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Below are travel tips from James Wysong, an author who has worked as a flight attendant for almost 18 years:
- Don’t conceal it. Tell the gate agent, the flight attendant and even your fellow passengers. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about. You need support
- Treat turbulence like bumps in the road. Don’t tense up – let your body sway with the movements of the aircraft.
- Ask for a seat at the very front of the cabin. Turbulence is usually much greater at the back of the plane.
- Don’t try to overcome your fear of flying like ripping off a Band-Aid by taking a long flight – take the shortest flight you can on the biggest plane possible.
- Keep distracted. Watch a movie, read a book or do a crossword puzzle. Anything that keeps your mind occupied.
- Avoid caffeine as an overly hyper state of mind will exacerbate your anxiety, but be sure to drink other liquids as dehydration only contributes to the fear. Some recommend an alcoholic beverage to calm your nerves, but be sure not to overdo it.
- Listen to peaceful, soothing music. Your mind may wander and you’ll hear sounds that don’t exist or just perfectly normal flight noises.
- Wear a rubber band around your wrist and if you feel yourself becoming anxious, snap it on your wrist. The pain is supposed to be a “reality bite” and will help take your mind off of the turbulence or anxiety.
- Avoid the gory details reported by the media when an air disaster occurs. It’s important to be informed, but too much can have a negative effect.
- Breathe deeply as often as you can and remember the air sickness bag can double as an anti-hyperventilating device.