While cheap travel options, such as cheap fares, cheap airplane tickets, discount hotel rooms, cheap auto rentals, discount travel deals, and cheap vacation packages, all help make travel affordable, they do nothing to calm potential fliers who suffer from some form of flight anxiety.
Aerophobia (fear of flying) is the second biggest fear in America after public speaking. Hearing that flight is the safest mode of transportation (your chances of dying in a plane crash are about one in 10 million compared with a one in 272 chance of dying in a car crash) usually does little to ease flight anxiety.
The following are recommendations from experts solicited by Budget Travel as to what to do to help alleviate flight anxiety:
Figure out what type of flight phobia you experience. Some fliers are afraid of turbulence while others are concerned about the spread of germs in a confined space. While it helps to recognize that your phobia is irrational, you need to be able to identify the cause of your fear before effectively dealing with it.
Familiarize yourself with airplane noises so that you do not become concerned over common noises while in the air. Read up on the typical noises that may occur during a flight. Find out how rigorous safety measures are for planes. Anxiety is typically fed by what if catastrophic thoughts. As you become more knowledgeable, what if concerns become more limited by facts.
Check the turbulence forecast. The more you know what causes a plane to shake and how much of it you can expect while in the air, the less you will be afraid of it.
Visualizing your destination and imagining yourself there can be a powerful counter to stress and help keep you focused while in the air. Having a physical image to refer to, whether it is a picture you have downloaded or a postcard, can keep your mind from wandering. The objective is to focus on the positive aspects of your trip.
Do not drink anything with caffeine or alcohol since they often leave passengers feeling more dehydrated during flights. Nervous fliers should not take comfort in pre-flight alcoholic beverages since alcohol can make it harder for a persons body to adjust to flying and can result in a bad case of jet lag. Instead drink water and eat a light meal before departure or carry-on a light snack of food such as carrot sticks, nuts, or an apple.
Bring a book you have already started reading or a TV series that you are already familiar with. Bottom line, distraction works. People tend to associate video watching with being safe at home so watching videos while flying often provides a similar familiar feeling of comfort.
Share your flight anxiety with flight attendants. This may result, if you so desire, with you being able to speak to the pilot briefly while you board the plane or receive extra attention from flight attendants during the flight. If you are traveling with friends tell them what makes you nervous so they can help you deal with the tension.
Become informed by reading the safety information and paying attention to the planes safety video. Knowing that you are prepared for anything can be empowering. Watch an airline safety video while still at home so that you can become comfortable with plane procedures. If it will lesson your tension, reserve a seat in the back of your plane, which has been shown to be the safest part of a plane in the event of a crash.
Breathe deeply during takeoff and other points during the flight where you experience anxiety. Force yourself to breathe out for as long as you can and then take a long, deep breath since this induces a calming response and can help prevent hyperventilation. Do not cling to your chairs armrests since this can heighten your anxiety.
Have a relaxation remedy available to be used as a last resort. Fast acting anxiety medications like Xanax or Valium can help, but each has side effects and may cause you to feel tired for hours after your plane has landed. Non-prescription remedies like St. Johns Wort or Scullcap may help calm nerves. Often knowing you have medication in case of emergency is comforting enough and you can reap the benefits without having to suffer the side effects.
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