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Those are all excellent supportive strategies. Unfortunately most genuine flight anxiety sufferers have underlying issues with trauma and/or traumatic stress. For them to get relief often relies upon "bottom up" strategies that deal with the Amygdala and the Limbic System.

@@fearlessflight im started getting anxiety and panic attack at my age 25...i used to drink alcohol everynight the whole straight monts never missed a single day... and one day im driving my car the next morning after the night partying with a massive hangover... i feel that my heart rate is getting fast and fast like a racing car.... i stopped the car and get out and walked around the car untill everything is fine... its keep haunting me... i can't drive a car for 3 months...i go to the doctor he scanned me everything is fine.... so i quit drinking for half of a year and everything is fine and i can drive my car back again....and then the night before my flight...im drinking again....and the next morning i going to the airport and im just good and no anxiety....and then we are boarded on plane...once the door is close... my heart rate suddenly getting faster again... shortnese of breath... and the accelarating before take off...my god feel that im going to die..... i made it to the destination and i dont have a problem with the landing and no turbulence during the trip... after that my fear of flying ruined my life im.scared to go anywhere i rather took a 12 hours bus trip rather than a flight lol.... years by years... i quit drinking already... do some exercise.... i quit coffee too... lol... i dont have a problem with fear of flying anymore. Thats my story 😀 Sorry for my broken English 😁

I’m right there with you, you will get through this ❤❤❤

Dave, did you make it to the UK and beyond? If you're still struggling, may I suggest a free 15-Min Coaching Session. Click on this link to schedule a time convenient for you: flf.link/15min

Sorry for the late response...I always list the times for any webiinars or live broadcasts in both Pacific and Eastern times.

I believe you can get over this I know you can without the meds

@@User0600I swear I overcame many fear I believed I will overcome fear of flying too I will flying this weekend I need beat claousphobia I don’t fear death True Muslim ❤

@@User0600we need to be fearless

Relief starts with identifying and understanding your "triggers"--those stimuli that activat your parasympathetic nervous system (your so-called 'fight-or-flight' response) and develop skills, strategies, and techniques to cope. Consider a free 15-Min Coaching Session. You can start by clicking on this link to schedule a time convenient for you: flf.link/15min

​@@fearlessflight Hmm, actually, the sympathetic nervous system is the one that promotes the fight-or-flight response while the parasympathetic nervous system helps calm the body. :)

Sounds like you've "nailed" one of your triggers. Good for you. If I can be any support, let me know.

yes omg same! I have a phobia of being sick which makes it even worse

You explained exactly my situation

OMG SAME AND NO ONE GETS IT. LIKE WTF AM I GONNA DO WHEN I PANIC JUMP OUT?😂 like especially when the light is on and you can’t even get up and walk around or use the bathroom and then my stomach hurts cause I’m anxious it’s hell

This is me, have you found a solution

It’s a phobia that is similar to claustrophobia, we aren’t scared of small spaces but are scared of being trapped. We want to have an escape. It happens to me on planes, trains, elevators!! And any other situations I can’t escape. I went to therapy and am excited to try to fly but Xanax is the best solutions or any type of medicine to calm anxiety! Best of luck

Same, for me it’s “omg what if I have a panic attack and can’t get out”. It’s the not being able to move around, the fear of fear, the fear of severe physical symptoms.

Omg me too! This is exactly me! So scared of feeling trapped on the plane and fear I will have a panic attack and want to get off but won’t be able too! I also have this fear on trains but feel comfort knowing that it does stop so if I really want to I can get off, but once you’re in a plane that’s it!

If that's a way for you to cope, I totally support you!

This is so helpful. I just can’t get myself to fly. I know the aisle seat thing helps but I’m scared because you can’t get up during the takeoff and landing when the light is on which I will get a panic attack. Can you please tell me-from someone who also experiences this claustrophobia that no one I know understands- how long is that light on during takeoff and landing. I’m just curious after about how much time can I move around.

@@eileenohara560 it usually depends on turbulence but I’d say you can move around about 15mins after take off. In the mean time I would just try to keep yourself distracted as much as possible. You got this!

I hate that feeling of being trapped, and the person sitting next to me is invading my space. It's loud, bright so many people, smells, can't stand it! I want to get up and leave when this happens and I can't. Side note, I never had this problem before and as a kid and a teen I enjoyed traveling. Don't know what to do.

@@martywolf7817 thank you so much this is comforting!!

I assume I am the "they" of which you speak. What is it that you're trying to say? No one with any knowledge of the human psyche would ever suggest such a thing. Fear is a normal human response to both real and imagined threats. Fear of flying is an anxiety disorder where the Amygdala is responding to threats that are being perceived but not commensurate with the actual threat. You would never want to live a life without fear, but one that is rife with threats that limit the ability to experience it fully without compulsively obsessing about imagined threats is not a life that most would relish. Do you have anxiety triggered by flying?

