the thought of flying, landing or take-off may cause discomfort to some travellers. If you suffer from flying anxiety you may experience dizziness, heart palpitations or shortness of breath.
You have probably heard this over and over again but flying is the safest mode of transport! We can guarantee that you are flying with trained and certificated individuals. In the United States, pilots need to have at least 1,500 hours of flying before they can work on commercial airlines. The cabin crew also play a huge part in the aircraft's safety. They are trained initially for 7 weeks and attend training sessions every couple of months to ensure they are kept up with the latest aviation safety.
Tips For Flying with Anxiety
People that suffer from aerophobia may experience discomfort and intense anxiety. Alternative Airlines has put a few tips that can help you overtime your fear of flying. Follow the advice below.
Speak to your doctor
If you suffer from flying anxiety it's best to speak to your doctor before flying. Your doctor can give you a few tips and tricks on how to overcome your fear of flying and may prescribe you calming medication.
Avoid Caffeinated and Alcoholic Beverages
In a study, it was shown that caffeinated drinks and alcoholic beverages don't mix well with anxiety. Alternatively, treat yourself to nice and warm hot chocolate or if you prefer a cold tropical juice.
Seat Selection
If you're flying with anxiety we recommend that you pre-book your seat before flying. If height triggers your anxiety, then avoid the window seat. Buy seat selection at checkout in order to guarantee that you and the passengers on your booking are sat together - this will make you feel more at ease.
Distract Yourself!
Keep yourself distracted! There may be a couple of magazines or a few shows or films you can download and watch during your flight. When you are occupied during the flight you are more likely to forget that you're in an uncomfortable situation.
Take Medication
To avoid anxiety whilst flying we advise that you bring any medication provided by your doctor to overcome the fear of flying. Some great medications include diazepam (Valium) or alprazolam (Xanax).
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FAQs
What can I take to help with flying anxiety?
Medication taken before flying includes Anti-anxiety medication, such as diazepam (Valium) or alprazolam (Xanax). There is also motion sickness medication, such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) that can help if you feel sick when flying.
How to help someone with flying anxiety?
Keep them distracted throughout the flight! Have a little gossip session or keep up with the latest shows during your flight so the person with flying anxiety forgets that they are flying.
Is flying safe?
Without a doubt! Flying is one of the safest modes of transport. According to research flying in the US, Europe and Australia is significantly safer than driving a car. The chances of being in an accident during a flight are one in 1.2 million.
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a natural response to a situation where you or a person may feel stressed. Anxiety causes your body to react to a racing heart, sweaty palms and loss of breath. Anyone can suffer from anxiety when they are left in a worrying situation. Please contact your doctor if you suffer from anxiety as they can provide you with a calming prescription.
What percentage of people are nervous flyers?
Between 30% and 40% of people are scared of flying or suffer from anxiety whilst flying. However, this is completely normal! Follow our steps from above on how to overcome anxiety whilst flying.
What if I experience turbulence during my flight?
A Tik Toker shared a tip she learned from a real pilot on how to overcome the fear of flying. She used a pot of jelly to represent the air and placed a small piece of napkin inside. As the paper sat in the middle of the jelly pot, she explained that pressure from the top, bottom, and each side keeps it in place—just like a plane in the air. The Tik Toker continues to shake the jelly pot to represent turbulence and says "See, it's not going up or down. It's stuck in there. Because there's pressure coming from the top, bottom, and the sides. It's not gonna automatically fall just because it's shaking," she says: "You do not have to be scared."