Association of Female Executives of Trinidad and Tobago

Q: Dear AFETT, As a Sales Manager I am required to travel frequently. I dislike flying and this makes each flight experience even more. The reality is I cannot quit my job. Does anyone know of any programs which I might take to rid me of this fear or help me deal with the situation? Thanks, Clipped Wings

A: Dear Clipped Wings, Work related travel is not glamourous! It is exhausting, throws off your inner clock and elevates your stress levels. It is worse when you have an aversion to flying.

I recall a comment from a frequent traveller that especially after 9/11 and during every hurricane season her fears escalate. One cannot confidently fly with if these are your predominant thoughts. So the key is to change your approach.

Step one - get informed. Your chances of being involved in an aircraft accident are about 1 in 11 million. On the other hand, your chances of being killed in an auto accident are 1 in 5000 (Neilsen, 2006). So is the difference one’s perception of control? Introduce yourself to the pilot or flight attendant as you get on board, even confiding that you are a nervous flyer. Most airlines are happy and willing to help you enjoy your flight experience. They are accustomed to travelers who have flying fears.

If you’re traveling with a colleague, let him/her know that you are fearful. Talking with him/her during takeoff and landing is a good distraction. Before you know it, you’re airborne. Use the same strategy for incidences of turbulence.

Other means of distraction include iPods and other mp3 players. Soothing music during the flight will keep you both relaxed and entertained. Alternatively, you can get a jumpstart on your workload by powering up your laptop or reading a good book.

Another trick - deprive yourself of sleep right before you have to travel. This way, you’re more likely to fall asleep during the flight, bypassing all the anxiety you’d normally feel. People have been known to use travel upset pills which make them sleep through the flight.

Pray. Reciting reassuring prayers is an amazing panacea for all fear. Thank God for all the blessings – including the opportunity to have a job that allows you to travel and meet different people – you will look differently at the experience.

There are countless self-help books dedicated to the subject, so do an internet search to help you determine what book would be best for you.

If your phobia is really bad, accept that you may need to get professional help. Such person will be able to offer practical solutions for overcoming your fear.

Some flyers rely on prescription drugs or alcohol to calm them down. However, many of these drugs are addictive; alcohol dulls your senses, impairs sleep and causes dehydration. Commitment, practice and your inner strength (coupled with some of these suggestions) should be more than enough to help you to overcome your fear of flying.

Janine Mendes-Franco is Principal of The New Cheeze, a communications consultancy firm that specializes in creative and video/film productions, and a past President of the Association of Female Executives of Trinidad and Tobago.