You may have hundreds of destinations you wish to visit on your bucket list, but there’s one major thing holding you back – you’re terrified of flying. There are millions of people around the world in the same position, who refuse to go on vacation for the fear of getting on the plane. However, you shouldn’t allow it to rule your life. Although this is easier said than done, there are many things you can do to help keep you calm and reduce your fear of flying. Take a look at some of the useful tips below to help manage your fear of flying.

Prepare yourself mentally

Your mental frame of mind is likely to be taking a hold on you. However, your choice of thoughts can have a real impact on how well you’re able to cope with your fear of flying. Weeks beforehand, it’s likely you’ll be ruminating over what could go wrong rather than believing that the reality won’t be as bad. When we get anxious, our minds constantly tick over worst-case scenarios rather than what is most likely to happen. In order to keep a positive frame of mind, ask yourself if you’re willing to push yourself to get through the fear (which is sitting on a plane) and reach the destination you’re desperate to get to. If the answer is yes, you’re already halfway there.

Breathing techniques

The style of breathing you carry out can help keep you calm when you’re feeling worked up. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth slowly and deeply to help reduce your heart rate. Doing so can actually prevent you from having a panic attack, which may a fear you have in the back of your mind that is making the experience seem all the more terrifying.

CBD

Staying calm might not come naturally when you’re in a panicked state. Therefore, you may need to rely on some aids to help you get into a more relaxed state of mind. One of the most popular solutions for anxious fliers is CBD oil from the likes of Premier Hemp Company to relieve those heightened levels of stress and anxiety. CBD is the abbreviation of cannabidiol, which is the main cannabinoid found in cannabis. It has been found to reduce the behavioral symptoms of anxiety. Rest-assured, CBD won’t intoxicate you, which is what you may typically associate with cannabis, but just help ease those moments of panic to keep you relaxed.

Keep yourself busy during the flight

The worst thing you can do as a nervous flyer is sit and do nothing but dwell on your thoughts. Instead, you should aim to keep yourself busy in any way you can, whether it be reading a book, watching a movie or listening to music. Distraction is key when it comes to fears and phobias and will help the time pass much quicker. If you’re traveling on a long-haul flight, it would also be a good idea to catch up on some much-needed sleep before the jet lag hits.