Every time there’s a major airline accident in the news, those of us who are afraid of getting on airplanes pay close attention. There are over 25 million Americans who suffer from this fear, which tends to peak during take-off, landing, and in-flight turbulence. The effects can range from moderate feelings of nervousness to all-out panic attacks. While there’s no 100% cure for fear of flying, there are ways that we can deal with it.

What Causes Fear of Flying?

Many people who have fear of flying suffer from generalized anxiety or panic disorders, which may affect them in other areas of life. Some people are just nervous in general, and their nervousness peaks during situations such as air travel, which, as we all know, can be an all-around grueling and irritating experience.

But on the other hand, there are plenty of people afraid of flying who don’t have any other major fears or anxiety issues. For some, it’s the unique combination of flying-related factors that add up to create an acute fear. For instance, maybe you’re moderately uncomfortable with heights and small spaces, and perhaps you like being in control of your own transportation. Maybe none of these things are major fears or neuroses on their own, but when you mix them all together on a plane, the results are severe. You’re in a small space, you’re miles above the ground, and your life is basically in the hands of strangers (the pilots).

And then there’s the fact that plane crashes tend to be given heavy media coverage. When you think about the fact that over 40,000 people die on U.S. roads each year (or over 100 each day), all the plane crash coverage seems a little out of proportion. When you add that to all the movies and TV shows that depict plane crashes, plus the nervousness that many people have about hijackings and terrorism, you have a perfect recipe for a fear of flying.

What Can You Do About It?

The best way to deal with fear of flying is to educate yourself on the safety of air travel. There are so many everyday activities that are far more dangerous than air travel. You’re far more likely to die in the car on the way to the airport than on the plane. It’s also more dangerous to walk across the street, climb a ladder, eat junk food, smoke cigarettes, and drink alcohol, but many of us do these things regularly. More people die from chewing food than in plane crashes, but not too many people have a fear of chewing.

If self-education doesn’t work, just try to relax. After all, panic attacks don’t come out of nowhere. They happen because you expect them to happen. Just by taking your mind off of your fear and meditating, reading a book, or listening to music in your headphones, you can distract yourself from your fear. Once you survive a couple of flights without panic, you’ll be surprised by how easily your fear dissipates.

Of course, some people opt to take prescription medicines to deal with their fear of flying. I can’t recommend medications for you, and there are plenty of good arguments against this practice, but if you feel you need it, talk to your doctor.

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