Advice to calm nerves whilst flying?!

[C1239]

Hi All,
Going on holiday next week just over a two and a half hour flight which I know isn’t that long but the last couple of times I’ve flown I’ve been really nervous leading up to it and the flight Itself.
Has anyone got any tips on being a bit calmer whilst flying?

I'm another one who recommends the Glenn Harold book on Audible. It cured my fear of flying.

Maybe not great for a short flight but I’m
Terrified and been known to take phenergan antihistamine. It’s super sedative. Take 60-90 mins before and sleep for all of it.

Close your eyes and imagine you are on a train. It feels much the same, especially if you hit some bumpy air.

Get some cheap noise cancelling earphones, load up your phone with podcasts and listen to them one after another.

I've done the BA Fear of Flying Course and it really helped. Well worth the money

What works for me is having music loudly playing in my headphones, eyes closed and pretending I'm not on an aeroplane but a train. Works quite well during turbulence. I also found reading a book called First Light by Geoffrey Wellum really helped my anxiety about flying. It's a war time book but made me realise how clever planes are and that by comparison a straightforward passenger flight is easy peasy!

Doh Myimaginarycathasfleas beat me to it!
Snap!

After years of panic and anxiety I lost the fear by using a lot of advice already posted.
I now imagine the plane is on an invisible road.
Alcohol.

I was going to suggest the train thing too. I get a window seat and distract myself from the fear by looking out of the window trying to spot landmarks during takeoff and landing.

The poster who unhelpfully casually mentioned planes being “low on fuel” upthread may have given an incorrect impression- they always carry a considerable reserve and any pilot landing without would be in serious trouble - it’s not a regular thing.

When I start worrying about things that could go wrong I ask myself what’s the most likely outcome - and the answer is always that I go and have a nice time and then come home.

I can sometimes convince myself m on a train. Will be trying noise cancelling headphones next time too.

I’m a nervous flyer and for many years took diazepam but still felt anxious and also spaced out.

About 4 years ago I had hypnotherapy and now I am sooo much better. In fact I recently flew long haul and was worried again as I hadn’t flown for a few years.
DH said he couldn’t believe how chilled I was compared to how I used to be. He reckons I’ve ‘cracked it’.

I’m still nervous but I literally used to shake I was so anxious, often holding back tears and I was so embarrassed of it.

Now I’m actually fairly relaxed. And yes suduko helps when taking off.

Gin

Ive recently travelled from NZ to the UK (& back) & was very nervous before I set out, knowing I had long flights & was tying myself in knots over silly things like how could I use the loo if there was any turbulance. I took some Rescue Remedy lozenges along with me, but I also found that if I used my neck pillow & kept my eyes shut during any bumpy bits it lessened its effect on me somewhat. Sounds weird, but I think the pillow stopped me "bracing myself" against the back of the seat - & it did feel at times as if I was on a boat just bumping along. I know exactly where youre at OP, but Ive decided to keep at it as I live so far away from all those amazing places I want to see again. Hope you manage this & enjoy your trip.

If you're flying with Easyjet, treat yourself and pre-order your food online. You save a quid, get your food served first before anyone else and it's a nice little distraction in the early part of the flight unpacking your various bits and pieces.

Thank you everyone for your advice, fly tomorrow morning, feel really quite nervous now!!