Suffering from fear of flying? Then you really want to hear this

Man, I really hate flying. The misery starts during takeoff. That feeling as soon as you feel the plane tilt upwards is one that makes me anxious just thinking about it. Because there you are: stuck in a tiny seat in a plane above the clouds with no idea who is behind the controls in the cockpit. Not me. No. Thanks.

In case it’s not clear yet: I have a fear of flying just like one third of all adults in the Netherlands. By the way, everyone has a different reason for where that fear comes from. Some fear enclosed spaces or heights, while others have had a traumatic experience during a previous flight. Those thoughts trigger the stress system in your body, putting you into survival mode. Your body no longer distinguishes between reality and fantasy, and all your muscles tense up. Your breathing becomes erratic, you feel nauseous, your neck stiffens, and your mouth suddenly goes dry — a very unpleasant feeling.

The unfortunate thing is: you can’t just get over it. Because if there had been one specific solution, we would have all long been free from our suffering. However, I recently came across a TikTok that helped me view my fear of flying from a broader perspective. Because that’s what I always do with anxiety: put yourself in the shoes of someone around you who is completely unaffected by it and see it from their rational mind. That person will likely think that you’re just being dramatic and need to act normal for a moment.

@lizmoody from this week’s solo pod but felt too important not to share here too 💫 saying “no—im not going to let my fears stand in the way of living my big, beautiful life” is one of the most challenging and important things i’ve ever done. if you’re currently facing a fear, little or big, i know how tough it is and i see you. i’m proud of you. i’m cheering you on. #fearofflying #anxiety #anxietyrelief #anxietyrelieftips ♬ What Was I Made For? [From The Motion Picture “Barbie”] – Billie Eilish

Because what are we actually worrying about? The chance of dying on the way to the airport is greater than crashing in the air. Or just look around during the flight. You can simply choose to read a book like everyone else, lean back with a podcast in your ears, or watch a movie. Do you really want to spend hours stressing yourself out only to end up with no nails left? You can also just relax, really. This plane will arrive at the intended destination, whether with or without you. The piece of control is what you will have to let go of at that moment. And that’s something you need to train. How do you do that? By simply getting on that plane again next time. The more often you do something you dread, the less scary it becomes.

Easier said than done, of course, but this mindset has helped me at least, and that’s why I couldn’t keep this tip from you. During my flight two weeks ago, I only had one panic attack, and that’s very little for me. Unfortunately, takeoff will always be a bit of a thing, I guess.

Source: nu.nl