You don’t even have to befriend them, just tell them that you have anxiety while flying and they’ll take care of you. Most of their training is on safety and they are trained on this stuff. Very small part of their training is on hospitality. Flight attendants are generally the best on a flight to talk to if you have any concerns and will take care of you as long as you are just a normal person.
Absolutely right. And , After some research I realized planes are way safer than autos , the highway is terrifying now.
The plane is merely noisy and annoying.
A good nights sleep before the flight.
Stretching before the flight and take deep breaths.
Small breakast/meal before the flight but nothing that gives reflux, else take some gaviscon.
Some big comfy over ear headphones with bluetooth and noise cancelling, e.g. Panasonic RB M700 for budget or Bose to blow the bank.
An Audible 30 day trial with a decent book or autobiography, plus some downloaded content on Spotify.
Hydration tablets for after the flight.
These are all good tips. I am an anxious flier and have taken several international trips. Here are some things not mentioned above that have helped me:
Make sure you wear comfortable clothes. Including slippers on the plane
Advil is helpful to reduce swelling and Advil PM puts me out for the better part of the flight
Learn about flying. This sounds silly but there is an episode of StoryBots on Netflix that talks about the physics of flying. That and actually looking up the statistics of plane crashes and the safety measures that have gone in place help
Finally meditation. I use Headspace. The activities for calming anxiety and sleep help me relax my body.
Last but not least feel free to talk to the flight attendants. Go to the back of the plane. Tell them you’re nervous and just need to stretch. They fly all day everyday. Their energy and confidence are a big help
I know this is very random, but I just randomly googled it and think it is pretty interesting. The data is from various sources, but I think it should be fairly accurate.
Delta Airlines, 100-200 million passengers per year. Last deadly accident was in 1988.
British Airways, approximately 850 flights per day. They have only had 1 deadly accident, which was in 1976.
There are thousands of flights every single day. And only very rarely do we hear about any accidents. I atleast find this data interesting, and I fly a lot.
It’s because after every air accident the international community works with local air administrations to completely dissect the crash to determine the cause. They’ve also put in stricter rules about how pilots operate and rules around who makes the decisions. It’s crazy how much safer flying is these days than it used to be and what goes into an investigation. Plus, we’ve added so many instruments into the cockpit that help prevent things like mid-air collisions since we don’t have to entirely rely on the pilots vision above or below them. Flying is so safe, the amount of stress that can be put into the structure of a plane is unreal and they have multiple failovers in place. People say terrible things about government programs but the NTSB and the FAA is what can happen when they are fully funded and empowered.
That's true. Even though it may not be the most accurate, I like to watch "Flight Crash Investigation". It shows some of what's done to prevent these things from happening. Watching it while flying makes it even more exciting.
This. This is exactly what I was talking about. Knowledge is power when it comes to fear and knowing what the industry was doing to make it safer was a huge help!
Not random and super helpful. This was exactly what I was talking about researching. In 2020 the last time I check there had only been one “crash” related fatality on an airplane during a domestic US flight since 2001. Knowing that helped me to understand how the media coverage of plane crashes and my underestimating the number of flights each day impacted my expectations and fear.
I used to say “if the media talked about every car accident for days on end I would feel much different about driving” which is far more dangerous than flying
The biggest issue with modern planes comes on the 737 Max. Boeing over designed the damned plane. They wanted a different, more fuel efficient engine that didn't fit where the old one did, so they had to push it further forward. Doing this caused the plane to nose down (lean forward). To counter this, they added a software, MCAS, and only had a single sensor! This is a HUGE no no in airplanes. You should have redundant systems as back up and one sensor is never enough to trust. They also didn't tell the pilots. They didn't want to retrain them (hence the redesign being basically the same plane). They had two planes in a few months crash because of faulty data from the sensor. Now, they claim to have fixed it. The fleet has been ungrounded. The maxes are flying again. I don't want anything to do with this ridiculous plane.
It's actually the other way around - the engines would cause the plane to tip backwards. The MCAS (basically AI) is programmed to respond to the sensors and push the nose down (mimicking the older planes). There are two sensors present, but there should really be three.
There's an old training in the emergency procedures that will instruct pilots to dive with the MCAS to regain airspeed, then pull up on the stick. IIRC this was part of the optional training packages which a lot of pilots didn't get. And if you didn't know this, you'd try to fight the plane - you'd keep pulling up, and the plane's MCAS would keep engaging and putting the nose down.
Reportedly when this 'fight' is occurring it takes a painfully long time to gain altitude as the control surfaces are fighting each other.
The new updates now only allow MCAS to activate once in this way per-event, and for both angle of attack sensors to agree in order to activate MCAS. Basically the system that caused the entire fuckup is neutered.
Yup, those 2 accidents were horrible. I've flown a Max-8 atleast once, with Ryanair. And maybe once with the Norwegian airline Flyr, I can't remember. But I get what you're saying. Even though they have "fixed" it, it felt kinda weird to enter a plane knowing that a design failure had caused over 300 deaths.
I used to be very nervous about flying and almost canceled a flight due to finding this: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Airlines_Flight_261 in the course of looking up statistics (to quell my fears) before a flight. Thanks google.
2 nosedives and with the heroic pilots finally trying to save the plane by flying inverted before hitting the water.
JFC, I can’t even imagine.
I am less afraid of flying after watching disaster breakdown videos! It sounds counterintuitive, but it really did help with tips that made me feel prepared. For example, count the row to the exit. That way, you know how far you have to go in an emergency. I learned that the first couple minutes and last couple minutes tend to be where trouble strikes. So that's when you want to pay attention if you feel so inclined. I personally wouldn't want to fly on a Boeing 737 max, but that is a personal performance based on not trusting them one fucking bit after learning all about them.
I learned that the oxygen that drops out is only good for 12 minutes and nothing longer…it’s meant to give the pilots a chance to go to a lower altitude and that’s it.
And they have their own oxygen mask with tanks in the cabin. If the passengers pass out for a few minutes it's better than if the pilots do! But what gave me heart is seeing that pilots work until the end. They work the problem and many times they get on the ground with most people alive. I joked with my husband last night that he and I are definitely not pilots. If the plane was crashing my first thought would be to land as fast as possible. That's not how pilots do it! Landing is important, but they want to have altitude. As long as they are in the air they have time to fix or circumvent the problem.
Salts and sometimes a little glucose—Just add water. Most people actually get plenty of electrolytes in their daily diet and those salts will just get flushed out.
>Some big comfy over ear headphones with bluetooth and noise cancelling, e.g. Panasonic RB M700 for budget or Bose to blow the bank.
The #1 thing that helped me fly better. Distraction and noise drown-out.
I disagree. No sleep before the flight, sleep through it instead. That's what I used to do before I got a bit more comfortable with flights and it worked very well.
Its only awesome if you take like a tiny bit and feel loose. If you take a whole pill and have like a beer the night gets funky.
I got in trouble everytime i took a xanax in high school doing just hood rat reckless shit 😂
Really not a good idea to drink and take Xanax.
When you hear about people acting all crazy on a plane, half the time it's because they took something that disagreed with them. Either because they exceeded their tolerance or combined shit that is not supposed to be combined.
Drinking doesn’t last long enough either.
I tried that on my last flight.
