Why does turbulence scare me

Yes, I still fear turbulence, but mainly only major turbulence. I have gotten a lot better. When I feel turbulence, I think of a car driving over bumps in the road—which is totally normal. Bumps are normal! I also remind myself that the turbulence we feel is actually only the plane moving a tiny, tiny amount—it just feels like it it is moving a lot. These are all things I learned from the book I mentioned in the post.

I have flown all over the world and detest air turbulence. You know you are in trouble when the crew has to remain seated. Just a small defect in the fuselage could fail under this extreme stress and the everyone aboard is dead. I personally feel they should cancel flights rather than subject paying customers to this torture.

It has been 2 days and my body still feels like it was on a ship — moving. I put headphones on with music and put my head down on the tray table but it is a horrid experience. I recently got back from New Delhi, India, and I now have a terrible fear of flying. When we got around Delhi, I looked outside and saw lightning strike right next to the plane and I saw the clouds booming. The plane began to violently shake and you cold hear the thunder.

I was slamming into the window next to me and near the edge of having a panic attack. Anyway, after the drop, the Pilot came on the PA sounding very serious, and told the flit attendants to sit down. I even remember one passenger stood up for a brief second and the flight attendant screamed at him from the back of the plane.

After about 2 hours of going in circles around Delhi, we finally landed. Now I can say that I am extremely terrified of even the slightest little bump in the air. I want to go back to India many times but I am so scared of the turbulence. My body and mind feel like they have no control whatsoever over themselves and that is why I panicked.

But hopefully these tips will help me in the future! Sarah, thanks for sharing your experience! Just reading it made me feel nervous. Forgot to add on, but yet it seems like smoother landings are becoming less and less common at least for me. When we took off from Incheon, the plane suddenly dropped down because of an air pocket while we were over water.

We also hit a lot of turbulence meaning that it was pretty much bumpy for most of the 10 hour flight back to Vancouver. But the landing was worse — the plane was shaking when we were descending and then we just landed with this really big thump that made me feel like the wheels were bouncing on and off the runway.

When was the last time you had turbulence? Most of my flights include turbulence and a bumpy landing. Especially when I landed in Minneapolis from Winnipeg! Exactly the same, i have to get utterly wasted on alcohol to fly, Even if its a early flight. Takeoffs are the worst for me. Also that up and down zero-g feeling. I try to imagine the plane suddenly dropping and accepting my death. That helps surprisingly! Unfortunately, drinking on a plane makes me feel sick so I usually turn to anti-anxiety meds.

I wish they could re assure people that turbulence is not dangerous. Now even commonly bird strikes, did u know Canadian geese can fly just as high as jumbo jets. So what happens if u get a strike up there hey????

Your outta luck massively. Flying to Falklands. I am dreading it. Sometimes though, the bumps on the tarmac can be very penetrating too. Or maybe I hang on to the seat ahead of me to hold myself in during a bumpy ride.

This really helped! Hi Seema! I actually was on a flight today and was impressed by how much calmer I felt during turbulence. Only one time when it was really bad did I get nervous again. When I read this, I felt as if I wrote this myself.

I am only 25 this year, but somehow my fear of flying has gotten over worse over the past year or so. When I was 8 and flew from Beijing to Hong Kong with my family, I remember the turbulence was so bad, that when the plane landed, everybody clapped.

I did not feel one bit of fear, instead, it felt like a roller-coaster to me. Something happened this year, I was on a flight from Orlando to Toronto and the turbulence was bad during landing, that our plane tilted a little bit, it then dropped several feet, and I suddenly felt this type of fear that I never felt in my whole 25 years of living.

During a domestic flight I took in China while I was there, the taking off was so rough, that the plane dropped a few times during the entire 5 minutes of take off. I screamed, sweated, while everybody else was watching movies. The entire domestic flight was a little over an hour, and it felt like the longest hour in my life. I almost cried I know, this is so extreme and I had to call assistance because I got so scared.

Hi Tina, thank you for your comment. I can totally relate, of course!! I am glad to report that my fear of turbulence has gotten quite a bit better since I wrote this post. I recommend reading the book I mentioned in the post.

When the pilot explains turbulence and that feeling like the plane is dropping—you realize that the plane is actually only moving a few inches. I think about being in a car, and how it is bumpy almost all the time in a car. Anti-anxiety meds help. This is an old article so I hope the author will still read this. While reading this article, I thought you were writing my own story.

Every thing you wrote rang true. I, too, was never scared of flying growing up. I took a 3-hour flight 6 hours round trip at least once a year growing up, and, other than a little anxiety at first, I never feared it.

My most recent flight was pretty turbulent the whole time and the girl next to me was obviously concerned about me… I was visibly tensing up everytime there was a little bump… and even worse so when the bumps were big.

A female flight attendant even came over to me to talk to me and calm me down. Pretty embarrassing for a grown man. I used to be able to go up to the sky deck of tall skyscrapers. Then, last year, I went to the top of the new World Trade Center, and my legs were shaking so bad I had to sit down.

