5 simple ways to conquer your fear of flying - Matador Network
Has flying kept you from exploring the world? Here&s some easy ways to help you get over your fear.
FOR YEARS, I FOUND excuses not to travel out of the country. It cost too much. I had to finish my education. I simply couldn&t go when the weather was cold.
The truth of the matter, however, was that I was afraid to fly.
This went on until my desire to explore the world overpowered my innate fear of rising above the clouds in a steel soda straw. So I had a few martinis and hopped on a flight out of the United States.
I realized I had nothing to fear after all. Since that first triumph, I&ve become an avid overseas traveler. Still, every time I fly I find myself nervous. I&ve picked up a few tricks to alleviate my fear of flying.
Here are five tips that will help those who suffer from similar anxiety.
1. Know what to expect
Familiarize yourself with the sights and sounds of flying. Understand the bumps and movements of an airplane.
Without knowing what to expect at the airport and on the flight itself, your mind tends to wander.
Familiarize yourself with the sights and sounds of flying. Understand the bumps and movements of an airplane.
Getting an idea of what flying is actually like beforehand will help you form a realistic notion of what you&re experiencing during take-off or when the plane hits turbulence.
Talk to friends who have flown. Ask them to describe the process from start to finish. Question them about turbulence. Do they have a &bad turbulence& story? Chances are that they do. Then, realize they are still here to tell you the story.
is a wonderful site that is loaded with free content. You can listen to the sounds of every aspect of flying & from engine noise at take off, to final boarding calls in the airport.
There are videos that describe exactly what you will see and help you understand what to expect. You can even find a support forum to discuss your concerns with other travelers.
2. Understand why flying is actually safe
We have all heard the saying: &You&re more likely to die in a car accident on the way to the airport than on the plane.&
This is certainly true. Statistics show you are in fact 500-1000 times more likely to meet your end on the highway. But let& this does not really help calm your nerves. You are still not in control of the plane!
But consider: how many drivers are actually in control of what other drivers are doing on the road around them? None! I&m fairly confident that 40,000+ Americans are not dying each year in a car wreck because they have control over the situation.
Then consider that since 1970 there have been only 58 fatal events between 16 different U. and Canada airlines. That is an estimated total of approximately 36.6 fatal events (at least one person died) per 16 million flights.
Granted, crunching these numbers might not make you feel comfortable flying. It should however give you hope that your chances of getting to your destination on a plane are pretty darn good.
3. Sit on the wing and breathe the fresh air
If the idea of turbulence is your nemesis, grab a seat on the wing of the plane.
Getting yourself onto the plane is only half the battle.
You still have to deal with your nerves acting up while you are in your seat.
The cool air from the valve above you is a great way to chill out and relax. Open the nozzle full blast and direct it onto your face. The rush of air will not only help calm your heavy breathing, but will also keep your underarms a bit dryer. (You want to minimize the amount of sweat you will have to wear for the next few hours.)
If the idea of turbulence is your nemesis, grab a seat on the wing of the plane. While the jury is still out on this one, there is a general consensus that sitting over the wing of the plane will provide the most stability.
It&s possible the turbulence you will feel in the back of the plane isn&t going to be significantly worse than in the middle.
Still, if you think of the plane like a teeter-totter or seesaw with the wings as the pivot in the middle, it makes sense that you would feel less bumpiness sitting in the center. It certainly works for me.
4. Just pretend you&re on A bus
It sounds too simple to work, but it does. Closing your eyes and imagining that you are just taking a bus ride can really help.
When it comes down to it, being on a plane doesn&t feel that much different from being on a Greyhound bus (once you&re in the air).
Turbulence often resembles a bumpy road. And the possibility of your neighbor being too big for their seat and nodding off onto your shoulder no matter is real, whether you&re on the highway or 35,000 feet over Alaska.
5. Sedatives are just a doctor&s appointment away
When there is simply no way to get around your fears, and thoughts of canceling your flight flash in your head, make an appointment to see your doctor.
Explain the situation and ask for a prescription of sedatives such as Xanax (brand name) or .
There is nothing to be ashamed of. These little pills come in .25 .5, and 1 mg doses. You and your doctor will decide what dosage is best for you.
As a 5&8&P male who weighs about 160 pounds I can say the 1mg pretty well knocks me out for a good portion of a 7-hour flight. I prefer the .5mg pill.
With one or two of these pills you may not be able to alleviate all your apprehensions, but you certainly won&t feel quite as tense. Just be sure to wait until you get to the airport to pop the pill, or have someone else drive you there.
Likewise, don&t fall asleep in the waiting area and miss your flight!
If a prescription is not an option for you, remember that most major airlines are now taking credit cards for alcohol purchases during a flight and many foreign carriers still offer complimentary booze.
