As long as I can remember, my fear of flying always involved absurd what if?
What if the emergency doors open and sucks everyone out of the plane?
What if the pilot takes a break to go to sleep?
What if a bird flies into the plane and promptly gets sucked into the engine?
(Oh, wait.)
Its those what ifs that can cause a lot of travelers extreme anxiety.
What if this turbulence knocks the plane right out of the sky?
What if the engine explodes?
Whatever your fears, weve got some ways for you to cope.
Find the facts
The facts of flying may help you to be less fearful.
For example, did you know that air travel is thesafest mode of transportation?
And your odds of dying in a plane crash are
about one in 11,000,000
.
Practice visualization
When youre afraid or anxious, you are completely focused on everything happening around you.
You feel the plane drop a little, and you panic.
The plane shakes, and your mind automatically thinks of the worst possible scenario.
Practicing visualizationcan help you stay as calm as possible.
I imagined that I was driving.
I pictured my hands holding a steering wheel.
(I did not hold my hands up, because I am not insane.)
I felt myself hitting the gas pedal (in my mind).
Maybe its a book you cant put down, your favorite movie or TV show, or calming music.
Instead, keep both of you distracted by engaging with them.
Do something together that takes your mind off your mental state.
Play Mad Libs or share one of those detailed zen coloring books.
Deal a game of Crazy 8s or Gin.
Bring a magnetic chess board or a book of crossword puzzles.
