11 Things People With A Fear Of Flying Are Sick Of Hearing
When you suffer from a fear of flying, other people often tell you to shrug it off. But it's no simple ailment, and overcoming it isn't as easy as taking a sleeping pill. That's because the "fear of flying" is actually a combination of specific phobias... and a serious combination at that.
"Think of flying as the perfect storm for anxiety," said Dr. Martin Seif, a psychologist who specializes in flight anxiety. "The fear of flying is a confluence of a number of fears that all intersect in an airplane."
Perhaps you have a claustrophobic fear of tight spaces, for example. And you have obsessive-compulsive tendencies in germ-y places. And you have a general anxiety of being high above the ground. All of these anxieties come together in a plane, making for a "fear of flying" that's actually multiple fears in one.
Worse, you can't just talk yourself out of it. You'll need to cope with your fear of flying like any other phobia, Seif says. The first step is usually learning about how your fear works and pinpointing the parts of flying that trigger anxiety for you. Then, expose yourself to those triggers: If takeoff scares you, then go for a ride in a flight simulator, and practice staying calm. Then move on to a short flight, and slowly build your way up to longer trips.
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But even if you know that your fear of flying is a legitimate concern, there will always be those friends, fellow passengers and innocent bystanders who offer their "expert" take on how to "cure" your fear like it's no big deal. And frankly, we flight-fearers are sick of hearing it. Please stop telling us that...
1. “The chances of an accident are one in a million!”
If we had a dollar for every time...
2. "Just take deep breaths."
No, because then we might throw up. And if we throw up, you will NOT be happy. Trust us.
3. “Why don't you take a sleeping pill?"
Because then we wouldn't be awake when the plane lands. NO WAY ARE WE DOING THAT.
4. “You don’t need a sleeping pill. Just have a glass of wine!”
Did you say only ONE glass of wine?
5. “Flying is safer than driving a car.”
Oh, is a car SUSPENDED 35,000 FEET IN THE AIR?! Didn’t think so.
6. “Turbulence is normal!”
Tell us about the last time you bumped around in a tiny, winged box on a cloud.
7. “Don’t worry, the most dangerous part is the takeoff.”
…and the landing. And the flying. And the shooting through the air at unthinkable speeds. You're right, it’s no big deal.
8. “Just talk with me. I’ll distract you!”
Thanks, but we’d rather just sit here and try to survive.
9. “What’s the part that you’re afraid of?”
Everything.
10. “Take a sip of water."
…do deep sips of vodka count?
11. “It’s gonna be okay.”
We understand, but we do NOT feel okay right now.
Best: No. 1 Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC)
Flights Delayed: 12.9% This Delta hub retained the top spot for punctuality for the fifth time since 2008, despite a 1.2 percent uptick in delays year over year. More than 90 percent of flights depart on time for 12 hours each day at SLC. Just avoid the dinnertime twilight zone, when nearly a third fall behind schedule. Best Time Window: 6–10 a.m. Worst Time Window: 6–8 p.m.
Photo: Michael Schoenfeld/Courtesy of Salt Lake City Department of Airports
Best: No. 2 Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Flights Delayed: 14.3% Up three spots from last year, the oldest airport serving the nation’s capital is also the one least likely to keep you there longer than planned. While the other two D.C.-area gateways both rated among the worst for delays (BWI at second worst and Dulles at eighth worst), DCA posted an on-time score better than 85 percent. Best Time Window: Before 1 p.m. Worst Time Window: 8–10 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Washington Reagan Airport
Best: No. 3 (tie) Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Flights Delayed: 14.6% Although delays increased by 1.5 percentage points compared to last year, Sea-Tac still held on to its third-place position. Just over 40 percent of the airport’s total passengers arrive and depart via Alaska Airlines, which operates its primary hub here—and was recently rated the second-best airline for avoiding flight delays. Best Time Window: Before 11 a.m. Worst Time Window: 4–5 p.m.
Photo: Hemis / Alamy
Best: No. 3 (tie) Portland International Airport (PDX)
Flights Delayed: 14.6% A 2.1 percent bump in delays cost PDX the No. 2 ranking that it’s owned for six previous years. But the airport—which introduced in-line baggage screening in 2010—still managed an on-time percentage of 90 percent or higher for half of each day. It has also won praise for its food selection and free Wi-Fi. Best Time Window: Before 11 a.m. Worst Time Window: 2–3 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Port of Portland
Best: No. 5 Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport (MSP)
Flights Delayed: 15.6% One of three Delta hubs among the 10 most punctual airports, MSP transports nearly half of its passengers via the legacy carrier, which holds the title of best major airline for avoiding flight delays. Travelers will appreciate MSP’s consistency; its percentage of on-time departures dips below 80 percent for only four hours daily. Best Time Window: Before noon. Worst Time Window: 6–7 p.m.
Photo: Aerial Archives / Alamy
Best: No. 6 Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)
Flights Delayed: 15.8% Motor City’s economy may be struggling, but departures from its airport are about as efficient as Henry Ford’s famous assembly line. The Delta hub sends off more than 75 percent of its flights on schedule throughout the day, with the only exception being the troublesome end-of-the-workday hour. Best Time Window: Before 11 a.m. Worst Time Window: 6–7 p.m.
Photo: Wayne County Airport Authority/Vito Palmisano
Best: No. 7 Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Flights Delayed: 16.2% Call it the tale of two airports: from morning until early afternoon, your odds of leaving Logan promptly average an impressive 82 to 95 percent. But beware the Boston red-eye. The downhill slide starts in the early evening, and by 9 p.m., you’ll face about a 40 percent chance of being delayed. Best Time Window: Before 2 p.m. Worst Time Window: 9 p.m.–midnight
Photo courtesy of Logan International Airport
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
