Fear of flying: causes and solutions to travel more peacefully

From a simple discomfort to a real phobia, fear of flying can take several forms. Before trying to overcome it, you still need to know how to identify it. Here’s what you need to know.

Fear of flying does not only manifest itself on board. It often starts well before departuresometimes several days in advance. As the trip approaches, tension sets in: apprehension, negative thoughts, disaster scenarios… on the day of the flight, this anxiety can intensify and cause: an acceleration in the heart rate sweating or trembling a feeling of oppression or even a real anxiety attack.

During the flightsome people become particularly vigilantesattentive to the slightest noise or movement of the device. This hypervigilance maintains the stress and prevents you from relaxing.

It is important to distinguish a “classic” fear of a phobia of flying (aviophobia).

Fear of flying is often based on a feeling of loss of control. Unlike the car, where we are an actor or actress of the vehicle, the plane places us in the position of passenger, dependent on a crew and a technology that we have little control over. Added to this:

The brain tends to overestimate risks, even when they are extremely weak.

Despite preconceived ideas, The plane remains today one of the safest means of transport in the world. Every day, tens of thousands of flights are operated without major incident. The planes are designed to withstand extreme conditions, and pilots undergo rigorous training throughout their careers. Each anomaly, even minor, is subject to in-depth analysis in order to continually improve security.

Turbulence is one of the most feared moments on a plane. They can be impressive, especially when they are sudden, but they remain very rarely dangerous for the device. They simply correspond to movements of air masses, comparable to “bumps” on a road.

The pilots anticipate them and avoid them as much as possible, and the plane is designed to withstand it without difficulty. The main risk concerns unbelted passengers.

The right reflex : keep your seat belt fastened even when the light signal is off.

Good news: today there are many methods to better manage your anxiety on a plane. The ideal is often to combine several approaches.

THE drugs are to be used with caution. Anxiolytics may be considered, but only on medical advice. Absolutely avoid: self-medication mixing it with alcohol.

During a long flight, sitting for a long time can slow down blood circulation. This immobility promotes the feeling of heavy legsand in rare cases, the formation of a clot (phlebitis).

The risk mainly concerns flights lasting more than 4 hours as well as people at risk (history, pregnancy, etc.).

To limit these inconveniences, here are some tips to apply :

On the other hand, aspirin is not effective in prevention in this context.

The feeling ofblocked ears on a plane is very common, especially when descending. It is linked to pressure variations in the cabin, which strain the eardrums.

To remedy this, several simple actions can be enough: swallowing saliva, chewing gum or even yawning are small actions that activate the Eustachian tubes and balance the pressure. There Valsalva maneuver can also be effective when done gently.

In case of common cold or from stuffy nosethe discomfort may be greater. It is then advisable to:

The air in the cabin is particularly dry, which can cause eye irritation. The eyes can sting, blush or give an impression of drought. To limit these effects, it is recommended regularly moisturize the eyes with eye drops or physiological serum. The carriers of lentils may feel more discomfort: in this case, it is better to wear glasses during the flight.

The time difference disrupts the internal clock and can lead to fatigue, trouble sleeping and reduced concentration. There natural lightwhich influences biological rhythms, is your best ally in helping the body resynchronize.

Get as much rest as possible during the flight, but avoid sleeping pills, especially if you are not used to them. There melatonin can be used in certain cases. Available today in France, it can make it easier to fall asleep, even if its effectiveness varies depending on the individual.

Food can also give a boost and help you recover from jet lag faster.