Millions of Americans are afraid of flying. It is one of the most common phobias to have but unless you want to spend your vacation time at home or spending days driving to your destination then getting on a plane is a necessary evil. You can help yourself to overcome this phobia and make your peace with flying. Follow these tips to make the process easier and get more from your vacation time.
Understand Your Fear
Your fear might be paralyzing but do you know what you are actually afraid of? There can be many different phobias that relate to flying and knowing why you are anxious can make your fear easier to overcome. It may be that you don’t like to be stuck in a confined space, you may feel concerned about your lack of control, or you may have had a bad experience in the past. Speaking to a professional counselor about your fears before you fly can make a huge amount of difference to your experience.
Increase Your Knowledge
Learning as much as you can before you step onto an airplane can help to alleviate your fears. If you understand flying techniques such as why you take off at an angle, why the plane tilts as it turns or the optimum speed to approach a runway, this can take the fear out of the experience. You might even be so busy impressing your friends and family with your new-found knowledge that you forget to be frightened.
Have a Plan of Action
Devising a plan of action before you fly can create a more seamless process. Make a list of everything that could make you feel better from what to pack, to the name of a good aviation accident lawyer.You could even plan to visit your doctor before you travel as they could prescribe some medication or give you some tips on how to make traveling day easier.
You can relieve some of your anxiety by checking in early to avoid the queues and find your gate in good time. You could pack your favorite book or puzzle to pass the time while flying to make the trip feel shorter. Think about what you are going to do when you reach your destination rather than focusing on the journey. These things will help you to put a positive spin on the experience and relieve your anxiety.
Avoid Negative Thoughts
Flying is one of the safest ways to travel but any accidents or issues tend to attract a lot of media attention. This can feed your fear so avoid reading negative posts on the internet or watching films or TV shows that involve planes crashing. The thought of a phobia is often worse than the thing you are afraid of so don’t let the anxiety build up in you before the event. Remember that for every plane that does crash, thousands reach their destination safely.
Hopefully, these tips will help you to relax and enjoy your vacation. Bon Voyage.
