FLYING ANXIETY?

HERE'S HOW TO DEAL WITH IT.

There was a time when I boarded a plane with a great deal of dread. As in, I preferably needed calming pills to get on board because hell no, I was not going to face my potential death fully sane. That fear of flying started around my 10th year, the liters of sweat I produced during an average flight could have seriously dehydrated me. It eased a bit around my 20s when I interned at ELLE and was sent on press trips to London and Paris. By plane, yes. Of course, I didn't want to show my fear, so off I went, trembling and shaking into the air. And now, now it's a whole different story and I even find flying fun. Yes really, fun, and the longer the flight, the better.

Airports are my hobby, I love that supposedly disgusting airplane food and I can look forward to the movie selection every time. But many people find flying very scary. Which isn't so strange because you put your life in someone else's hands and, to be fair, flying is quite an unnatural activity for us humans. However, there are small things you can do to make it all a bit more pleasant, so if you're a panic flyer, read and learn.

Make thorough preparations

Flying anxiety translates into panic reactions and you should limit panic wherever possible by knowing exactly what is happening. It starts at home, where you make a packing list, pack your suitcase on time, lay everything out, and practice a few times where your passport is. By being well-prepared, you gain a sense of control, you won't have a panicky “OMG I forgot this or that” moment, and you'll leave home a lot calmer.

Be on time

There are types who don't care about the rule that you should be at the airport two hours in advance, but if you're anxious about flying, you better give yourself the train. Suppose there's traffic, or an accident, or the train doesn't go any further, then you'll be stressing about whether you'll make your flight, and that's not conducive to the already present flying panic.

Have a glass of wine

Maybe not the most responsible advice, but a small glass of wine can just take that little edge off the tension. Or two glasses, of course.

Do your homework

You certainly don't have to complete a four-year pilot training, but if you know even a little about how an airplane works, you'll feel a lot more confident. I remember a flight where a flight attendant came to feel the sweaty hands of the children on board, and I won that contest hands down. The prize: a look in the cockpit. Incredibly interesting and exciting, and that's how flying slowly but surely became a bit more fun.

Try to feed your fear as little as possible

In the time when I found flying scary, I could watch programs like Seconds From Disasters or Air Crash Investigation on National Geographic for hours on end. Then I would be explained in an hour and a half how one rusty screw could bring a Boeing 747 down. Not very handy, of course. Better to drill into yourself a thousand times that flying is the safest way to travel and that it rarely goes wrong.

Fly often

The most important thing, don't avoid it by taking the car or train whenever possible. Try to accumulate as many flight hours as possible because really, in the end, you will get used to it.