How I Overcome my Fear of Flying in Order to Travel the World

People are often surprised when I tell them I have a fear of flying. 

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As someone who flies quite regularly and often alone, people expect me to be fearless regarding the many aspects of travelling.

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However, no matter how often I fly, I'm nervous every time.

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The overwhelming desire to travel gets me on the plane – this ultimately outweighs any anxiety or fear of flying I feel.

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I still don't find flying an enjoyable experience but over the years, I have come up with several coping mechanisms to continue doing what I love most: travelling.

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Here are some of the techniques I use to overcome my flight anxiety.

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Get informed

Flying is statistically the safest mode of transport; and this fact is something that I remind myself of whenever I get nervous.

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You wouldn't think twice about getting in a car, but it is significantly more risky than flying.

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 I can understand not wanting to know anything about previous air disasters, but I've found that learning about what went wrong in the past, measures that are in place to avoid these things happening again and even the basic workings of a plane all help me to feel better about flying in general.

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Let someone know

There's no need to suffer in silence when it comes to your fear of flying; some people don't have any issues with flying at all and therefore may not be aware that you're suffering.

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If, like me, you're not a fan of take-off, let whoever you're travelling with know. 

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This way, they can chat with you and keep you distracted until you've calmed down. 

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Once, a friend of mine and I spoke for the entirety of a 1.5-hour flight from Copenhagen. We were talking rubbish by the end of it, and we were possibly annoying the people behind us, but as long as you're not being loud and obnoxious, do what you need to do to get through it.

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Identify triggers

Knowing what sets off your anxiety and fear of flying will help you to manage it.

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Often, the anticipation of fear feels worse than the fear itself. 

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If you hate turbulence, acknowledge this beforehand and prepare yourself; you'll be surprised how calm you feel when it's happening. 

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As mentioned above, if you read up on how much turbulence a plane can withstand, you will realise that a tiny bit of turbulence is perfectly normal.

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Something that has always comforted me was a story my Uncle told me about turbulence on one of his flights – it was so bad that the drinks trolley hit the ceiling! 

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Knowing that turbulence can get to that level and everything still be fine has helped reassure me ever since.

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Visualise the destination

The reason you're putting yourself through this anxiety is ultimately the reward at the end – the destination.

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Remember how you will feel when you step off the plane in a new place, or somewhere you've been before and love. 

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Think about everything you plan to do while you're there. For me, whilst I still find flying nerve-wracking, I will continue to do it because otherwise, I wouldn't be able to travel as much as I do, and travel is the thing I love most.

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If I'd let my fears hold me back, I wouldn't have been to half the places I have been to, and I wouldn't have anywhere near the number of experiences I have had.

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Congratulate yourself

Overcoming significant anxiety is no small feat. 

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No matter how silly it may seem to someone else, there is nothing wrong with patting yourself on the back for getting on the plane. 

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If you think of each flight you board as a step towards conquering your fear, it will make each one feel like an achievement. 

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Plus, if you want to treat yourself to something once you arrive - do it! A glass of prosecco, a new perfume, a burger? Whatever you want. 

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Remind yourself that you have overcome a big hurdle, even if it doesn't appear that way to someone else.

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Ultimately, if you have a fear of flying, don't feel bad about it; it's widespread. 

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Thousands of people go on cultural exchange programmes to summer camps every year, and a high percentage have worries about flying. It's totally normal, and if you're going through an agency such as Camp Leaders Camp Canada or Adventure China, don't be afraid of speaking to the team, who will know precisely how you're feeling and will reassure you ahead of your big trip.

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But there's a whole world out there waiting to be explored! Don't let it pass you by; get on the plane.

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About the author

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Lucy Jones is a travel writer whose passions include solo female travel, affordable travel and New York City. Follow her travels via her Instagram @lucyelizabethfaith

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