Overcoming Your Fear of Flying with Simple Techniques
Do you feel your heart speed up the moment you step into an airport? Does every bout of turbulence send you into a silent panic? You're not alone — studies suggest that 40 percent of people have a fear of flying. This anxiety can ruin vacations and cause months of low-level stress. Intellectually, you know the plane isn't going to crash, but that knowledge does little to quell the wave of fear that accompanies every flight.
If you're a nervous flier, it's helpful to have an arsenal of coping strategies. That way, you can try a variety of methods to ease your mind and travel with confidence.
01 Sit on the aisle
The feeling of being trapped can exacerbate the fear of flying. An aisle seat can help; the open space gives you a mental escape route. Once the fasten-seatbelt sign switches off, you're free to roam around the cabin or walk to the bathroom without inconveniencing your seatmates. Even if you stay seated, it's surprisingly relaxing to know that you can get up if the need arises.