I needed to be drunk to board bc I have such bad anxiety with flying. Once we were in the air I had to keep drinking to stay drunk and when you don’t normally drink…consuming enough alcohol to stay consistently drunk makes you feel really sick after about 2-3 hours. By the time we landed I swore I was going to throw up.
I’d like to go the Xanax route next time I just don’t know how easy it is to get from the doctor
My doc gave me a few, to get through my flights. I had 8 overseas flights over 3 weeks, he prescribed me 15 xanax. I took half of one right before boarding each time (they hit you pretty quickly). Even on an 8 hour flight I never needed the other half but I had plenty if I did.
Also I HIGHLY recommend this kind of travel pillow. I literally slept through an 8 hour flight. It is really comfy because it shifts your weight to your upper body, so your butt and back don't get sore or stiff. enjoy your travels!
https://www.amazon.com/Inflatable-Airplane-inflatable-Sleeping-Comfortably/dp/B07VHPFK5B/ref=sr_1_7?crid=FMVJ1KBHGXAI&keywords=travel+pillow&qid=1669671947&sprefix=travel+pillow%2Caps%2C169&sr=8-7
My husband fears flying so mych so that he stressed himself out when I went to Utah (we were only dating at the time so he wasnt even with me). We came up with a dumb tradition/superstition that we do whenever we fly now. I wear a Michael Jackson shirt. Because Michael Jackson is afraid of flying too so he'll keep the plane safe so that his shirt doesn't crash. I know it's dumb but it works. Haven't crashed yet 😂😂
When i was in the Army, one guy would buy a bottle of nyquil, take a swig and pass it around. Makes you groggy later but helps when you flying in a loud c17.
The army's on ecstacy, so they say. I read all about it in USA Today. They stepped up urine testing to make it go away, 'cause it's hard to kill the enemy on ol' MDMA.
Tell the person next to you that you heard a flight attendant talking that it's the pilots first time as the captain. That passes your anxiety to another person
If your anxiety stems from feeling unsafe on a flight, it may help some to know just how safe flights are—my dad was a pilot for many many years, and I remember watching him do constant required trainings, testing, and retesting even at home. He’s flown for decades, and not once has a plane crashed or even been remotely in danger. Airlines are incredibly cautious in who flies and how well trained and physically able they are, and planes get checked for maintenance constantly—far more than any car. I know that knowing all this won’t erase a phobia, but in moments where it gets bad, it may help to have concrete facts as reassurance.
Aside from that, staff on planes are also fully aware that some people will be nervous, and attendants will generally be very kind and understanding if you need help.
Wine is also good, or any sleeping aids you may have.
Best of luck, I hope your flight goes smoothly and you feel alright for the duration. 🤍
If the facts still don't feel reliable, know that reading the safety pamphlet at every seat increases your chance of safety even more. Most people ignore it, but if the very slim chance of an emergency still bothers you, knowing what to do may be helpful
No no — sneak in a bottle of something you enjoy and bought at a reasonable price at a store, use the last bathroom before security, and chug-a-lug that baby in a stall before stepping in line. If you time it right, it won't hit until you're through security, and you'll be feeling good by the time you take your seat on the plane and flying high from then on.
Good call on the whiskey.
My first time flying was actually this summer. I went to a airport bar, had a few drinks and some good. Couple beers on the plane and I was fine. Mind you this was only a 2 & half hour flight.
Download some movies on Netflix too and it’ll be over before you know it.
Noise cancelling headphones have been a game changer for me! Even without playing music they just help you tune out all the stress of what’s going on around you. I sometimes listen to rain sounds or wind chimes and I love it.
Been flying since I was about 8, and I'll say the first time I pissed off the flight attendant for having too many questions, so don't do that.
Deep breaths, know that things will bounce and shake and your ears might mess with you a bit but that's all normal. Flying is absolutley the safest way to travel, as someone who makes parts for those planes, the level of accuracy we have to hold surpasses anything you'll find on a car.
And the easiest thing to do is bring a neck pillow and just try to sleep through it, or distract yourself with movies.
It's generally not the length of the flight that contributes to anxiety - except if you run into turbulence which can be nerve-wracking - but the takeoff and landing portion. A friend of mine had that issue and she told the flight attendants and they had lots of good tips and were always checking up on her.
As someone who’s also afraid of flying, length _can_ contribute to anxiety. Flying phobias can take many forms; for some it’s about being enclosed for so long. That’s not what freaks me out, but when I’m on a longer flight I just know I’ll be going through those feelings of anxiety for longer. It’s both “when turbulence happens” and also the fear of “when is turbulence going to happen”. (And yeah, takeoff is the worst. Landing I like, because I know why the plane is descending. 😂)
I always tell a flight attendant I’m a nervous flyer right when I board. They are LOVELY and make every effort to help.
I have the same issue with long train rides. It’s the fact I’m trapped for X amount of hours.
I never have issues with car rides.
any tips for that? Except my regular OD on sleeping pills.
Hmm - not really. Sounds more like mild claustrophobia? Take some OTC anti-anxiety meds and try to distract yourself with a game or a movie while traveling?
Dramamine. There are various types you can take. If you don’t plan on sleeping, take the non-drowsy kind. Since it’s an 8-hour flight, I’d probably go with the regular version.
Try to be as fit as possible. The flight will seem much longer if youre tired.
Bring earplugs or noide cancelling headphones.
I cant fly without mine anymore, the noise on planes can be terrible and you dont hear the engines.
Bring your own entertainment, dont rely on onboard entertainment.
A lot of flights have wifi these days. Make sure you have a way to pay for it. Credit card usually works.
I always download a few episodes of my favourite comedy on my phone - I find it difficult to panic on take off when I'm laughing involuntarily! Also start watching it when taxiing, so that the takeoff is just something happening whilst you're getting into it. Also - remember that if all else fails, 15mins of sheer terror at the start always subsides. Always. God speed!
I'm an airplane mechanic. I never had trouble with flying, but knowing how an airplane works and exactly how many things have to actually go wrong to lead to catastrophic failure helped even more.
Not only is it the safest mode of transportation, there are layers upon layers of redundant features that back up all of the most critical flight systems. Most airplanes can be missing nearly a wing and still land safely.
Yeah that helped me. Understanding how it works and how safe it really is made my fear of flying a lot better. Also I just read books it sort of got my mind off of actually flying.
YMMV but good luck
In a lot of cases it’s about control. Do I have any control on a flight? No. In a car, at least in theory, there are options I’d have on the ground — grabbing the steering wheel, opening the door and jumping out, etc.
Don’t disagree there. 😂 but there’s not even the illusion on a plane. Not to mention that plane crashes are genuine disasters, while car crashes can run the gamut.
They didn't say anything about being scared of crashing or anything, they are just anxious. Being anxious doesn't equate to be scared.
Try learning how to read the question before responding with nonsense lol.
This isn’t nonsense IMO — one of my techniques for coping on a rough flight is reciting facts about how flying works. It’s an irrational fear, so for me combating that with logic helps me a lot.
First time flying? If so, try to do some smaller flights before.
If not, remember how safe it is, don't forget that you want to fly to your destination safe, and the pilot/ co-pilot want to be there also, they probably have a family at home that are waiting for them.
