Marina Fiesta asks how often have you
boarded a flight and noticed one or two passengers who are acting a bit
peculiar? You might pass it off as stressful flight conditions or
dissatisfaction with the airline, but they could be suffering from fear of
flying. It becomes more evident as takeoff approaches. The wide-eyes, clenched
fists, profuse sweating, and rocking motions are among its symptoms. Below are
some tips to help the nervous traveler.
Don’t hide it. Tell the gate agent when you
check in, the flight attendant when you board, and the passengers around you
when you sit down. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about, and what you need is
support, not added frustrations by suffering in silence.
At check-in, ask for a seat at the very
front of the cabin as possible. Turbulence is usually much greater in the back
of the aircraft. If you have an extreme dread of flying, don’t try to overcome
your fears on a long flight. Marina Fiesta suggests that you take the shortest
flight you can and preferably in the biggest plane possible.
Keep distracted. Watch the movie even if
it’s bad or you have seen it already. Read a book or do a crossword puzzle. Do
anything that keeps your mind occupied and not dwelling on morbid
possibilities.
Marina Fiesta also recommends that you listen
to peaceful and calming music. Your mind tends to wander and hear sounds that
either don’t exist or are perfectly normal flight noises.
