On Halloween a few years back I was at the airport, awaiting a flight, when the desk clerk announced it would be delayed due to engine trouble. I immediately began to panic. What if they didn't fix it properly? How could they know for sure? Ten minutes later, the clerk laughed, "Trick or treat! Just kidding. Your flight is fine and on time!" Funny for her, but not for me. Anxiety had already set in.
And it returned in 2007. On my sixth major flight of the year, I started to panic. No matter how rare plane crashes are, I realised that my odds were getting slimmer with each flight. Of course, I immediately thought of that cliche - more people die in car accidents than in plane crashes. It wasn't enough. I knew that if I was to keep flying (and in my job it's difficult not to) I would need to develop some fear-tackling tactics. So here's what I came up with!
1. Step away from the caffeine. You don't need me to tell you that this contributes to anxiety: if you are a worried flyer, the last thing you need is to be jacked up, imagination running amok. Put down the Coca-Cola, and pour away the cappuccino.
2. Dissociation is key. For instance, I like to imagine that instead of being on a plane I'm on the bus to my friend's house on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Perfect! If that doesn't work for you though, music and reading both make great escapes. This is the ideal time to hunker down with those trashy gossip mags. And while the nerve-wracking dings of the seatbelt sign can sound like the trumpets of Gabriel when you're freaking out at 30,000ft, headphones can be a real saviour. I plug into the armrest and go straight to the classical or jazz channels. Create your own psychological oasis.
3. If you're hoping to sleep on the flight but feel too nervy, over the counter self-medication is always an option. At the top of my list are Feminax or Benadryl, but any drowse-inducing cold medicine will do. Just stick to the recommended dose, and remember to keep hydrated.
4. The silliest of all solutions is a game my friend Yaz and I made up called "turbulent plane train". When the turbulence gets too much we start our hands doing the locomotion really slowly, building up speed until the turbulence has subsided. This looks totally stupid of course, but it works, trust me. You can't tell if it's you moving or the plane, and it acts as a great distraction.
5. Remember that anything you can do to feel safe and protected is absolutely A-OK. Prayer, meditation: whatever it takes. I am a firm believer in mantras, and often pick a soothing phrase to repeat to myself - out loud if it gets really scary. I always have a little charm with me, and the necklace that my sweetie gave me. I have seen adults carry stuffed animals onboard, ready for when the going gets rough. Good for them! I don't care if it's a 5ft Kermit or some rosary beads. If it helps, it helps.
6. Finally, if your fear is really intense, then you might consider therapy. As with most phobias, the fear of flying does make some sense, but if ever there was a fear worth quashing then this is it. After all, life is short, and there's a great big world to explore out there. So keep calm, and good luck.
· Beth would love to answer your one-line questions or dilemmas in her fortnightly column. Please email them to beth.ditto@theguardian.com
