It's alright to be fearful, to fret when it comes to flying. But if you are someone looking for ways of overcoming fear of flying, there is perhaps not a better place for you in the internet right now. Enough of popping anti-depressants or sleeping pills while you're onboard a plane. These practical tips will calm you down! Let's get started
1. Get a little bit of technical information
When it comes to overcoming fear of flying, we really need to understand how plane works, the statistics, and the rational possibility of a plane crash. National Safety Council suggests that the chance of dying in a car crash is 1 in 112, while when it comes to air transport accident the stats says it's 1 in 8,357. Not just that, there's always a backup of two, or more essentials that make an airplane fly at all times; so in case of failure of any of the essentials there is something to back it up.
2. Know why turbulence is actually caused
'Flying itself is a nightmare and to make it worse you bring turbulence?! God bless my anxious heart that's sh*t scared of flying.' But before you panic, let me clear this one as well. The intensity of a turbulence is measured in G forces and almost all planes are capable of handling upto 5G's. Here's a small description of G forces for each intensity:
Mild - .8 to 1.2 G
Moderate - .6 to 1.4
Severe - .4 to 1.6 G
So, the next time you're flying don't fret over something that's not even worth it! The SOAR app has a built in G force calculator as well as other tool meant to tackle your fear of flying phobia.
3. Get into brain training
Our brain gets too distressed when it get into thinking about free fall, specially when it hasn't experienced it ever. So, to tell your brain that it's not as terrifying as it is perceived, indulge in adventure activities as cliff diving. Or if that's too extreme for you, jumping off a flight of stairs may do the trick as well. This activity is believed to let people conquer fear of flying.
4. Don't get into anxiety denial
People suffering from anxiety disorders know it to be true; the more we deny our anxiety the more intense it gets. But I am not suggesting you should start getting anxious willingly, instead just accept when anxiety hits you. Let your stomach feel uncomfortable, let your hands feel shaky, just don't give all of this a lot of attention. Let this pass.
I know this is easy said that done, but we can try, right? This is not just something I made up for the sake of adding a tip to cure fear of flying. This in fact is a therapy practiced by doctors and it is known as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
5. Cut off alcohol and caffeine
The phobia of flying itself is something that plays around with your mental health, making you dehydrated and even fatigued in some cases. To make it worse, you can add some caffeine or alcohol. Many people think these two things helps in dealing with fear of flying, but it sadly isn't true.
If you wish to seek medicinal or chemical help, you must get in touch with a doctor before you try anything at all. And as far as caffeine is concerned, swap it with a warm cup of herbal tea and let your nerves relax.
6. Have a happy, loveable imagination
Trigger your brain to release more dopamines and oxytocin. These hormones are released when we're happy, look at puppies/babies, cuddle etc. Once the happy hormones start flowing, there is little to no space for hormones that create stress. So, having happy imagination or watching happy movies/pictures even before the boarding can be counted as a fear of flying therapy.
7. Focus more on the trip
In most cases when we fly, specially with flight anxiety, there is a major purpose behind the trip. You must have been dreaming of visiting the tropical paradise since childhood or are stoked by the idea of shopping during Dubai shopping festival. Whatever it is, just look forward to your trip more than the long hours in flight.
8. Breathing exercise could be your saviour
Yoga and meditation aren't called brilliant legacies for nothing. When you try breathing exercise, you focus gets on the sound of your breath, your lungs filling up with air, taking your attention away from your fear of flight.
The 10-Second Grip is an ideal exercise to calm your anxious mind. This requires gripping on armrest, while contracting your arms, stomach and legs. Be in this position for ten seconds and exhale slowly. This exercise will help loosen your muscles, eventually making you more relaxed.
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