How to deal with travel anxiety onboard a flight

Posted on 10 October 2024 By Louise Bell

From scary turbulence to tightly packed seats, airplane travel can be a minefield when it comes to inducing a sense of stress and uneasiness. While there is no place to run from your problems onboard, there are certainly ways in which you can calm your worries.

Unsplash/Hanson Lu

Unsure how to combat travel anxiety mid-flight? Here are a few tips and tricks to try in order to relax and enjoy your air travel adventure ahead.

Come prepared

Distraction from worrying thoughts can be a great tool to incorporate into your arsenal, as it transfers your anxious energy into a more productive activity. From sudoku to knitting up a storm, you’ll be able to kill time onboard without focusing on your intrusive thoughts of stress.

If you feel your surroundings are overwhelming and claustrophobic, you can also invest in earplugs and eyemasks to temporarily isolate yourself from the world. 

Stay clear of alcohol and coffee

As you’re sure to already feel anxious and stimulated by your anxiety, there is no reason you should add fuel to that fire. So, in order to feel less jitters, stick to calming tea selections and water to keep you hydrated on your flight.

Choose your seat wisely

Seat selection can be a great way to feel like you’re somewhat in control of your journey and help you get in a comfortable position that fits your traveller’s needs. Pre-booking your seat is a must, whether you prefer the window seat to see the plane takeoff or an aisle seat to go to the bathroom more hassle-free.

Try breathing exercises 

Breathe work is an important practice to learn for individuals seeking to reduce anxiety in an easy and natural way. You might find yourself breathing fast during turbulence, take-off and landings, so be sure to fucus on deep breathing at these triggering times to feel a little more relaxed and in control.

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