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If you are a first time traveller this summer or
you have always had issues getting on a plane to go on holiday, you are not
alone. For many of us, the idea of being on a plane with lots of people can be
scary, and it can indeed make it hard for us to cope with travelling at all.
Travel anxiety can be down to a number of different things: it could be that you
are scared of flying, scared of leaving home, and scared of not being able to
come back. But there are many different things that you can do this summer to
make that plane ride much easier and to allow you to stay settled and excited
for your trip away.
Fly with a friend
If you struggle with travel and you always
seem to feel anxious on the plane, the worst thing you can possibly do for
yourself is to travel on your own. Make sure when you plan to go away somewhere
that you always have someone that you know and trust sitting next to you. Being
on a plane with someone that you know will make things much easier for you to
cope with the flight because they will be there to support you and tell you
that it’s all ok. Even if you don’t have a panic right away, a friend or
partner will be able to distract you from the plane by talking to you and
playing a game with you. Never travel alone if possible because it will make
you feel overwhelmed.
Relaxation techniques
One of the useful skills you can start to learn
as you prepare for a flight is relaxation techniques. There are many great ways
to relax your body and your mind and now is the perfect time to use these
skills to make sure that you don’t pay attention to the plane leaving the
ground. You can close your eyes and focus on your breathing for a while and
start to imagine that you are entering a happy place. It could be a meadow, a
secret garden or even a beach. Imagine yourself in this place and think about
everything you can see, hear and smell. Focusing on this will take you away
from the present moment and will allow you to truly relax for a while and calm
your anxieties. You will be able to keep your eyes closed and stay in your happy place as long as you feel you
need to, and only bring yourself back to the present again when you are
completely ready to.
Focus on something calm
Another great thing that you can do for
yourself when flying is to focus your attention on something which stays calm
and unmoving. It could be a bottle of water on your table, the pattern of
cushion in front of you or the luggage in the overhead bay. Think of something
which isn’t moving and focus on it for a while. This way, your body will feel
calm too because you will no longer feel as if you are moving through the sky.
You can also think about putting some calming music on if you can or even
playing a meditation tape to help you stay calm.
Use a weighted blanket
One of the things which can really be a
godsend for those who suffer from anxiety is a weighted blanket. When we are
anxious and worked up we often feel unsettled and exposed to the world.
Paranoia can set in easily and we can end up feeling completely out of control
with our lives and everything in it. A weighted blanket is the perfect calming
tool for anyone with anxiety because it gives you the sensation of being hugged
and being covered up. You will feel safe and protected and this can allow you
to rest and sleep for the duration of the flight. If you are able to sleep this
is the best thing for you to do.
Avoid alcohol
Before a flight, a lot of people will suggest
to you that you should have a stiff drink or two as a bit of Dutch courage,
however this can actually make you feel more paranoid when you get on the plane
and take off. The reason for this is that alcohol is a depressant and it slows
our reactions, it makes us feel groggy and we can also feel more emotional as a
result. If you are already anxious and worried about a flight, a drink might
just amplify these fears and make you feel even worse, to a point where you
cannot even get on the flight at all. Drink lots of water and vitamin packed
fruit juice before a flight to keep your body happy.
Sit at the front
If you are able to afford first class seats,
buy them for a flight. When you are in the regular section of a plane you often
end up being crammed in next to people you don’t know and this can make for a
very stressful flight. If you have social anxiety as well as travel anxiety
this will make you feel twice as bad and you will not be able to settle for the
duration of the flight. If you are able to buy a first class seat you will be away
from the crowds and you will have a much larger seat to yourself. This will
allow you to get comfortable and calm yourself which can make your flight much
more enjoyable.
Remember your plans
When you get on a flight you can be so
distracted by the experience that you forget about where you are going. When
you are suffering from anxiety on a plane make sure that you start to remember
the reason you are on the plane in the
first place. Maybe you rented out some apartments for yourself and your
friends for a few weeks away, maybe you are going for an all-inclusive hotel
retreat… remembering your reason for a flight can make the whole experience
much more relaxing and you will be able to look forward to what’s in store when
you get off the plane. You’ll no longer feel consumed by anxiety because you
will know that in a few hours you’ll be off doing whatever you want.
Bring entertainment
Make sure when you get on a plane that you
bring something to do. You can bring your favourite book, a sketchbook to draw
in or even a pack of cards to play with your partner. You can also think about
watching one of the in-flight movies to keep your mind occupied throughout the
flight. If you are able to do something that you enjoy on the plane this is the
ideal way to combat those feelings of anxiety and stress.
Talk to someone
If you are trying all of the things above and
you still seem to be panicking at the thought of getting onto a flight, it
might just be that you need to air your issues to someone else. Go to your
local doctors and talk to them about your problems. Let them know what feelings
you are having and what you think is causing these feelings. A doctor will
always be able to help you along the way with your stress and they might even
be able to refer you to a counsellor to get some proper treatment for your
anxiety. This way you will be able to truly be happy and finally get on a
flight in peace.
