Simple Ways Of Dealing With Anxiety When Traveling

Flight Anxiety - Flight Safety Foundation

If you’re not used to flying, the thought of being about 30000 feet in the clouds may cause you anxiety. To be honest, planes, like cars, trains, or ships, may also crash. And when you gather the courage to board a plane, fussing babies and sitting next to complete strangers may heighten your anxiety.

Fortunately, you don’t have to cancel your flight because you’re anxious. Commercial flights are safer than they’ve ever been and so there’s no need to worry.

Planning for your flight early can also help to lessen your anxiety. You can check out Air Arabia flight schedule or other airline flight schedules to enable you to make early reservations.

Here are other ways of minimizing your flight anxiety:

  • Understand The Facts

Facts High Res Stock Images | Shutterstock

If you’ve been reading about safety statistics, you must know by now that driving is more dangerous than flying. Though this is good news, getting more facts about flying may even reduce your anxiety further.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the chances that you’ll get involved in an aircraft accident is one in eleven million. And even if you were to get in an accident, you may survive because most planes are extensively tested before being flown. Some tests they’re exposed to include being flown to extreme temperatures to see how they react.

  • Distract Yourself

11,539 Laptop On Plane Stock Photos, Pictures & Royalty-Free Images - iStock

 

You need to distract yourself if you can’t control your flight anxiety. That’s because your panic may heighten even if your flight is only taking one hour.

Before getting into the plane, it’s best to create a list of things you’d like to accomplish while flying. It could be brainstorming on some gift ideas, reading a chapter of your half-devoured novel, working on a business project or searching for the best party spots around the world. A more enjoyable way may even be to play your favorite game or watch some movies.

Whatever it is you intend to do, you want to ensure you diligently follow and check them off.

If you can have wild fantasies, imagine yourself in a beautiful and picturesque country that you’ve been longing to visit. Seeing yourself in such a place will soothe, calm, and please you, thus reducing your anxiety.

Visualization is a great tool that can significantly reduce stress. Individuals who practice meditation for at least five minutes a day report feeling less anxious and more focussed.

  • Pay Attention To Your Breathing Patterns

Stress management: Here is how deep breathing can help you feel calmer

If you’ve tried most anxiety-reducing techniques and still don’t see a change, try focussing on your breathing patterns. Anxiety tends to make individuals breathe rapidly and shallowly. You can counteract this by taking slow, deep breaths. That way, you’ll relax your body and mind.

Armed with this arsenal, you’ll not fear taking last min flights to Cairo or any other destination. This tactic will work for you because it enhances the brain’s oxygen supply and stimulates your parasympathetic nervous system. The result is that you’ll stay calm during your journey.

  • Drink Responsibly

Caution Boy: Drink Responsibly

Anxiety may make you drink a few glasses of wine or beer before boarding the plane. Although this seems fun, it may totally disorient you. Orienting yourself in a new city and trying to find your bags at the airport when drunk may be so difficult. You may end up losing your luggage, money, or even passport. It’s best to have limits on the number of glasses you drink. If you do that, you’ll be more environmentally conscious.

Final Words

Reducing anxiety while flying may be quite difficult. But if you follow these tips, you may find your journey more enjoyable and calmer.