@@fearlessflightI am ready to face my fears I believe I can learned how to control step by step

Your thinking is very logical based upon the story that you tell yourself. And I would be the first to NOT in any way want you to deviate from a lifestyle that is free from flying and your choice. My goal is to help those who are fearful of flying and want to rid themselves of that limitation. Regarding the 50/50 odds that you "feel," those aren't real odds or probabilities. Those are based upon your intuition which is the dominant way that we make decisions and judgements as human beings. You can read about this in Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman's Book, Thinking Fast and Slow. What is the story you tell yourself about people who get into their car everyday and die in a traffic accident, which is far more likely "odds-wise" than dying in a commercial airliner? We do not think in terms of "probabilities." Rather, we think in terms of "possibilities." So saying that your odds of dying in a Tier 1 commercial airliner are 1 in 33.2 million doesn't register or impress you because our minds need to hear () in 33.2 million! Happy Landings!

@@fearlessflight Hi Capt. Ron. I appreciate you taking the time to reply back to me! I've flown before, but each flight was horrible for me. Never felt safe and I had to load up on medicine to help me knock out so I wouldn't freak out. To be honest, I feel like a hopeless case. I want to visit many places within the country and around the world, and my wife wants to start taking long distance vacations that require airline travel, especially over ocean. For example, she wants to visit Tahiti but our flight options are Air Tahiti or Air France, which had a flight that literally fell out of the sky. I've also opted out of many family reunions because I'm fearful of the flights from CA to NJ and back. I guess my biggest problem with flying is that I have to face the fact that, yes, there is a possibility that something can go wrong and end up being fatal and be "ok" with it, like everyone else on board. For some people, it's no big deal. But for me, I just can't shake the feeling that something will go wrong, despite the odds. That's always been my problem, which is why I feel hopeless. I'm envious of people who get to travel and enjoy life. I know eventually I have to board a flight whether it be for work or in my personal life. The only thing I can think of doing is loading up on medicine to stay sedated for as long as possible on both departing and return flights.

@@Sanguine_Addiction If you ever want to talk about it, you can schedule a free 15-min coaching session here: fearlessflight.newzenler.com/courses/15-min-coaching/buy

@@fearlessflight yes Sir will do!

I have a milder case so I was able to alleviate it by watching Air Crash Investigation. What the people you talk to probably aren’t emphasising is that after each crash, they find the cause and make new rules to prevent it from happening again. As a result, countries like the US (I’m assuming you’re American because you mentioned Dramamine) haven’t had ANY fatal crashes since the 2000s.

Chewing bubble gum, sit close to the window, make sure to turn on air condition to keep you cool, maybe try some CBD oil before you fly, have a lot of water next to you, also eating something will trick your brain into relaxing that’s why I mentioned gum too, definitely pray, and also try to have some music to listen to keep you calm

Thats my issue as well, I don't necessarily worry about crashing...Im afraid of getting an anxiety attack 30k feet in the air and having no where to run or get help like I normally would. I'm actually not claustrophobic though, not in its true definition. Planes aren't THAT small...but still, having no way to get help kinda sucks. What I've done is taken a small piece of Xanax (yes it's prescribed to me) and kinda just understand that we aren't always in control of everything in life...sometimes you gotta learn to let go and assure yourself that someone else got it this time. Try to trade your anxiety for excitement. Also take small flights to desensitize yourself....once you see you're ok, you can take longer and longer flights.

Makes perfect sense to me...your experience leads to a myriad of thoughts related to solving issues with which you're familiar...and works well when you're on the job--but actually sabotages your efforts to relax when not in control of situations like the maintenance of the aircraft on which you're a passenger. If those thoughts prevail, anxiety is the predicted outcome. Change your thoughts--change your discomfort. I'm not saying that all your "what if's" are not possible. It's just that it's not your job. That's why you pay for a ticket on a commercial airplane. And yes, they do sometimes break. And even crash sometimes. And sometimes people get hurt and die. And even reassurances that your chances of dying are 1 in 33.2 million people on a Tier 1 airline (industrialized countries). But we are not creatures who deal in probabilities so that doesn't impress the intuitive brain which says, I deal in possibilities and I could be that one. Sorry, but the only path to peace is to change the way you think. You do it everyday in other areas like getting into your car to drive to work/store/movie, etc. Your brain doesn't get hijacked by your Amygdala and worry you into a ditch. If you want to talk more, contact me for a free 15-min coaching session.