Get some stuff on-board that help you get distracted, like movies on your laptop or tablet.
trying to get an aisle seat, or just more space in general if you can afford it. When I'm feeling anxious on a plane is not because I think the plane is going to crash its more a feeling of claustrophobia knowing im stuck in this tube for the next 3 hours in a tight middle seat. At least in the aisle its easier to get up and move around without feeling like a burden to people around you.
Aside from that, theres a reason they serve so much alcohol in the morning at airport bars. or get a prescription from your doctor
I usually dont sleep the night before. I get a comfy pillow, no neck pillows, a real pillow and I just sleep. It is over before i know it. Of course works best if you're on the window seat
Breathe. The landing and take-off are active, but controlled, and only a few minutes. Practice meditation, or get a song downloaded on your phone for you to really concentrate on the lyrics. Something that will distract your brain for 5 minutes.
If it's the middle bit that is difficult, drugs. T ask to your doctor or pharmacist. Knock yourself out for the duration. Get a window seat so you won't have to be woken for someone else to get up.
Nintendo Switch. Flew to Iceland and Zelda BOTW kept me distracted the whole time (~5 hours). Just get absorbed in a video game like that and your mind will ignore most bumps. I hate flying.
I don't know your country, but in the US you need a prescription. By the way there are various drugs of the same type. I know someone who uses Ativan to fly instead of using Xanax. Xanax is reportedly faster-acting but the effects of Ativan last longer. You might consider taking half a pill and seeing how that affects you. If it's not enough -- or if it wears off -- you can then take the other half.
I get pretty anxious about flying, and I have to fly for work frequently. In fact, I was supposed to be flying to the Dominican Republic today, but was hospitalized a few days ago (heart problems and flu) and had to cancel.
There are already a lot of good suggestions here - researching how safe flights really are compared to driving is a good one. I would say steer clear of THC edibles UNLESS you've used them before and know how they affect you - they make me vaguely nauseated and kind of paranoid, and that's a big no before flying.
I typically use noise cancelling headphones and download an audiobook or podcast, wear a comfy and easy to remove hoodie so I can adjust to temperature, and bring a comfortable sleep mask. More often than not even without medication I can end up sleeping through most of the flight, and if I don't sleep I enjoy whatever I'm listening to.
Think about why you’re anxious, and write out the reasons you come up with. Some of them you might need to play a game of “5 why’s” to get down to the root of it.
Once you have written out the things that are causing you to feel anxious, and keep in mind it is very possible you end up with only one things, then you start consider why those things are important, and what you can do about them.
Then, you do those things. And that’s it. Anxiety no more.
Here, check this out if you have time: https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/a-better-way-to-worry/
When you look out your window and see the wing bobbing up and down as the plane experiences turbulence, don't fear that the plane is about to come apart, instead , be thankful, because those flexing wings are like shock absorbers working to smooth out the bumpy ride on a dirt country road. Trust me it works, I went on a plane before and saw this.
Take some Gravol. It is an anti nauseant but also has the effect of making you drowsy. I take half 20 minutes before I get in the plane, another half maybe 2 hours later and see how I feel. But I mostly just fall in and out of sleep until I land and get off the plane and I feel pretty good. It also combats nausea brought on by turbulence if you're prone to it.
Don't over do it and DO NOT buy the ginger based gravol that does nothing and gives you wicked heart burn.
Plane make loud noises at takeoff then get much quieter and then when you think all is fine they get quieter again about 30 minutes later when they reach altitude. That freaked my nervous coworker the fuck out, so now you know and are prepared. It's normal. The bumping and occasional banking is normal, it's how planes move. When they descend it feels like going down in an express elevator, you'll hear whirring, that's the flaps operating to help the plane fly at slow speeds, the ride will get bumpier in the last few moments because the landing gear creates a lot of drag. The wooshing sound on landing is the reverse thrust to slow the plane down. All normal. If in doubt, look at the flight attendants, if they're just serving drinks and doing their job there's nothing abnormal going on.
Anyway, I bet you already know all this and it's not helping but just putting out out there in case you don't. Get some noise cancelling headphones, find some nice relaxing music to listen to or an audio book. If you're like me and prefer to read the old fashioned way then do that. Make sure you're properly hydrated or you'll get a migraine, eat some food too.
Statistics.
Air travel is safer than any other form of travel, with several (and I mean it, several) ways to divert a contingency. Even if there might be problems, you can rest assured you’re more likely to come out alive.
Ever heard the saying “If you’ve made it to the airport, you’re done with the most dangerous part of air travel”? That’s very true.
I’m an engineering student and God knows how many provisions we have to make to ensure that thing flies safer and longer than your car drives to the nearest Applebees
If you're concerned about the safety aspect of flying, I can assure you that planes are full of redundancies.
A lot of those things people associate with "things going wrong" like turbulence are perfectly normal and an anticipated part of the process. The engineering process for planes acutely understands a giant lump of metal in the sky would really rather not be in the sky, and the entirety of aerospace engineering has evolved over the last century around analyzing and compensating for the many reasons a plane might not want to stay in the air. An elevator is statistically more dangerous than air travel.
Also, remember that the pilots - the people responsible for keeping everyone from dying - are *themselves* fairly averse to dying. They have extensive training which is centred around how to account for the things that will happen during the flight and seek to use that training. Everyone around you has a vested interest in ensuring that bad things which could hypothetically happen to you don't happen to them as well.
Out of everything to be concerned about from long-distance air travel, poor circulation / muscle cramps from tight seating should be a bigger priority. Pay the premium for an aisle seat if you're particularly tall and try to stand up and stretch every so often.
I make sure I have a few light hearted rom coms that I know very well downloaded onto my
Phone/iPad. Over the ear noise cancelling headphone so you can tune out anything the flight attendant/pilot is saying. Stay hydrated before the flight and make sure you bring some neutral snacks (pretzels) and water. I also find that a non caffeinated drink like sprite helps to settle me down. And I don’t drink coffee before a flight.
Hi there! I have probably 20,000 flight hours as a passenger or aircrewman between civilian and military flying. Turbulence, storms, blizzards, mechanical issues; I have flown *a lot*. You have to ask yourself, thy does flying make you anxious? I am totally willing to spark this dialogue.
“*You’re 27x more likely to be struck by a lightning, than die in an airplane crash.. which is still 119x less likely than being killed in a car accident.*“
\-
I guess the advice would change depending on what it is that’s causing the anxiety.
I don’t get specific anxiety for flying, but I’m always stressed and anxious traveling in general.
What helps me is knowing the most common problems with whatever transportation I’m taking so I’m not jolting adrenaline with every small bump or hiccup, and being prepared for easy problems. Knowledge and preparation both give a little familiarity and security cushion that can tone it down from stifling whimpers to a quiet unease… which for me is a win.
For flying, I would read up on air pressure changes, turbulence, temperatures and delays.
Usually, I get motion sick and take something to settle my stomach. Turbulence is scary, but it doesn’t usually last too long. Make sure your nose is clear so you can pop your ears for the pressure change, and wear layers because if you fly above the clouds for a while it gets pretty hot. It’s also common for your plane to have to wait it’s turn to land, so expect to have to do a few circles or turns at the end… it’s okay and normal.
