Familiarize yourself with flying. Talk to family and friends who fly to ask them about taking off and landing and the noises you should expect to hear, such as the engines throttling up, landing gear retracting or descending, occasional bumps caused by air pockets or turbulence and the engine cutback as you land. By understanding these common sounds and sensations, you will be less likely to be alarmed by them.
Study facts and figures about flying. Understand that you are 500 to 1,000 times more likely to die in a car accident than in an airplane crash. Additionally, carefully consider that since 1970, there have been only about 36 crashes in which someone died for every 16 million flights.
Buy a ticket for a seat adjacent to the airplane's wing. This psychological trick may help alleviate some of your concerns about turbulence. Generally, people find that the seats over the wing are more stable. While the turbulence you experience over the wing may be no better than what passengers near the tail section experience, psychologically, sitting in the middle of the plane creates an illusion of greater stability.
Meditate or use other relaxation techniques while waiting for the flight to board or after you are onboard. Simple breathing techniques also may help. You should not, however, use alcohol as a means to mask your fear. It may tend to calm you, but in-flight, it can have a much greater impact on your body.
Seek out a reliable doctor if your anxiety is so acute that the idea of flying is terrifying no matter how irrational you know your fears are. Be open and truthful with the doctor and explain that you need a sedative to help you fly. You don't want medication that will knock you out, but you do want a dosage that will help you relax and soothe your anxieties. If you do use a prescription drug, do not drink alcohol on the flight.
Turn on the air valve above your seat to its maximum aperture as soon as you are situated. The cool air flowing into your face will help you remain calm and assist you in controlling your breathing. Additionally, it will keep you from sweating too much.
Listen carefully to the flight attendant when she gives the pre-flight briefing. Look at the safety brochure in the pocket of the seat in front of you and familiarize yourself with the exits. These activities will help calm your nerves and arm you with facts about the plane.
