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How to Overcome your Fear of Flying
Having a fear of flying is not a new or rare condition by any means, and is very common among people who are simply afraid of heights, of the dangers of flying, and those who have previously had bad experiences on an airplane. The fear of flying is a psychological issue often associated with anxiety and panic disorders. It is also associated with other anxiety conditions such as the fear of heights, of being over water, of the dark and enclosed spaces, of the unknown, of being idle, the lack of personal freedom, and post-traumatic stress disorder from a previous bad flight experience.
Get educated on all of the facts of flying and aircraft including possible causes of turbulence, aviation safety statistics and weather conditions’ impact on flying and aircraft. By understanding the various things you may be afraid of that lead to your fear of flying, you will be more aware that some of your fears are irrational. For instance, if you are afraid of an accident on an airplane, it may help to know that the number of incidents of airplane crashes compared to car accidents is a very small fraction. Flying is much safer than driving or riding in a car. Become educated by reading up on the various aspects of flying and possible concerns.
Relaxation techniques and meditation techniques might possibly help you overcome your fear of flying, or at the very least, help you get through a long flight without needing prescription medication. Begin reading books on various deep breathing techniques and how to meditate in order to relax your mind and your body. It may take several weeks to learn these relaxation and mediation techniques, but they can help tremendously in this and other areas of stress or anxiety you experience. Practice the meditation every day, whether you learned it from a book or have audio tapes or CD’s to listen to with your eyes closed.
If you have a fear of flying based on a previous bad experience on a flight, seek professional help. This can be through a therapist who will work with you to overcome this year, counseling at your school, or simply by joining a support group of like-minded individuals. If you have not overcome your fear of flying after having counseling or therapy sessions and feel out of control in this fear, you can ask for prescription medication for anxiety that will help you remain relaxed during your flight. Support groups can be very helpful as you will get advice and reassurance from others who have lived with this fear, and many who have managed to overcome it.
Tips for Getting Through A Long Flight
If you are a planning to take a long upcoming flight, you may be starting to experience stress and worry about getting through the flight without too much boredom or discomfort. While long flights that last 10 or more hours can seem exhausting, they don’t have to be as bad as you might imagine given the right circumstances and with proper preparations. Do your research beforehand to find out exactly what is allowed on your flight in regard to liquids and substances, to understand what you may bring that might help you have a more comfortable flight.
Try to book a good seat on the flight if you are going to fly coach on this long flight. While business class or first class is recommended for long flights, you may not have the resources for the more expensive ticket. The least you can do is book a seat in your preferred location whether that is a window seat for the view and to feel more privacy, or an aisle seat so you have easy access to walking around and using the restroom.
Bring items with you on your flight that will help you feel more comfortable such as a travel pillow, small blanket, slippers or socks, or other items of comfort. What you can bring will highly depend on the size of your carry-on bag and what will fit. Once you decide on a bag to bring, set aside your priority items to bring, and gradually add other extra items you want to try to include. Small blankets often can be folded or rolled very small and travel pillows may be deflated, and then re-inflated on the flight to make them fit in your bag.
Consider your entertainment when packing your carry-on bag and bring what will keep you entertained during the flight. This may include a laptop, CD player or portable DVD player, MP3 player, tablet computer, books or magazines, tabletop games or electronic games. For in-flight entertainment, try to book a flight on an airline that offers Audio Video on Demand (AVOD) and bring your own headphones or ear buds so you don’t have to rent them from the airline.
Pack toiletries in your carry-on luggage bag that you were permitted to include such as your own soap and lotion, toothbrush, toothpaste and other necessities like a change of clothes or non-perishable food items. Your toothpaste and lotion is probably permitted but will need to be less than 3 ounces. The air is dry on airplanes so ask your airline if you can bring moisturizing lip balm and eye drops as well to make it a more comfortable flight experience. Drink plenty of water on the flight to keep yourself hydrated.
For a long flight, it is important to avoid being still and idle for too long. To avoid aches and pain associated with sitting for long periods of time, stretch your arms, shoulders and legs at least once every hour, whether the stretches are done sitting or standing. Many airlines will do in-flight stretches with everyone onboard for long flights. Get up and walk down the aisles every hour or so to stretch your legs and get a little bit of exercise.