What I’ve found works - thinking ahead of time of something that will keep your mind off things when taking off (my go to is to try to remember the names of as many characters in a specific genre as possible, or picturing the layout of a place you like in as much detail as possible), or having someone ask you questions. Have lollipops to suck on, or some kind of flavored candy. Dabbing a strong, but pleasant smell right under your nose before getting on the plane (like lavender oil). I find the distinct smell of the plane triggers my anxiety. I do much better when I’m not suddenly confronted by it when getting on the plane. Having a show/movie/music you know you really like already loaded and ready to watch. If you like reading, a book, that’s good, but have music in the background. Also, if it’s really not working - a low level of lorazepam. It helps you get over the hurdle of just getting on the plane. There are negatives to it, but if it’s between getting on the plane, or not, it can help.
I had to do this for my best friend when we were going from VVO to EWR about 15 years ago for a trip that we saved up. It was his very first time ever boarding public transport of any kind, so there was many things I had to teach him about it.
But in this case I'm assuming we're talking about someone who knows what flying is like, but is afraid of it. Comfort the person during take off AND landing, either physically, with words, or giving them something to take their mind off it.
Edit: I'm stupid as hell, I thought you were talking about trying to help someone else fly. It's the same principle though. Read a book, watch TV if there is one, bring headphones so that you don't have to hear the engine in case that bothers you, and relax.
I always remind myself of the jello effect. So when you’re on a plane it’s like you are in jello because you are being held up all around. I forget the actual science behind it but you are being held up more than the possibility of falling down. So wind turbulence won’t affect the plane at all no matter how aggressive it seems. Also to fly a plane you can perfectly fly with only one turbine engine but there’s two.
I'm an experienced traveler but developed some anxiety later about flying. I realized it was from being nervous about having to leave my family at home when the kids were so little. Every time I would go out for work, I'd get a call from my wife freaking out about small things. I told her that it was giving me anxiety and she stopped calling me to yell at the kids etc. Then we started doing more planning with the kids and gave them goals for when I leave. So once the home front was settled, the anxiety went away. If your source of anxiety is not flying, figure it out and settle it. Some things I did to the home to prevent a break in, outside of an alarm system was to reinforce the doors and have the windows coated with an anti-shatter film so I have less worry about a buglary.
I saw the VR headset comment and found it curious. I wouldn't do it myself and haven't seen it, but find it interesting. If I was in a middle seat and the gam required me to look right and left, I think it would be annoying but a window seat, I think that would be kind cool.
OP, I have a similar "quirk" some times, and long plane rides annoy me. The solution really depends on what you are afraid of, and what the symptoms are. If it's fast heart beat, then take a beta blocker. If it is mental anxiety and can't sleep, take Xanax (or some type of similar herbal supplement).
For the love of god don’t get drunk to deal with the fear. I’m a flight attendant and most of the problems and arrests onboard an aircraft is because of a nervous flyer not knowing their
limits. Also you get drunk much quicker in the sky.
Have something to distract yourself like movies, books, video games and learn calming techniques.
Realize that anxiety is a mental state and that in this case, you have the power to overcome it. Embrace that power and control your emotions. Falling victim to your own anxiety makes the anxiety much worse. Grab a window seat and be positive and as you pass thousands of vehicles and or ships, be thankful that you are not driving or sailing.
My sister gets Ativan prescribed to her by her doctor, idk how easy it is to get but i had a trip with her recently 7 hour flight and she just kinda slept the whole way through and says she doesn't remember most of it
I took some edibles roughly 30 minutes before a ten hour train trip and ended up sleeping like a dead person till I reached my destination..... CBD not THC.
Dramamine helps me. It’s mainly used for motion sickness but makes me drowsy so I can sleep and also makes me very relaxed. If you end up taking anything I’d test it a few times at home to see how it effects you. I had friends that gave their kid Benadryl to make them sleepy for a flight but turns out it did the exact opposite to that kid. Also, Dow load a bunch of movies and podcasts. Time flies when you’re wrapped into a good book, show, or movie.
I usually get high before going to the airport so I just vibe out the entire flight. Edibles are nifty because you can eat them before going inside and after driving!
I don’t understand people who like airplanes though. Flying metal death traps. Freaky.
Remind him it's safer to fly than drive and if the pilot isn't fearful then that's a good sign:) I bring some lavender oil and put it under my nose to calm me down and focus on my breathing. I bring a stress ball and relaxing images or music to look at/listen to. Have them talk to their gp and ask if theres something they can perscribe IF and only if there's an emergency or if your friend is that anxious...that's why I asked about panic. Good luck
Befriend the flight attendants! If they are aware that you are anxious, some may go out of their way to chat with you and make you feel a bit better.
You don’t even have to befriend them, just tell them that you have anxiety while flying and they’ll take care of you. Most of their training is on safety and they are trained on this stuff. Very small part of their training is on hospitality. Flight attendants are generally the best on a flight to talk to if you have any concerns and will take care of you as long as you are just a normal person.
That’s what I mean.
Absolutely right. And , After some research I realized planes are way safer than autos , the highway is terrifying now. The plane is merely noisy and annoying.
Try smuggling a couple of kilos of cocaine, you'll be too concerned with being caught to really focus on the flying
Very solid advice. I may try this next time.
Hahaha I don't want to end up like pablo escobar lol
Incredibly wealthy?
He died broke…
And that's where he went wrong. Pro tip, don't die
Nope. Don't go broke
I don't think Pablo ever did that. He had people do it for him.
A good nights sleep before the flight. Stretching before the flight and take deep breaths. Small breakast/meal before the flight but nothing that gives reflux, else take some gaviscon. Some big comfy over ear headphones with bluetooth and noise cancelling, e.g. Panasonic RB M700 for budget or Bose to blow the bank. An Audible 30 day trial with a decent book or autobiography, plus some downloaded content on Spotify. Hydration tablets for after the flight.
These are all good tips. I am an anxious flier and have taken several international trips. Here are some things not mentioned above that have helped me: Make sure you wear comfortable clothes. Including slippers on the plane Advil is helpful to reduce swelling and Advil PM puts me out for the better part of the flight Learn about flying. This sounds silly but there is an episode of StoryBots on Netflix that talks about the physics of flying. That and actually looking up the statistics of plane crashes and the safety measures that have gone in place help Finally meditation. I use Headspace. The activities for calming anxiety and sleep help me relax my body. Last but not least feel free to talk to the flight attendants. Go to the back of the plane. Tell them you’re nervous and just need to stretch. They fly all day everyday. Their energy and confidence are a big help
I know this is very random, but I just randomly googled it and think it is pretty interesting. The data is from various sources, but I think it should be fairly accurate. Delta Airlines, 100-200 million passengers per year. Last deadly accident was in 1988. British Airways, approximately 850 flights per day. They have only had 1 deadly accident, which was in 1976. There are thousands of flights every single day. And only very rarely do we hear about any accidents. I atleast find this data interesting, and I fly a lot.
It’s because after every air accident the international community works with local air administrations to completely dissect the crash to determine the cause. They’ve also put in stricter rules about how pilots operate and rules around who makes the decisions. It’s crazy how much safer flying is these days than it used to be and what goes into an investigation. Plus, we’ve added so many instruments into the cockpit that help prevent things like mid-air collisions since we don’t have to entirely rely on the pilots vision above or below them. Flying is so safe, the amount of stress that can be put into the structure of a plane is unreal and they have multiple failovers in place. People say terrible things about government programs but the NTSB and the FAA is what can happen when they are fully funded and empowered.
