You’ve packed your bags, triple-checked your passport just to make sure, and made it to the boarding gate. You’re dressed comfortably, your playlist is prepped, and your boarding zone has finally been called to proceed.

Everything is going smoothly… until your brain whispers:

“Hey, what if the plane just… doesn’t stay up?”

Cue: Captain Anxiety, grabbing the interphone in your mind and announcing,

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We’ll be cruising today at 40,000 feet, way above the touch of grass.”

If this sounds familiar, congratulations my dear for you are one of the millions of perfectly normal, rational, intelligent humans, who suddenly devolve into nervous puddles the moment someone says “proceed for boarding.”

Do not fret, my sky-fearing friend. This isn’t your first mental layover, and it won’t be your last if you plan on traveling long distances. Instead, do this; buckle up, take a deep deep, and let’s unpack the emotional carry-on baggage that is fear of flying.

Turbulence: The Sky Is Shaking and So Am I

Let’s tackle the monster under the passanger seat: turbulence.

Here’s the truth: turbulence is basically sky potholes. If you’ve read the other blogs, you know this to be true. Are they exceedingly annoying? Yes. Dangerous? Almost never. Aircrafts are built to handle bumps like a 4×4 truck on a gravel road. Pilots don’t flinch. Flight attendants don’t blink. Hence, shouldn’t be knuckling-up the tray table.

“If the cabin crew aren’t panicking, I don’t need to.”

Also, maybe don’t stare out the window during this time unless you enjoy watching clouds aggressively hug the aircraft.

The Physics Are Fine, We’re the Problem

“But how does a big metal tube float in the sky?”

It doesn’t float but flies using Bernoulli’s Principle and some aerodynamic wizardry that actual engineers have studied longer than we’ve had TikTok. Airplanes don’t stay up because of magic, they stay up because science works. Every. Single. Time.

Your fear isn’t about the the aircraft. It’s about control. And, guess what? You were never really in control to begin with. Even while on the ground. Sorry. Flying just reminds you of that fact in a very loud, jet-engined kind of way.

Your Brain Is Trying to Help you but… Poorly

Here’s why you feel like your stomach is doing somersaults while your palms are sweating buckets: your brain thinks you’re in danger. It can’t tell the difference between a real risk and an imagined threat. Hence, it floods your system with adrenaline as if prepping you for an attack.

Here is a coping mechanism tip: give the anxiety an anxiety. It’s easier to fight something that has a name than that without. When your brain starts whispering doom, just say, “Ari, we’ve been through this before so calm down and buckle up.”

In-Flight Coping Hacks (That don’t involve crying onto another passenger’s shoulders)

• Breathe like you’re doing yoga
  Inhale, hold, exhale and repeat until you feel your nerves turning soft. This tricks your nervous system into thinking everything’s great, even if your brain and heart disagrees.
• Distract with intent.
  Play that game on your phone. You know, the one that wastes a lot of your time when you’re actually trying to sleep. Watch that funny video you saved for later. The time is now.
• Talk to a crew member.
  Cabin crew are literally therapists and superhero. Tell them the truth, that you’re a nervous. Remember, they fly for a living and they’ve heard your story a thousand times, hence, will keep an eye on you. It helps when you know someone has your back.
• Don’t track the flight map.
  Watching the plane inch across the screen for six hours is not comforting. AT ALL! It’s slow-motion torture. Don’t do that to yourself. AT ALL!
• Movie treats.
  Your brain can’t panic and chew at the same time. It’s science. Bring snacks. Lots of them. Then watch that movie.

When in Doubt, Channel Your Inner Pilot

Pilots aren’t reckless daredevils. They’re obsessive safety nerds with backup plans for every possible scenario. They’ve flown in every weather, dealt with every issue, and still find time to make those delightfully awkward in-flight announcements.

Time for you to promote yourself.

Ask yourself this. Would the pilot be sipping coffee right now if we were in danger?

Final Descent: You’re Doing Great, Actually

You bought the ticket. You got on the plane. You didn’t fake a leg injury at the gate to avoid getting on the plane. That alone makes you braver than you think.

Remember, anxiety doesn’t make one weak but you aware. The goal is never to be afraid but to keep flying regardless of the fear, to trust the systems, the professionals, and yourself.

The next time you’re taking that flight, remember this; “Captain Anxiety may be on board… but they’re not flying the plane.”