How to Get Over a Fear of Flying

Aviophobia: fear of flying; often a combination of claustrophobia and acrophobia. It’s probably a lot more common than you think. For a lot of people, there’s just something off about the idea of a very large, very heavy metal object safely propelling itself through air and space tens of thousands of feet above the ground, but it happens 87,000 times a day with infrequent mishaps.

Nonetheless the fear of flying can be all consuming for its sufferers. There are, however, some completely doable tips to follow for getting through the flying process without a meltdown. Keep in mind, though, that these are just tips, and if they don’t seem to help you may want to consider seeking clinical assistance.

Be Prepared

The most difficult aspect of flying for an aviophobic passenger is not knowing what to expect: not understanding what every noise, action, and process means. Being able to anticipate next steps and understand that the grumbling sound below the plane you hear just before landing is a good thing can make all the difference.

Talk to the frequent flyers in your life to get a “feel” for the flying experience. Tease out a detailed description from them about everything from the baggage check experience to the pilot’s loudspeaker banter, and you should be well on your way to enjoying the friendly skies.

If this ad hoc approach doesn’t seem to sway your fears, you can always take a more formal approach. General Mitchell International Airport offers a course to combat the fear of flying, which includes classroom work with an aviation psychologist and certified flight instructor and a short commercial flight at the end. The Fear of Flying Clinic at San Francisco International Airport will allow you some one-on-one time with airline industry professionals, including pilots, flight attendants, and air traffic controllers.

Avoidance is your friend

There are plenty of things you can choose to avoid when it comes to flying that might help keep some of your fears at bay. Stay away from middle row seats; it will contribute to the feeling of claustrophobia. An aisle or window seat near the wing is always better because you can either get up more freely or watch exactly what’s going on with the landing gear.

Avoid the media as much as possible leading up to a flight to prevent any flight-tragedy news from hitting your ears and seeping into your consciousness. Keep as far away from caffeine as possible before and during your flight; not only will it intensify your jitteriness, it won’t do any good if you’re considering sleep as another avoidance strategy once you board. Prevent yourself from having to rush through any part of your travel day by building in plenty of time to get to the airport, check bags, make it through security, etc. – the less flustered you are the better.

Distract and defend

The fear of flying is all in the mind, so fight mind power with mind power. Practice meditation to take your mind someplace else or just to help calm your nerves. Do yourself a favor and pay a little extra to get access to your airline’s private airport lounge for a quiet place away from the typical hustle and bustle of the airport to hone your meditation skills while you wait to board. You can generally buy a day pass for $25 to $50.

Provide your own in-flight entertainment by arming yourself with an arsenal full of distracting devices to help keep your mind off the fact that you’re voluntarily soaring through the air: books, journals, iPods, games, cards, magazines, laptops, puzzles and brain busters, or anything else you can think of. Bring a handheld, battery powered fan, because a little air can go a long way to helping you breath and relax. Plus, no on wants the air that recirculates through the whole plane blasting down on you throughout the entire flight. An alcoholic beverage can actually be a lifesaver in this situation either right before you board or during your flight to help take that edge off – just remember that a little goes a long way when you’re at such a high altitude.

Stick to the facts

While it’s likely that you’ve heard it before, it can’t hurt repeating … over and over and over again; you’re 29 times more likely to get in a car accident than an airplane accident. To put it another way, your chances of getting in an auto accident are 1 in 5,000, compared to an aircraft accident, which are 1 in 11 million. Over the past 60 years, there have been 1,300 total recorded plane crashes, taking into account both commercial and recreational flights.

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