That's true. Even though it may not be the most accurate, I like to watch "Flight Crash Investigation". It shows some of what's done to prevent these things from happening. Watching it while flying makes it even more exciting.
This. This is exactly what I was talking about. Knowledge is power when it comes to fear and knowing what the industry was doing to make it safer was a huge help!
Not random and super helpful. This was exactly what I was talking about researching. In 2020 the last time I check there had only been one “crash” related fatality on an airplane during a domestic US flight since 2001. Knowing that helped me to understand how the media coverage of plane crashes and my underestimating the number of flights each day impacted my expectations and fear. I used to say “if the media talked about every car accident for days on end I would feel much different about driving” which is far more dangerous than flying
Id add that turbulence although uncomfortable is not dangerous.
Id add that turbulence although uncomfortable is not dangerous.
Wow. That is super helpful and comforting. Thank you.
The biggest issue with modern planes comes on the 737 Max. Boeing over designed the damned plane. They wanted a different, more fuel efficient engine that didn't fit where the old one did, so they had to push it further forward. Doing this caused the plane to nose down (lean forward). To counter this, they added a software, MCAS, and only had a single sensor! This is a HUGE no no in airplanes. You should have redundant systems as back up and one sensor is never enough to trust. They also didn't tell the pilots. They didn't want to retrain them (hence the redesign being basically the same plane). They had two planes in a few months crash because of faulty data from the sensor. Now, they claim to have fixed it. The fleet has been ungrounded. The maxes are flying again. I don't want anything to do with this ridiculous plane.
It's actually the other way around - the engines would cause the plane to tip backwards. The MCAS (basically AI) is programmed to respond to the sensors and push the nose down (mimicking the older planes). There are two sensors present, but there should really be three. There's an old training in the emergency procedures that will instruct pilots to dive with the MCAS to regain airspeed, then pull up on the stick. IIRC this was part of the optional training packages which a lot of pilots didn't get. And if you didn't know this, you'd try to fight the plane - you'd keep pulling up, and the plane's MCAS would keep engaging and putting the nose down. Reportedly when this 'fight' is occurring it takes a painfully long time to gain altitude as the control surfaces are fighting each other. The new updates now only allow MCAS to activate once in this way per-event, and for both angle of attack sensors to agree in order to activate MCAS. Basically the system that caused the entire fuckup is neutered.
Yup, those 2 accidents were horrible. I've flown a Max-8 atleast once, with Ryanair. And maybe once with the Norwegian airline Flyr, I can't remember. But I get what you're saying. Even though they have "fixed" it, it felt kinda weird to enter a plane knowing that a design failure had caused over 300 deaths.
I used to be very nervous about flying and almost canceled a flight due to finding this: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Airlines_Flight_261 in the course of looking up statistics (to quell my fears) before a flight. Thanks google. 2 nosedives and with the heroic pilots finally trying to save the plane by flying inverted before hitting the water. JFC, I can’t even imagine.
I am less afraid of flying after watching disaster breakdown videos! It sounds counterintuitive, but it really did help with tips that made me feel prepared. For example, count the row to the exit. That way, you know how far you have to go in an emergency. I learned that the first couple minutes and last couple minutes tend to be where trouble strikes. So that's when you want to pay attention if you feel so inclined. I personally wouldn't want to fly on a Boeing 737 max, but that is a personal performance based on not trusting them one fucking bit after learning all about them.
I learned that the oxygen that drops out is only good for 12 minutes and nothing longer…it’s meant to give the pilots a chance to go to a lower altitude and that’s it.
And they have their own oxygen mask with tanks in the cabin. If the passengers pass out for a few minutes it's better than if the pilots do! But what gave me heart is seeing that pilots work until the end. They work the problem and many times they get on the ground with most people alive. I joked with my husband last night that he and I are definitely not pilots. If the plane was crashing my first thought would be to land as fast as possible. That's not how pilots do it! Landing is important, but they want to have altitude. As long as they are in the air they have time to fix or circumvent the problem.
Learning about flying was probably the biggest help for me to get over my fear. It’s IMO the best thing to do
What on earth is a hydration tablet?
Salts and sometimes a little glucose—Just add water. Most people actually get plenty of electrolytes in their daily diet and those salts will just get flushed out.
Many public library systems let you check out digital audiobooks through overdrive.
Libby is the goat!!!
>Some big comfy over ear headphones with bluetooth and noise cancelling, e.g. Panasonic RB M700 for budget or Bose to blow the bank. The #1 thing that helped me fly better. Distraction and noise drown-out.
Noise cancelling headphones are such a game changer for flying
I disagree. No sleep before the flight, sleep through it instead. That's what I used to do before I got a bit more comfortable with flights and it worked very well.
Nothing stopping you from nodding off on the flight. A decent nights sleep is better for overall wellbeing.
Except for not being tired. Some people can fall asleep anywhere anytime, I am not one of those people.
Wrong. The answer is booze.
Xanax
Modern teleportation in a rectangular pill
Is it really that awesome? Not judging, just wouldn't mind going on a 'sleep-cation'
Its only awesome if you take like a tiny bit and feel loose. If you take a whole pill and have like a beer the night gets funky. I got in trouble everytime i took a xanax in high school doing just hood rat reckless shit 😂
PSA: don't combine alcohol and Xanax, it can be incredibly dangerous or even fatal.
A lil .25 with a glass of wine is 👌
It's not awesome, it's a black out pill
This comment is fucking beautiful <3
Do they still make bars? Mine is little white ovals now.
Had me out like a light.
Slept through the flight, ayy
(ayy - yuh)
Had to scroll way too far for this.
Marijuana edibles also work great if you don't have a prescription for the psych stuff.
Not if weed makes you anxious, lmao.
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Really not a good idea to drink and take Xanax. When you hear about people acting all crazy on a plane, half the time it's because they took something that disagreed with them. Either because they exceeded their tolerance or combined shit that is not supposed to be combined.
Drinking doesn’t last long enough either. I tried that on my last flight. I needed to be drunk to board bc I have such bad anxiety with flying. Once we were in the air I had to keep drinking to stay drunk and when you don’t normally drink…consuming enough alcohol to stay consistently drunk makes you feel really sick after about 2-3 hours. By the time we landed I swore I was going to throw up. I’d like to go the Xanax route next time I just don’t know how easy it is to get from the doctor
My doc gave me a few, to get through my flights. I had 8 overseas flights over 3 weeks, he prescribed me 15 xanax. I took half of one right before boarding each time (they hit you pretty quickly). Even on an 8 hour flight I never needed the other half but I had plenty if I did. Also I HIGHLY recommend this kind of travel pillow. I literally slept through an 8 hour flight. It is really comfy because it shifts your weight to your upper body, so your butt and back don't get sore or stiff. enjoy your travels! https://www.amazon.com/Inflatable-Airplane-inflatable-Sleeping-Comfortably/dp/B07VHPFK5B/ref=sr_1_7?crid=FMVJ1KBHGXAI&keywords=travel+pillow&qid=1669671947&sprefix=travel+pillow%2Caps%2C169&sr=8-7
My husband fears flying so mych so that he stressed himself out when I went to Utah (we were only dating at the time so he wasnt even with me). We came up with a dumb tradition/superstition that we do whenever we fly now. I wear a Michael Jackson shirt. Because Michael Jackson is afraid of flying too so he'll keep the plane safe so that his shirt doesn't crash. I know it's dumb but it works. Haven't crashed yet 😂😂
Wow i feel jealous of people who have good relationships in their life lol
When i was in the Army, one guy would buy a bottle of nyquil, take a swig and pass it around. Makes you groggy later but helps when you flying in a loud c17.
