- 1). Give yourself permission to be scared. When dealing with any phobia or panic, people often berate themselves for having a fear in the first place. They might be ashamed of or embarrassed by their fears. Put that wasted energy to rest and know that fear of flying is legitimate. Know, too, with just as much certainty, that it can be overcome.
- 2). Study the mechanics of air flight. Knowledge is power. The more you know about flying, the less fearful you will become. Know how and why a plane flies. Understand the causes of turbulence. Knowing why things work reduces their mysteriousness.
- 3). Take a fear of flying course. Many large airports have programs available in which you can speak with a pilot and literally touch the wings of an airplane to see how strong it is.
- 4). Do a reality check. Thousands of planes take off and land every day without incident. Ask yourself how many people you know who have been in an airline crash. Then ask the same of automobile accidents. We take driving for granted, but it is much more dangerous to drive than to fly.
- 5). Mentally rehearse before flying. Sit in a chair and visualize with as much detail as possible your flight. Breathe deeply throughout this mental rehearsal as you see yourself boarding the plane, sitting in your seat and the plane taking off. Feel the fear in the comfort of your own home.
- 6). Lower your stress level. Whether you are flying that day or going on a big interview, the principal is the same. You want to be as relaxed before it as possible. This means getting some exercise or doing yoga. Try a few deep breaths.
- 7). Arrive at the airport early, wearing comfortable clothes. You don't want to deal with any hassles or traffic or long security lines that might stress you out even more.
- 8). Sit near the front of the plane. There's a reason first class is near the front, and while it's true those passengers get on and off the plane first, it's also a lot less bumpy near the front of the cabin.
- 9). Stay in the moment. Don't ruin an otherwise placid flight worrying if there will be turbulence. If there is turbulence, you will deal with it then.
- 10
Make sure you are sitting down with your seat belt fastened when turbulence hits. Instead of feeling trapped on the plane, crank your tunes and pretend you're at a concert dancing along to the music. - 11
Take control over your fear and tense all of your muscles, holding that tension for a couple seconds, then release and feel the wave of relaxation that washes over your body. Do this as many times as you wish.
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