Just last week, my husband convinced me to climb to the top of Pilgrim Monument, a foot tower in Provincetown, MA… I had to clutch the wall the whole way up the stairs. I agree with what you think it comes down to… control. I have been petrified of dying for a long time and I think that not being in control brings that fear forward. Anyways, I just wanted to thank you sincerely for this article.

Great article! But the million dollar question is… when you wrote this post on the plane, was there crazy turbulence?! But another part of me wants to tackle this fear of mine, because as you state, having a fear is such a huge burden, I mean how much time do we waste thinking about the worst!? Hi Lisa! Thanks for your comment. There was not terrible turbulence when I wrote that post.

It helped me SO much to realize that when you feel turbulence, most of the time the plane is only moving a few inches, even though it feels like feet! I always remind myself of that. What a story!! It for sure bothers me and the bumpiness at times can be too much for me! Because knowing and experiencing it are two different things to me. And most of the time, they are calm and relaxed. Thanks for your comforting post and tips! Same here , turbulence makes me nervous and take off gives me panic attack.

Conclusion: sedative anxiety pill helped me a lot. Hi Nav, diazepam is also known as Valium. They can be very helpful for anxious situations! Sometimes just knowing I have the pill available makes me feel better. Thanks for sharing! Hi Kelly, I just wanted to thank you for writing this article as it does truly make me feel not alone about my fear of turbulence.

I have a similar experience as I flew several times as a kid and I feel like up until 2 years ago is when I started to get more and more anxious. It is completely about control as you said in a car yes it can be bumpy but you have control and can stop or pull over if needed.

Hi April! Honestly these tips and the book I recommended helped me a LOT. I always tell myself to think of going over bumps in a car—those are harmless, and so are the bumps in the air. Good luck!! I have been a pilot of small aircraft for 20 years. Last year I was flying and got into some very turbulent air. I could barely control the plane and even setup to make an emergency landing.

Luckily as I descended it smoothed out. Unfortunately not long after this flight I was injured and unable to fly for 6 months. Take a look at our guide to the best cabins in the sky. Skip tight or buttoned clothing, dress in comfortable layers to accommodate changes in cabin temperature, and wear comfortable shoes for your flight. If you need help, ask for it.

Furness-Smith encourages anxious travelers to let their cabin crew know if they are afraid of flying. TPG Lounge member Todd Kagler once observed this reassurance in action when a fellow traveler told a flight attendant she was afraid of flying and asked if she could speak to the pilots. The flight attendants also said they would check in on her a couple of times.

It was great they cared as much as they did. Psychiatrist Elizabeth Truong also advises that anxious travelers to speak up for support. My personal anxiety revolves around a fear of falling. And if you, like me, also like to morbidly research every worst-case scenario, there are some interesting reads on Quora on how to survive a plane crash. There will always be an element of risk in anything you do — flying included. Hopefully these tips will help you sit back, relax and enjoy your next flight.

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After I moved away I started to solo travel more and I thought it was getting better, but I was really mistaken. After not flying for 7 months my anxiety kicked me this time really bad. I felt super sad that this fear of mine is going to keep me away from doing a lot of things, especially seeing my family.

I was planing to spend Xmas with them but my fear got me on the way. Hopefully I will get over this. Thank you for this post, it made me realize that I know I am not alone and I could try some of these tips if I decide to travel.

Oh Andrea you are not alone! It scares me. Be kind to yourself. You are not a failure!! Hello Lauren, Thank you for posting these wonderful tips.

I am absolutely terrified to fly and I used to fly all the time. I have a trip coming in September of next year and Ive spent all morning crying and having a panic attack over it and its a year away. I cant even get on the subway anymore with out completely freaking out. I will definitely have to check out this head space. I will try anything. Thank you. You have more chance of becoming president than being in a plane crash!

Best of luck! Hi everyone So grateful to have found your posts. I have made a list on all of your tips. The plane was swooping left then trying to get back right. While I want to see the world-the fear, panic and anxiety make it not worth it.

I will certainly get that book and I already stalk flight radar! Just keep reminding yourself that flying is one of the safest things you can do, however unnatural and terrifying it feels to be up in the air. I have a life long fear of heights that has worsened steadily over the years.

The problem is our youngest son has moved to Japan and my wife is desperate for us to visit. I also understand the physics of flight. It got to the point I would start panicking from the moment I booked a holiday… even if it was months away. I want to enjoy flying again like I did when I was younger and not be hysterical! Lauren, I am sitting here in tears and thanking God that I found your post.

You have perfectly described what the experience has been like for me recently. This will be my first major trip apart from them flying from Atlanta to London for a week. I keep replaying all of these awful scenes in my head about the plane crashing and leaving my sons behind. Terrible, I know. Thank you so much for all of your advice.