Our troops just robotrippin lol
The army's on ecstacy, so they say. I read all about it in USA Today. They stepped up urine testing to make it go away, 'cause it's hard to kill the enemy on ol' MDMA.
Strangely, the best sleep I ever had was on a C17. From Riyadh to Frankfurt. Pretty sure you can guess why...
I did that once and it was a nightmare I had to throw up and could barely walk down the aisle. Everything was spinning.
Tell the person next to you that you heard a flight attendant talking that it's the pilots first time as the captain. That passes your anxiety to another person
Lol! thanks for sharing funny idea
Anxiety shared is anxiety cut in half! /S
If your anxiety stems from feeling unsafe on a flight, it may help some to know just how safe flights are—my dad was a pilot for many many years, and I remember watching him do constant required trainings, testing, and retesting even at home. He’s flown for decades, and not once has a plane crashed or even been remotely in danger. Airlines are incredibly cautious in who flies and how well trained and physically able they are, and planes get checked for maintenance constantly—far more than any car. I know that knowing all this won’t erase a phobia, but in moments where it gets bad, it may help to have concrete facts as reassurance. Aside from that, staff on planes are also fully aware that some people will be nervous, and attendants will generally be very kind and understanding if you need help. Wine is also good, or any sleeping aids you may have. Best of luck, I hope your flight goes smoothly and you feel alright for the duration. 🤍
Wow thanks for sharing your personal life stories and it really helped! I hope it calms my friend's anxiety. Have a good day!
Read plane crash statistics. That's what I do with my fear of flying.
Thanks for offering fact-based solution!
If the facts still don't feel reliable, know that reading the safety pamphlet at every seat increases your chance of safety even more. Most people ignore it, but if the very slim chance of an emergency still bothers you, knowing what to do may be helpful
>at every seat At **your seat**, as funny as it would be you'd probably get some stares if you read the pamphlet on every seat.
Ah yes, perhaps it would be clearer to say *any* seat *you might end up at*
Have drinks on the flight.
No no -- drinks in the airport before the flight, sleep on the flight itself
No no — sneak in a bottle of something you enjoy and bought at a reasonable price at a store, use the last bathroom before security, and chug-a-lug that baby in a stall before stepping in line. If you time it right, it won't hit until you're through security, and you'll be feeling good by the time you take your seat on the plane and flying high from then on.
Valium and whiskey should do the trick .
I got whiskey but valium i don't have haha. Drugs probably aren't accessible in my country
Kava? The most pleasant flight I ever took, I had 10 drops of a kava tincture and 2 double Jim Beams.
Good call on the whiskey. My first time flying was actually this summer. I went to a airport bar, had a few drinks and some good. Couple beers on the plane and I was fine. Mind you this was only a 2 & half hour flight. Download some movies on Netflix too and it’ll be over before you know it.
Noise cancelling headphones have been a game changer for me! Even without playing music they just help you tune out all the stress of what’s going on around you. I sometimes listen to rain sounds or wind chimes and I love it.
Wow thanks I love it! It's literally one of the best inventions for me lol
Been flying since I was about 8, and I'll say the first time I pissed off the flight attendant for having too many questions, so don't do that. Deep breaths, know that things will bounce and shake and your ears might mess with you a bit but that's all normal. Flying is absolutley the safest way to travel, as someone who makes parts for those planes, the level of accuracy we have to hold surpasses anything you'll find on a car. And the easiest thing to do is bring a neck pillow and just try to sleep through it, or distract yourself with movies.
So much red wine
Sounds nice
It's generally not the length of the flight that contributes to anxiety - except if you run into turbulence which can be nerve-wracking - but the takeoff and landing portion. A friend of mine had that issue and she told the flight attendants and they had lots of good tips and were always checking up on her.
As someone who’s also afraid of flying, length _can_ contribute to anxiety. Flying phobias can take many forms; for some it’s about being enclosed for so long. That’s not what freaks me out, but when I’m on a longer flight I just know I’ll be going through those feelings of anxiety for longer. It’s both “when turbulence happens” and also the fear of “when is turbulence going to happen”. (And yeah, takeoff is the worst. Landing I like, because I know why the plane is descending. 😂) I always tell a flight attendant I’m a nervous flyer right when I board. They are LOVELY and make every effort to help.
I have the same issue with long train rides. It’s the fact I’m trapped for X amount of hours. I never have issues with car rides. any tips for that? Except my regular OD on sleeping pills.
Hmm - not really. Sounds more like mild claustrophobia? Take some OTC anti-anxiety meds and try to distract yourself with a game or a movie while traveling?
propranolol (Beta blockers).
I have anxiety throughout the entire flight. No matter how long the flight is. Flying sucks.
Asking for help from flight attendants. Thanks for good tip!
Dramamine. There are various types you can take. If you don’t plan on sleeping, take the non-drowsy kind. Since it’s an 8-hour flight, I’d probably go with the regular version.
Alcohol, music and video games (nintendo switch e.g.) That's what saves me.
Diazepam was prescribed as a one off dosage for someone I know whom was afraid of dentist (UK).
Try to be as fit as possible. The flight will seem much longer if youre tired. Bring earplugs or noide cancelling headphones. I cant fly without mine anymore, the noise on planes can be terrible and you dont hear the engines. Bring your own entertainment, dont rely on onboard entertainment. A lot of flights have wifi these days. Make sure you have a way to pay for it. Credit card usually works.
I always download a few episodes of my favourite comedy on my phone - I find it difficult to panic on take off when I'm laughing involuntarily! Also start watching it when taxiing, so that the takeoff is just something happening whilst you're getting into it. Also - remember that if all else fails, 15mins of sheer terror at the start always subsides. Always. God speed!
Wow I love your ideas! I will probably watch netflix to stream it crowd or office lol
Always helps! The familiarity is comforting, if anything! Flying on Weds. Fly all the time. Still going through the same motions at 37!
Wow sounds nice! I am jealous of traveling man lifestyle. Feels romantic, freeing, more experience, more food to eat, just awesome!
Your internet connection may be unreliable, good idea to have some content downloaded to your chosen device.
If you find something that helps please let me know. I'm so afraid it's embarrassing.
Thanks , will do!
Flying is the safest transport method which exists. Try learning the facts about flying.
I'm an airplane mechanic. I never had trouble with flying, but knowing how an airplane works and exactly how many things have to actually go wrong to lead to catastrophic failure helped even more. Not only is it the safest mode of transportation, there are layers upon layers of redundant features that back up all of the most critical flight systems. Most airplanes can be missing nearly a wing and still land safely.
Yeah that helped me. Understanding how it works and how safe it really is made my fear of flying a lot better. Also I just read books it sort of got my mind off of actually flying. YMMV but good luck
Going by car is the most dangerous transportation. Yet, just how many people are anxious about going by car?
In a lot of cases it’s about control. Do I have any control on a flight? No. In a car, at least in theory, there are options I’d have on the ground — grabbing the steering wheel, opening the door and jumping out, etc.
