Public Spark

Earlier this year, I wrote a blog suggesting 5 ways of overcoming fear of flying

Here are 5 more ways:

1. Breathing Exercises

   • Find a comfortable position and close your eyes

   • Place your hand on your abdomen

   • Inhale slowly through your nose and feel your lungs fill up (feel abdomen rising, not the chest)

   • Hold that deep breath for three to five seconds

   • Slowly let the breath out

   • Rest for a few seconds

   • Repeat ten times.

2. Progressive muscle relaxation exercise

   • Start with deep breaths (from breathing exercise)

   • Start from one body part such as your eyes (shut your eyes tight and hold, then relax)

   • Hold up to 10 seconds and then release

   • Move from one area to another (I usually then move to my face, jaw (open mouth wide and hold, then relax), neck, shoulders (raise them up toward your ears, hold, then relax), arms, chest (take a deep breath, hold, then relax), abdomen, pelvis, thighs, legs).

3. Use of distractions

   Distractions help you focus on things less anxiety or fear provoking. For example, books, magazines, and permitted electronics are helpful.

4. Ask airline representative if his or her airline offers a course on overcoming the fear of flight

   You can ask your local travel agent or contact airlines and airports for courses to help with fear of flying.

5. Find resources dealing with fear of flying such as DVDs and books