Whether you have a general fear of flying or the thought of getting on a plane brings on extreme anxiety, you are not alone. More than 40 percent of the population feel your pain.
"It doesn't matter if this is your first flight or you've flown dozens of times, traveling by plane can be a scary experience for many folks," said Tim Griffin, founder of FlyHome LLC, an online program that helps people overcome their fear of flying.
While not everyone has an intense fear of flying that leaves them paralyzed, most people experience some level of discomfort when it comes to air travel.
And so with the holifays fast approach we asked Griffin for some imple steps they can take to prepare mentally and physically for their next flight.
Here’s what he suggests:
- Anticipatory Anxiety is the number one issue with most fearful flyers. The only way to overcome this is by gradually learning to feel more comfortable during flight, so before hand, you will have less to worry about.
- Don't check the weather more than two days out from your trip. This causes a large amount of anxiety should the flyer see a percentage forrain or storms. The truth is, it is not that accurate that far out anyway.
- Pack a few days early. Rushing around packing the night before while you are already anxious will only fuel the fire.
- Exercise, and avoid caffeine. Exercising can help minimize the affects of anxiety, while caffeine can increase the effects.
- At the airport, the TSA security check is an anxiety increaser, but not if you're prepared. Take off all jewelry, remove all items from pocket, take belt off, all prior to getting in line. Put all of the items in your carry on, and this way, you're not rushing to remove everything while everyone behind you is waiting on you. It's the little things that alleviate stress.