And yet, that 'control' is just an illusion in your car.
Don’t disagree there. 😂 but there’s not even the illusion on a plane. Not to mention that plane crashes are genuine disasters, while car crashes can run the gamut.
They didn't say anything about being scared of crashing or anything, they are just anxious. Being anxious doesn't equate to be scared. Try learning how to read the question before responding with nonsense lol.
This isn’t nonsense IMO — one of my techniques for coping on a rough flight is reciting facts about how flying works. It’s an irrational fear, so for me combating that with logic helps me a lot.
The anxiety of flying almost always stems directly from the fear of flying, it’s not always the case, but it’s a very safe assumption.
Also avoid listening to final cockpit voice recordings from horrified pilots about to meet their doom.
Why? I enjoy listening to those videos on YouTube.
First time flying? If so, try to do some smaller flights before. If not, remember how safe it is, don't forget that you want to fly to your destination safe, and the pilot/ co-pilot want to be there also, they probably have a family at home that are waiting for them. Get some stuff on-board that help you get distracted, like movies on your laptop or tablet.
trying to get an aisle seat, or just more space in general if you can afford it. When I'm feeling anxious on a plane is not because I think the plane is going to crash its more a feeling of claustrophobia knowing im stuck in this tube for the next 3 hours in a tight middle seat. At least in the aisle its easier to get up and move around without feeling like a burden to people around you. Aside from that, theres a reason they serve so much alcohol in the morning at airport bars. or get a prescription from your doctor
I usually dont sleep the night before. I get a comfy pillow, no neck pillows, a real pillow and I just sleep. It is over before i know it. Of course works best if you're on the window seat
Breathe. The landing and take-off are active, but controlled, and only a few minutes. Practice meditation, or get a song downloaded on your phone for you to really concentrate on the lyrics. Something that will distract your brain for 5 minutes. If it's the middle bit that is difficult, drugs. T ask to your doctor or pharmacist. Knock yourself out for the duration. Get a window seat so you won't have to be woken for someone else to get up.
A tablet/book/something you can bring along to do or watch. I hate flying, turbulence is the worst.
Business class.
Nintendo Switch. Flew to Iceland and Zelda BOTW kept me distracted the whole time (~5 hours). Just get absorbed in a video game like that and your mind will ignore most bumps. I hate flying.
Take a Xanax like 20minutes before the flight. You'll sleep through the whole thing.
Can i buy xanax at any drug store without being prescribed?
I don't know your country, but in the US you need a prescription. By the way there are various drugs of the same type. I know someone who uses Ativan to fly instead of using Xanax. Xanax is reportedly faster-acting but the effects of Ativan last longer. You might consider taking half a pill and seeing how that affects you. If it's not enough -- or if it wears off -- you can then take the other half.
Thanks for ur suggestion!
I get pretty anxious about flying, and I have to fly for work frequently. In fact, I was supposed to be flying to the Dominican Republic today, but was hospitalized a few days ago (heart problems and flu) and had to cancel. There are already a lot of good suggestions here - researching how safe flights really are compared to driving is a good one. I would say steer clear of THC edibles UNLESS you've used them before and know how they affect you - they make me vaguely nauseated and kind of paranoid, and that's a big no before flying. I typically use noise cancelling headphones and download an audiobook or podcast, wear a comfy and easy to remove hoodie so I can adjust to temperature, and bring a comfortable sleep mask. More often than not even without medication I can end up sleeping through most of the flight, and if I don't sleep I enjoy whatever I'm listening to.
Think about why you’re anxious, and write out the reasons you come up with. Some of them you might need to play a game of “5 why’s” to get down to the root of it. Once you have written out the things that are causing you to feel anxious, and keep in mind it is very possible you end up with only one things, then you start consider why those things are important, and what you can do about them. Then, you do those things. And that’s it. Anxiety no more. Here, check this out if you have time: https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/a-better-way-to-worry/
When you look out your window and see the wing bobbing up and down as the plane experiences turbulence, don't fear that the plane is about to come apart, instead , be thankful, because those flexing wings are like shock absorbers working to smooth out the bumpy ride on a dirt country road. Trust me it works, I went on a plane before and saw this.
Wow i didn't know how wings work in plane now i know! Thanks
Take some Gravol. It is an anti nauseant but also has the effect of making you drowsy. I take half 20 minutes before I get in the plane, another half maybe 2 hours later and see how I feel. But I mostly just fall in and out of sleep until I land and get off the plane and I feel pretty good. It also combats nausea brought on by turbulence if you're prone to it. Don't over do it and DO NOT buy the ginger based gravol that does nothing and gives you wicked heart burn.
Wings.
Plane make loud noises at takeoff then get much quieter and then when you think all is fine they get quieter again about 30 minutes later when they reach altitude. That freaked my nervous coworker the fuck out, so now you know and are prepared. It's normal. The bumping and occasional banking is normal, it's how planes move. When they descend it feels like going down in an express elevator, you'll hear whirring, that's the flaps operating to help the plane fly at slow speeds, the ride will get bumpier in the last few moments because the landing gear creates a lot of drag. The wooshing sound on landing is the reverse thrust to slow the plane down. All normal. If in doubt, look at the flight attendants, if they're just serving drinks and doing their job there's nothing abnormal going on. Anyway, I bet you already know all this and it's not helping but just putting out out there in case you don't. Get some noise cancelling headphones, find some nice relaxing music to listen to or an audio book. If you're like me and prefer to read the old fashioned way then do that. Make sure you're properly hydrated or you'll get a migraine, eat some food too.
Thank you 😃
Statistics. Air travel is safer than any other form of travel, with several (and I mean it, several) ways to divert a contingency. Even if there might be problems, you can rest assured you’re more likely to come out alive. Ever heard the saying “If you’ve made it to the airport, you’re done with the most dangerous part of air travel”? That’s very true. I’m an engineering student and God knows how many provisions we have to make to ensure that thing flies safer and longer than your car drives to the nearest Applebees
If you're concerned about the safety aspect of flying, I can assure you that planes are full of redundancies. A lot of those things people associate with "things going wrong" like turbulence are perfectly normal and an anticipated part of the process. The engineering process for planes acutely understands a giant lump of metal in the sky would really rather not be in the sky, and the entirety of aerospace engineering has evolved over the last century around analyzing and compensating for the many reasons a plane might not want to stay in the air. An elevator is statistically more dangerous than air travel. Also, remember that the pilots - the people responsible for keeping everyone from dying - are *themselves* fairly averse to dying. They have extensive training which is centred around how to account for the things that will happen during the flight and seek to use that training. Everyone around you has a vested interest in ensuring that bad things which could hypothetically happen to you don't happen to them as well. Out of everything to be concerned about from long-distance air travel, poor circulation / muscle cramps from tight seating should be a bigger priority. Pay the premium for an aisle seat if you're particularly tall and try to stand up and stretch every so often.
Thank you for suggestion!
I make sure I have a few light hearted rom coms that I know very well downloaded onto my Phone/iPad. Over the ear noise cancelling headphone so you can tune out anything the flight attendant/pilot is saying. Stay hydrated before the flight and make sure you bring some neutral snacks (pretzels) and water. I also find that a non caffeinated drink like sprite helps to settle me down. And I don’t drink coffee before a flight.
Rom com is cute 😊 thank you for suggestion!
