Have a happy flight

Scared of flying? Here’s how to have a happy flight – as if you suffer from flying anxiety, trying to have a carefree flight can seem near on impossible. For most of us, the thought of going on holiday is the only thing that gets us through those sunny days stuck in the office, but for others it’s a task that takes a lot of gearing up for. Sure, the thought of relaxing on a sandy white beach may be exciting, but the flight there and back? Not so much.

With around 30 per cent of us finding air travel either mildly stressful or downright terrifying, it’s something you shouldn’t feel alone about. And there’s lots of things you can do. As the amount we fly grows, so too does the amount of help there is to treat your phobia. Here are our top tips on how to have a happy flight.

Flying with Confidence

One of the best ways to deal with a fear of flying is to confront it head-on. And what better way than with super-airline British Airways? BA’s Flying with Confidence day-long courses have a 98 per cent success rate, with over 45,000 nervous flyers having walked through their doors. The experienced team will cover both the physical and mental aspects of flying anxiety; their pilots, for example, will explain what causes turbulence and reassure you why it is uncomfortable but not dangerous, while psychologists will teach you techniques on how to deal with it.

Find out more at flyingwithconfidence.com

Rescue Remedy

If prescribed pills aren’t for you, natural remedies – such as the much-loved and widely-praised Bach’s Rescue Remedy – can work wonders during a bumpy flight. It originated in the 1930s when Dr Bach formulated 38 flower essences to provide support at emotionally-demanding times. Today it has become a staple for many. The flower essences are still made from plants sourced from many of the sites identified personally by Dr Bach. Pop a few drops on your tongue as and when desired and let it calm, comfort and soothe you.

Bach Rescue Remedy Dropper 10ml, £7.99, boots.com

Fear of Flying School

Prefer treating your fears in the comfort of your own home? Try listening to the Fear of Flying School podcast collection by Tim Benjamin. He’ll help you discover how to beat your phobia by listening to aviation experts, psychologists and former fearful fliers. An ex-nervous flier himself, Tim takes you through all the common – and completely relatable – fears many anxious fliers have. from the wings snapping off to how a giant plane is really held up in thin air. He, along with regular guest professionals, will debunk many of the worries we have about planes. He also talks of a number of real-life success stories, even including a fearful flier who went on to become a pilot, to prove that overcoming your fear is more than possible. Free, iTunes

The Phobiaman Clinic

While the topic of hypnosis often causes great controversy – some swear by it, others label it a fad – if you have a fear of flying, we know that you’d try anything to get rid of it. And having treated 8,000 patients, The Phobiaman Clinic has plenty of reasons to believe in its method. Using a combination of Ericksonian hypnosis, psychology, neuroscience and decades of experience, the team are confident their unique approach will get you back in the skies. This is also a great alternative if you’re not a fan of ‘exposure therapy’ (a technique involving the exposure of the patient to the feared object or context in order to overcome their anxiety), as all treatments are conducted in one of their London clinics.

Find out more at phobiaman.co.uk

SOAR app

Wouldn’t it be great if you could have something constantly at hand to calm you down? Well, now you can with the SOAR app. Not only does it guide you through each step in the flying process such as preparing for the flight, at the airport, in the air and so on, but it also boasts a wealth of videos – or ‘courses’ – that tackle flight anxiety, claustrophobia and panic, which you can watch on the go. Another handy feature of the app is the G-Force tab. Ask any expert and the majority will tell you that understanding how a plane works is one of the best ways to make you feel more at ease while on board. With this in mind, the G-Force tab proves that turbulence is in fact safe, by showing you that G-forces never even approach your plane’s limits. (Meaning: airliners can withstand up to 2.5G continuously and up to 5G temporarily, and on a regular flight your monitor should hover around 1 G max.)

Visit fearofflying.com