Taking a course, meeting a psychologist, and choosing a comfortable seat are suggestions to help reduce anxiety when flying.
Here are suggestions from travel experts and airline representatives on measures that can help passengers reduce anxiety and fear when using the plane.
See a psychologist or disperse anxiety on the fly
Johnny Jet, an American travel expert who has been to more than 70 countries around the world and flies 150,000 miles (more than 241,000 km) a year, has had a fear of flying for nearly 4 years. To minimize anxiety in the air, Johnny advises people to “talk to the crew, take a course, read a book”. This type of activity, according to Jet, is known as “exposure therapy”. It helps the brain adapt over time, gradually eliminating some of the fear and anxiety when flying. “It’s best to see a therapist who specializes in this area,” he says.
Choose a comfortable seat
Susan Zinn, an American psychotherapist, and the author used to have a fear of flying, which made her feel nauseous and panicky. Therefore, she adopts a seat selection strategy that makes Zinn feel comfortable when flying. To this day, she always chooses the chair in the aisle. This position helps Zinn always feel secure that she can get up to leave, instead of being stuck inside like the other two seats. This thought made her feel better. For travelers with economic conditions, Zinn recommends buying first class for more space. In addition, guests can also sit in a chair next to the exit door to stretch their legs comfortably.
Practice deep breathing
Zinn says she often recommends that her clients do breathing exercises. When you feel anxious, you can take a deep breath and exhale to calm down. In addition, if you feel panic, you can quickly go to the toilet, and splash cold water on your face to calm down. She considers this another useful measure to reduce the fear of flying.
Bring sour candy
Eat some sour candy to force your brain back to reality. Zinn points out that the sour taste of candy can help you focus better on the present moment, rather than the fear of “what if” things when flying.
Based on actual data
Many people who travel by plane are always worried about the possibility of an accident. This makes them restless and stressed during the flight. Zinn says it’s important to rely on statistical data to defeat this concern. For example, the annual risk of dying from a plane crash is only 1 in 11 million, and according to IATA (International Air Transport Association), airplanes are the safest means of transport.