You can do it, Holly! Just try to keep reminding yourself that being on a plane is probably the safest place on earth you could ever be. Like, safer than being in your own home. One or two per year? The odds are so ridiculously small of anything happening, even though it feels like a dangerous activity. But it would be a shame to let my fear get in the way of having an amazing vacation with her.

The book you recommended as well as the Headspace and Turbulence Forecast app sound like a good start, so thank you very much! Hi I suffered panic attacks for many years and had a really bad one 10 years ago on a small plane when I just wanted to get off and got in a real state. I have flown 3 times in the past 2 years but not enjoyed it, feeling really panicky.

Yesterday and today I did a fearless flying course, the ground course was really good and we did the flight today. I had two panic attacks but managed to keep calm and deal with them on my own When I got off felt tearful. I really thought my panic attacks would go after the course. I have a flight in June. A friend has suggested hypnotherapy which I am going to try. For me, even looking at a picture of an airplane creates a pit in my stomach, and like you used to feel, I am sure the plane is going down.

I notice every sound, every smell, every look on the flight attendants faces. I am even more afraid now that my flight was to be on a Boeing MAX 8 on Norwegian and it looks like they may be trying to get them back into service before our flight.

This girl is NOT getting on one of those planes, even if they say the are safe. I have decided I will try to book a different flight or not go if they put them back in to service by mid May. I am going to try some of your techniques as we have a flight to Europe coming up I live in Pennsylvania and I am dreading it. I am absolutely terrified of planes but I had to conquer my fear in order to go to Puerto Rico. Close to zero turbulence and it was amazing. I was not nervous at all for the red-eye flight back home 3h45m so that made me nervous.

I felt as if something was going to go wrong. I am freaking out, crying , everyone is making noises Oh! The plane dropped and the pilot not once messaged us over the intercom reassuring us.

My boyfriend who is a frequent flyer and is never nervous was extremely scared and thought he was going to die. We had 3 more hours to go until we reached our destination and I was on edge the entire time.

I vowed to never go back onto a plane but I love Puerto Rico so much I want to go back. I know all the facts but those two Boeing plane crashes freak me out.

I am going to check out that book but I am still terrified. Thank you so much for posting this. Reading what you wrote have given me hope. I dream to be fear free. I have ordered the book, hopefully it will arrive soon.

My anxiety is so severe that not even Xanax helped me. I am so scared of flying. I have a flight tomorrow morning, two in fact, and I am sick to my stomach and have been having pannic attacks all day. Hope I make it. Thanks for the article! Thanks for the article. I am flying tomorrow and am also in panic attack mode. I was totally fine flying until when I had a bumpy flight back from a difficult family event. I know those 2 things are now conjoined and no amount of therapy or meds seems to quell my enormous anticipatory anxiety.

I used to enjoy flying as a kid until I had a bad experience in a small plane when I was For some reason the fear was there in the background, but manageable, until it began to intensify over the past few years and now I CANNOT fly without heavy sedatives.

I am now Is the turbulence manageable for somebody like me? I hardly remember anymore… I know flying is safe. I am not scared that I will die. It was that bad in the small plane, like a horrible roller coaster. Should I avoid big jet planes for that reason or is it unlikely to be that bad?

I suppose I can handle some motion since I am fine in the car. Any advice would be appreciated and helpful. Flying many flights in a row during one week could make passenger more used to flying. If course, quite stressful method and not environmental friendly. I take 4 klonopin and have about 10 beers before I board and keep drinking until I pass out once boarded. Problem solved.

Hey this post helped me so much! I felt not alone and I also baightvthe book. I just flew last week and it was the least anxiety ridden flight I can remember I gonna read that book another times lol thanks a lot.

I also read Cockpit Confidential and a lot of what he said was reassuring, but some of it was unsettling as well. As for the visualization, that is my best trick, too. It helps me to visualize every step of disembarking from the plane, trudging through the airport, claiming my bags, finding a taxi, arriving at my destination and unpacking my bags.

I try to see the flying as part of a series of events that end with me at my destination rather than in a fiery heap on the runway.

What works for me: The thought that the pilot and airline staff want to get home safely as well, that comforts me a bit. If not, I try not to read into it and discard the thought completely. Hello, I just wanted to say thank you for this post. Ever since then my fear got worse on every flight. Just reading this blog post allowed me to relax and think more positively about my trip. I will definitely use your tips, thank you so much!

Thanks for this blog post! Many of these tips have helped me manage my fear of flying in planes, especially the one about listening to a good, calming playlist. Another way I manage my fear is to read articles about airplane safety, kind of along the same lines of being educated- like you mentioned. Reading all the different types of mechanical tests and other standards airplanes have to meet reassures me of their safety. Thank you so much Lauren.

Your book recommendations are amazing, and I made sure to look at all of the planes in the sky right before my flight and keep in mind how insignificant mine is while I was up in the sky. This post may have just changed my life.