My heart is hammering so fast against my chest, I think it may burst out of my ribcage or even run out of beats completely. I feel hot and clammy, and my body is tense. A series of hysterical and catastrophizing thoughts crash through my brain. Panic courses through my bloodstream, alive with its own rhythm of fear and calamity.
I’m on a plane about to take off, and I am absolutely terrified.
I’ve had a fear of flying since I was in my late teens. I’m not sure where it came from—I always liked flying before that. I believe it has something to do with being out of control. Being out of control scares the hell out of me. Flying has been my nemesis for over ten years. Every single time I board an aircraft, my brain tells me it’s not safe, that I should avoid it at all costs, and that I’m pretty much guaranteed to meet an untimely death if I step on board.
Despite all of this, I’m a digital nomad who travels full-time. Defies logic, huh? Well… You could say I’m a little bit stubborn. On my wedding day, both my husband and father called me “determined”—code for stubborn. I have always been a strong woman, and anxiety casting its spell over me makes for an interesting conflict between my core personality and the traits I’ve picked up over the years.
Why Keep Flying If You’re Scared of It?
Even though flying is the thing that scares me the most, it’s the one thing I keep pushing myself to do. For me, the benefits of travel outweigh the costs of my fear of flying. I am still in love with the feeling of arriving in a new place, the new sounds and smells, the interesting architecture and scenery. I understand anxiety and fear enough after my years of observations to know that my thoughts and feelings are irrational, and I am safe no matter what my mind throws at me.
Continuing to fly despite my fears has allowed me to delve deep into travel anxiety and fears of flying, which many people across the globe struggle with. These fears are at various levels for each person; some may battle them daily when they travel to and from work, and others may avoid travel at all costs. Our reactions to our fears and anxieties have more to do with our own traits, experiences, and support systems than they do with the actual thing that scares us.
On top of this, every fear or anxiety is different. This is because every person is different and unique. No two people feel things the same way or have lived through the exact same experiences in life. This means that every reaction and coping mechanism is different.
Air Travel and Recent Bad Press
Recently, there has been a surge in media reports of plane crashes and mechanical issues on flights, which have hit the headlines in various ways, with news reports that could instill fear into the hearts of even the most stoic traveler, and articles that use language that encourages readers to worry about flying.
A Google Trends review showed that searches for “are planes safe” are at the highest level they have ever been since Google was founded.