Carefully reviewing your cheap traveloptions including cheapairplane tickets, cheapfares, cheapdeals, discount hotel rooms, cheap auto rentals, discounttravel deals, and cheap vacation packages willenable you to plan an affordable trip, but will do nothing to help people whocan get extremely nervous while flying.
Over 25 million Americans suffer from some type of flightanxiety, making aerophobia (fear of flying) the second biggest fear in theU.S., after public speaking. Even thoughflying is the safest mode of transportation given that your chances of dying ina plane crash are about one in 10 million compared with one in 272 of dying ina car crash, those stats often do not quell the jitters of nervous fliers.
The following are expert tips on how to help travelers conquertheir fears of flying, according to Kaeli Conforti:
Giveyour phobia a name. Different aspects offlying trigger different fears depending on the person. For example, one person may be afraid ofturbulence and feel nervous during a normal takeoff and/or landing, whileanother individual has germophobic tendencies and is worried about the spreadof germs in a confined space. While ithelps to recognize that your phobia is irrational, you need to be able topinpoint the cause of your fear before you can take the next step.
Familiarizeyourself with airplane noises. Sometimesall it takes to combat anxiety is a little information. It also helps to understand how rigoroussafety measures are for aircrafts. Planes can support one and a half times the maximum load they would evercarry and are able to weather environmental extremes such as 120-degreetemperatures. Anxiety tends to be fed bywhat ifs catastrophic thoughts. Once apotential flier becomes knowledgeable, what if thoughts will be limited byfacts.
Checkthe turbulence forecast. An app calledTurbcast (iTunes, $1.99) gives fliers an inside look at factors such as airpockets and thunderstorms that can cause turbulence. The more a person knows about what causesthat shaky feeling and how much of it should be expected while airborne, theless that person should be afraid of it.
Bringa photo of your destination so that you can easily visualize where you aregoing. Imagining being there can be apowerful antidote to stress and keep you focused on the prize at the end of theflight. Take your mind off the thingsthat make you nervous about flying and focus of the positive aspects of yourtrip.
Skipcoffee and liquor since both caffeine and alcohol can leave fliers feeling moredehydrated during flights. Nervousfliers should avoid a seemingly comforting preflight alcoholic beverage, sincealcohol can make it harder for your body to adjust to being airborne and resultin a nasty bout of jet lag. Instead,drink water and eat a light meal pre-flight, or carry a light snack such ascarrot sticks, nuts, or an apple.
Bringa book you have already started or video series you already know. Bottom line, distraction works. One of the best ways to distract yourselfduring a flight is to bring something that you have already started and aredeeply engrossed in.
Shareyour concerns about flying with flight attendants. This may result in you receiving extraattention from flight attendants during the flight. If traveling with friends or family members,talk to them about what makes you nervous so that they can help alleviate thetension.
Embracesafety information and watch an airline safety video while you are still in thecomfort of your home. Once on board aplane, take time to read the airline safety card in the seat pocket in front ofyou. If it will make you feel safer,book your seat in the back of the plane, which has repeatedly shown to be thesafest part of a plane in the event of a crash.
Practicedeep breathing during takeoff and other points during the flight when youexperience anxiety. Force yourself tobreathe out for as long as you can and then take a long, deep breath. Such breathing triggers a calming responseand can help prevent hyperventilation. Try to maintain a relaxed posture and not cling to a chairs armrestssince this can heighten anxiety.
Haveone or two relaxation medications handy but use them only as a lastresort. While some doctors willprescribe anxious fliers with fast acting anxiety medications such as Xanax orValium, each has its own side effects and may leave you feeling tired for hoursafter arriving at your destination. Herbalremedies such as St. Johns Wort or Scullcap may help calm nerves. You may discover that simply knowing you havemedication in case of emergency is comforting enough and that you can reap thebenefits without taking any pills or suffering any side effects.
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