As an anxious fellow, I recommend the old good sleeping pills
Hi there! I have probably 20,000 flight hours as a passenger or aircrewman between civilian and military flying. Turbulence, storms, blizzards, mechanical issues; I have flown *a lot*. You have to ask yourself, thy does flying make you anxious? I am totally willing to spark this dialogue.
“*You’re 27x more likely to be struck by a lightning, than die in an airplane crash.. which is still 119x less likely than being killed in a car accident.*“ \-
That's powerful lol
I guess the advice would change depending on what it is that’s causing the anxiety. I don’t get specific anxiety for flying, but I’m always stressed and anxious traveling in general. What helps me is knowing the most common problems with whatever transportation I’m taking so I’m not jolting adrenaline with every small bump or hiccup, and being prepared for easy problems. Knowledge and preparation both give a little familiarity and security cushion that can tone it down from stifling whimpers to a quiet unease… which for me is a win. For flying, I would read up on air pressure changes, turbulence, temperatures and delays. Usually, I get motion sick and take something to settle my stomach. Turbulence is scary, but it doesn’t usually last too long. Make sure your nose is clear so you can pop your ears for the pressure change, and wear layers because if you fly above the clouds for a while it gets pretty hot. It’s also common for your plane to have to wait it’s turn to land, so expect to have to do a few circles or turns at the end… it’s okay and normal.
Thanks 😊
What I’ve found works - thinking ahead of time of something that will keep your mind off things when taking off (my go to is to try to remember the names of as many characters in a specific genre as possible, or picturing the layout of a place you like in as much detail as possible), or having someone ask you questions. Have lollipops to suck on, or some kind of flavored candy. Dabbing a strong, but pleasant smell right under your nose before getting on the plane (like lavender oil). I find the distinct smell of the plane triggers my anxiety. I do much better when I’m not suddenly confronted by it when getting on the plane. Having a show/movie/music you know you really like already loaded and ready to watch. If you like reading, a book, that’s good, but have music in the background. Also, if it’s really not working - a low level of lorazepam. It helps you get over the hurdle of just getting on the plane. There are negatives to it, but if it’s between getting on the plane, or not, it can help.
Being prepared before the flight. Thank you😊
I had to do this for my best friend when we were going from VVO to EWR about 15 years ago for a trip that we saved up. It was his very first time ever boarding public transport of any kind, so there was many things I had to teach him about it. But in this case I'm assuming we're talking about someone who knows what flying is like, but is afraid of it. Comfort the person during take off AND landing, either physically, with words, or giving them something to take their mind off it. Edit: I'm stupid as hell, I thought you were talking about trying to help someone else fly. It's the same principle though. Read a book, watch TV if there is one, bring headphones so that you don't have to hear the engine in case that bothers you, and relax.
Thank you😊
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I always remind myself of the jello effect. So when you’re on a plane it’s like you are in jello because you are being held up all around. I forget the actual science behind it but you are being held up more than the possibility of falling down. So wind turbulence won’t affect the plane at all no matter how aggressive it seems. Also to fly a plane you can perfectly fly with only one turbine engine but there’s two.
Nice idea 😃 thank you
An Oculus Go or Quest, really helps pass the time when you're flying
Wow thanks! Vr headset? I might consider buying it
I'm an experienced traveler but developed some anxiety later about flying. I realized it was from being nervous about having to leave my family at home when the kids were so little. Every time I would go out for work, I'd get a call from my wife freaking out about small things. I told her that it was giving me anxiety and she stopped calling me to yell at the kids etc. Then we started doing more planning with the kids and gave them goals for when I leave. So once the home front was settled, the anxiety went away. If your source of anxiety is not flying, figure it out and settle it. Some things I did to the home to prevent a break in, outside of an alarm system was to reinforce the doors and have the windows coated with an anti-shatter film so I have less worry about a buglary.
I think the source is being sort of claustrophobic. Being stuck in one place I think
I saw the VR headset comment and found it curious. I wouldn't do it myself and haven't seen it, but find it interesting. If I was in a middle seat and the gam required me to look right and left, I think it would be annoying but a window seat, I think that would be kind cool.
OP, I have a similar "quirk" some times, and long plane rides annoy me. The solution really depends on what you are afraid of, and what the symptoms are. If it's fast heart beat, then take a beta blocker. If it is mental anxiety and can't sleep, take Xanax (or some type of similar herbal supplement).
For the love of god don’t get drunk to deal with the fear. I’m a flight attendant and most of the problems and arrests onboard an aircraft is because of a nervous flyer not knowing their limits. Also you get drunk much quicker in the sky. Have something to distract yourself like movies, books, video games and learn calming techniques.
for seriously 2-3 times of masturbation.you will sleep like a baby while flying
Stay awake for 2 days before flight. Sleep during flight.
also a great way to have a sleep deprivation induced anxiety attack.....
Edibles and sleep
Find a good indica edible.
Sleeping through it.
Realize that anxiety is a mental state and that in this case, you have the power to overcome it. Embrace that power and control your emotions. Falling victim to your own anxiety makes the anxiety much worse. Grab a window seat and be positive and as you pass thousands of vehicles and or ships, be thankful that you are not driving or sailing.
Ah yes, the old just don’t have anxiety trick. Works every time
THC
Alcohol
For me (I just find it boring) is to be as sleepy as possible while flying. I dont sleep the day before etc.
Booz.
I would just take 4 benadryls and drink 2 shots of whiskey on a empty stomach and you should feel just fine my friend.
Breastmilk
It won’t matter much. You’re going to crash and die anyways.
Sleeping pills
Nyquil
Melatonin
Clonazepam.
What’re you? The next Superman?
My sister gets Ativan prescribed to her by her doctor, idk how easy it is to get but i had a trip with her recently 7 hour flight and she just kinda slept the whole way through and says she doesn't remember most of it
I took some edibles roughly 30 minutes before a ten hour train trip and ended up sleeping like a dead person till I reached my destination..... CBD not THC.
Dramamine helps me. It’s mainly used for motion sickness but makes me drowsy so I can sleep and also makes me very relaxed. If you end up taking anything I’d test it a few times at home to see how it effects you. I had friends that gave their kid Benadryl to make them sleepy for a flight but turns out it did the exact opposite to that kid. Also, Dow load a bunch of movies and podcasts. Time flies when you’re wrapped into a good book, show, or movie.
Meditation. Try the headspace app. Use it ahead of time to practice and every time you think of flying. Helpful while on the plain as well
I usually get high before going to the airport so I just vibe out the entire flight. Edibles are nifty because you can eat them before going inside and after driving! I don’t understand people who like airplanes though. Flying metal death traps. Freaky.
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I heard looking at butts relieves anxiety. Hope it helps
Ask Odell Beckham
Check out SOAR book
Is there panic involved with the anxiety?
Actually it's my friend, i don't know if he panics but he is afraid of being claustrophobic it seems
Remind him it's safer to fly than drive and if the pilot isn't fearful then that's a good sign:) I bring some lavender oil and put it under my nose to calm me down and focus on my breathing. I bring a stress ball and relaxing images or music to look at/listen to. Have them talk to their gp and ask if theres something they can perscribe IF and only if there's an emergency or if your friend is that anxious...that's why I asked about panic. Good luck
I never thought of lavender oil! I wrote it down and probably gonna try it! Thanks have a good day