Flying tips and advice

[TeaAndTalesMama]

Hi,
Any tips / reading materials that have helped others who suffer with flying. I am a very nervous flyer and each year before the holiday I tell myself I need to get some professional help with it, but then never get round to it... 🫣

We fly on Tuesday and already feeling so anxious and panicky.
Thank you

I’m a nervous flier. I usually fly BA, and when travelling alone will be texting friends and family asking them to help calm me down. For me, take off and landing is the worst.

I take some bits to help spruce up the flight - a face mask, eye patches, get a new book at the airport. I will treat it as a mini spa session and try to hype myself up. I love travelling, so just view it as a means to an end.

Look at the cabin crew OP. They do this several times a day. They aren’t afraid so you don’t need to be.

I always find during turbulence it helps to imagine I’m on a train instead of a plane. It feels pretty much the same as rattling along train tracks.

I used to be terrified of flying, but can tolerate it now. I have done fear of flying courses, hypnotherapy, even that course where you pay to sit next to a pilot for the flight and he explains every noise and what’s happening. I’m better now, but I found the Alan Carr fear of flying book to be the best help, plus I take a Nytol tablet and have a glass of wine 🙈😂

Thank you everyone.
I try put on a brave face for my girls because I don't want them to pick up on my anxiety with flying, but always find the couple of days before the flight the worse. As I am overthinking all the time about being on that plane! X

It does depend on which bit of the flying experience that makes you most the most nervous. For me, it is other people. You don't say who you are flying with, but if you are flying with many popular budget airlines (and some national carriers) you can change your seats up to 2 hours before you fly on the app, often for free, or for a very small supplement. This means you can move yourself to a quieter part of the plane. This helps me. Also bring the "treasure trove" bag of stuff for your kids, stuff they would not normally get, which is only released once you are on the plane, say "help yourselves - enjoy" (which they will) then put your headphones on and listen to the loudest possible music you can on take off, and when necessary. I have been known to "double headphone" with ear buds for the music, and over ear for the noise. You have to remember that 10000s of flights go up and down every day in complete safety, and if you do enough of them, you do get used to it, and it ends up like being on a bus. If you are not keen on heights, sit in the aisle. You are right to not show anxiety for your girls. It takes time, but you WILL get there. x

I like a window seat and pretend I'm on Pegasus during take-off, galloping faster and faster, with me the rider urging him on. It does seem to help..

I am not scared of flying but I dislike it intensely. I find it helps to break it up mentally in to smaller chunks of time and allocate an activity or task to each portion of time.

Short haul is easy - allocate 20 mins each for take off and landing (I love landing) , then for say a 2 hour flight you have an hour and 20 mins to fill - I download light comedy podcasts to listen to - the BBC "You're History" podcast is great and episodes last about 30 - 50 mins. I can use up another 10 mins or so having a drink or snack, then another 10 going for a wee, then about 10 mins before we start the descent thinking and planning about our onward journey from the airport.

Long haul you obviously also have films and food service to distract you.

I found Mel Robbins really helpful on this. Look her up!