What do you do to relax while flying? (anxiety, therapy, college)

[jrsydevil82]

I get anxiety over flying and thought perhaps we could share our methods on not freaking out when having to get on a plane.

I was always fine on a plane as a teen, then when I was in college & flew to Greece, I had a panic attack on the way there & have been afraid of flying ever since. I have been getting better at it again, but it would be nice to have solutions.

Here are some things that have helped me:
-Reading-If I really concentrate it takes away from the fear. I make sure I have something more than an e-reader since you have to turn it off during takeoff

-Not sleeping-the last time I flew, I got zero hours of sleep the night before, and as mad as I was about it, I actually never got nervous & was able to sleep on the plane because I was so tired

-Service dog-Last summer I flew to Florida, and the guy next to me had a golden retriever service dog. We were in the front row, and the dog was at my feet the entire flight, sometimes on top of them. The lady on the other side of me was really annoyed about it & complained to the flight attendants, but I felt like he really relaxed me (I am a lover of dogs though). It also could have been the Xanax.

[plmokn]

A few drinks

[ukrkoz]

Truly understanding that death is just change in state of the true You? Then it does not matter.

[plmokn]

Originally Posted by ukrkoz

Truly understanding that death is just change in state of the true You? Then it does not matter.

The change process may involve severe trauma and a slow death by burning.

[tarragon]

I always pray before we take off and then I figure if it is my time, then it's my time. Having an mp3 player to listen to helps as well.

[Garthur]

I turn on the KFC150, then I relax.

[RockJock1729]

Originally Posted by jrsydevil82

I get anxiety over flying and thought perhaps we could share our methods on not freaking out when having to get on a plane.

I was always fine on a plane as a teen, then when I was in college & flew to Greece, I had a panic attack on the way there & have been afraid of flying ever since. I have been getting better at it again, but it would be nice to have solutions.

Here are some things that have helped me:
-Reading-If I really concentrate it takes away from the fear. I make sure I have something more than an e-reader since you have to turn it off during takeoff

-Not sleeping-the last time I flew, I got zero hours of sleep the night before, and as mad as I was about it, I actually never got nervous & was able to sleep on the plane because I was so tired

-Service dog-Last summer I flew to Florida, and the guy next to me had a golden retriever service dog. We were in the front row, and the dog was at my feet the entire flight, sometimes on top of them. The lady on the other side of me was really annoyed about it & complained to the flight attendants, but I felt like he really relaxed me (I am a lover of dogs though). It also could have been the Xanax.

Or...you could try exposure therapy. Fear of flying is a very common phobia, and exposure therapy is very effective. That would be a real solution.

[debtmonger]

I do what most pilots do. I hit the bar.

[Teckeeee]

Flying doesn't stress me that much, but I can't sleep on the plane so flying long distances is brutal. So I meditate sometimes..........

Or I break out Sky Mall and get amused.

[glass_of_merlot]

Close your eyes and hold your arms out like they were wings and repeat these words

"Jag kan flyga, jag är inte rädd"

This works for sure!