@@fearlessflight thanks for your reply. I would definitely love to do a 15 minute coaching session and maybe attend a course in person if you have one. Thanks

Don't we all! Good point. The trouble is that if that's the only or main criteria you use for whether or not you'll fly, you'd have to quit driving a car as well because your chances of dying in an auto accident are far greater than dying in an airplane crash. In fact they are about 200 times greater. The odds of dying in a Tier 1 airline (airlines from US, European, Australian, New Zealand, China, Japan, etc) are 1 in 33.2 million according to Arnold Barnett (flf.link/CommercialAirTravelSaferThanEver). But our brains don't think in terms of probabilities--we think in terms of possibilities. So, even 1 chance convinces us that we will be that one.

@@fearlessflight Well, I dont drive and I really, really hate being in a plane. What advice can you give me, sir?

It’s panic attack. See a therapist

This is me I am about to go on my first flight and I am terrified

I have the same thing. Lived in Asia for a decade. Now can’t fly at all. Yes, I’ve seen a therapist but not many specialize in this type of treatment. I’m getting too old to drive all over every time I need to go somewhere. It’s pretty sad.

I have travelled my whole life, lived all over the world. The plane was my second home. I have not been on a plane in over 4 years cause of panic attacks, feeling the walls are caving in. I miss the feeling of flying, am even thinking of taking flying lessons just to face my fear… with no luck. I wish there was someone who could help me fly again!

@@powerpowerpower You do realize that this channel is for people with a fear of flying, right? So why come on with a snarky remark to someone with a fear of flying? Maybe you should consider seeing a therapist, you obviously have issues around feeling weak and insufficient. That’s the ONLY reason you’d respond like that on a site designed to help.

Learning more about flying and aerodynamics is one particular area of educating yourself. Another equally important area is to understand your mind and the role it plays in hijacking your attention and triggering the biology of survival. If you haven't, consider scheduling a free 15-minute online/phone coaching session: flf.link/15-Min_FREE_Coaching

If it works for you, it works for me! Enjoy!

Consider a free 15-minuted coaching session...schedule a time convenient for you here: flf.link/15-Min_FREE_Coaching

Extra eyes are always appreciated. Know that the biggest benefit is to be aware of any "stories" you might be telling yourself that might increase your anxiety and could be eliminated with some fact checking.

Claustrophobia is a comorbid issue associated with fear of flying. I always ask, "What is it about flying that would cause you to be concerned to be safely confined for the duration of a flight?" The answer to that question often lies in the lack of some technical understanding as to how risks are managed in a modern airline operation.

Only recently has my claustrophobia intensified. I used to love flying, but the thoughts of being stuck in a plane awaiting to taxi or depart makes me so anxious. When a pilot says they are waiting for a gate to become available becomes of changes or the flights lands too early, I start to get anxious. I usually sit next to the window but maybe sitting in the aisle seats may help. Thankfully, I also had my phone to distract me, with music or games. It may also help if you traveled with someone who can distract you with chit chat.

Just finished a coaching session with a student who expressed this very fear. I suggested that she simple wait and shield her eyes in some way to avoid the "trapped in a forest" sensation that can occur when everyone stands and pushes to get off the airplane despite the orderly flow. Once you have the desired space you seek, you can deplane as if you owned the entire plane.

@@fearlessflight when people get up I’m usually okay because door is finally getting opened and leaving. It’s the fear of being stuck on the tarmac for long periods of time. I’ve heard stories of people being stuck on tarmac for hours and not being able to deplane.

@@xrey83 That has happened in the past. Not often...and now it is extremely rare because there are severe $$$ penalties ($10,000 per passenger) if such delays occur.

@@fearlessflight if it is known that there will be hours of delay, will they now let passengers deplane? I would hope that they have at least medication for anxiety attacks.

I too have this issue and am working on it. I think the most important thing is to not run away from your fears as that tends to make things worse. In my recent flights, i made sure to have a waterbottle, something to pass time (download shows and movies) and a portable fan- the “wind” definitely provided me some relief. Hope this helps!!

Just give your life to Christ and stop being scared of death.

@@eduardodelemos7986 Claustrophobia has nothing to do with death and everything to do with being in a tight space unable to leave

@@jasonf735 I understandd, jasonF. Is that what keeps your from flying?

You might consider a free 15-minute coaching session: flf.link/15-Min_FREE_Coaching

1. The odds of being in a plane crash are FAAAAAAAR lower than 20%. I'd probably put it lower than 0.0001%. If it was 20%, people wouldn't fly... that's 1 in every 5 flights. When in reality, THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of planes fly every day, with no crashes. 2. Turbulence is an inconvenience issue, NOT a safety issue. A commercial plane has NEVER crashed due to turbulence. 3. Air pockets don't exist. They are a myth. 4. Phoning on the plane does not crash it. It just causes issues with radar and such. You will not crash. It is just better to respect the pilots, and not use a phone. 5. You cannot smash a window on a plane...