One or two drinks can calm your nerves, but don&t drink too much, because alcohol
much harder in flight than on the ground.
Giving into your fear of flying can cause you to miss out on the fantastic chance of traveling the world.
The confidence and sense of accomplishment you gain by visiting a distant land is only more gratifying when you arrive by conquering your fears.
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Subscribe to Matador答案：1．B;2．B;3．D;4．C;
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科目：高中英语
A Joke on a Friend
Mark twain was a famous American writer.He wrote many famous stories
which are still popular in many countries today.Mark Twain was also famous in his day 1
a public speaker.In his speaking Mark Twain always liked 2 funny stories.He
also liked to listen to funny stories and to 3 his friends.One day one of his
friends 4 his wallet and asked him 5 his train fare for him.
“But I don’t have enough money to pay 6 your fare and my
fare,”Mark Twain said.
The friend didn’t know 7 to do.He was very sad. “We can do
this.”said Mark Twain.“We can 8 the train and when the conductor comes to take
the tickets you can hide 9 my seat.”
Later, 10 ,on the train,when the conductor came to take the
tickets,Mark Twain gave him two tickets 11 for Mark Twain and one for his
friend.Then 12 a loud voice,Mark Twain explained.
“My friend here is a 13 strange man.When he travels on a train
he doesn’t like to sit 14 a seat.He prefers 15 on the floor under the
Of course,everybody in the train then looked at the poor friend under
the seat and laughed at him loudly.
B．to make
C．to speak
D．to tell
A．make a joke about
B．have a joke with
C．play jokes on
D．play a trick on
B．to cost
D．to charge
A．between
D．as well as
A．however
B．whatever
C．whenever
D．wherever
C．a ticket
D．the one
C．to laying
D．to be lying
科目：高中英语
完形填空：
Mr Parker was living in the country , and he wanted to go to an office
in the city one day . He 1 the address on a letter, got 2 his car and 3 to
the city . He drove straight to the office without any 4 and stopped his car 5 the
office. He locked his car and 6 to go into his office, but suddenly he turned
around and went back to his car . He remembered that he 7 his keys in it ! He
telephoned his wife and said, “ 8 , I ’ve locked my keys in my car . Please 9
me your keys .”
Mrs Parker got into their 10 car and drove twenty miles to 11
her husband. But 12 Mr Parker was waiting for his wife, he walked 13 his
car and tried the other 14 . It was not locked ! Mr Parker locked it 15 before
his wife arrived.
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A.listen to me
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科目：高中英语
阅读下面短文, 掌握其大意, 然后从1-25各题所给的四个选项中, 选出一个最佳答案。
&&& When sailors are allowed ashore (登岸) after a long time at sea,
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and
6 the furniture in the bar. The officer
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科目：高中英语
middle of the night, Peter’s wife suddenly fell ill. She couldn’t help crying,
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morning. ”
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calling him again.
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科目：高中英语
来源：英语教研室
middle of the night, Peter’s wife suddenly fell ill. She couldn’t help crying,
“Oh, my stomach! Get the 1&&& !”
awaking from a deep sleep, thought his wife was only having a &&&2&&& dream.
that noise, ” he said to her. He turned over and tried to go to 3 again, but his
wife still cried out, “On, help! help! I’m sure I’m 4&&& . ”
out of bed and started 5&&& , but he could not find him any clothes.
“Where is
my shirt? ” he asked. His wife was 6&&& ill to tell him, and she could only cry,
“Oh, my &&&7 stomach!”
as he had put his clothes&&&
said, “Now, my dear, are you quite&& 9&&
need the doctor?& Surely you can
wait 10 morning, can’t
can’t. Go, go, go, ”his wife shouted, “ &&&11&&& you will find me dead&&& 12&&
morning. ”
went out into the dark street. He had only gone a few meters 13 he heard his wife
calling him again.
“I’m 14 again now, and I
shall not want the doctor, ” she said, softly.
this, he started running as 15&&& as he could towards the doctor’s. When he
arrived there, he knocked at the door loudly enough to wake 16&&& around.
doctor put his sleepy head out of the bedroom window and said, “Er?& Who’s there? ”
Doctor, ”Peter called up to him, “I’ve very 17&&& news for you. My wife&&& 18&&
a terrible stomachache. I was on my way to bring you to her, but she called me
back to say the trouble had suddenly 19&&& her. So you need not come. Go back to&&& 20 now, and sleep
driver &&
&& B. nurse
doctor &&
&& && D. child
terrible &&& && B.
interesting
surprising && && D.
3. A. bed &&& && B. sleep
C. dream &&& && D. hospital
walking & && B. dying
C. aching &&& && D. sleeping
dressing & &  ; B. wearing
raising &&& && D. working
very && & B.
C. too &&& && D. quite
good & && B. bad
C. wrong &&& && D. poor
down && B. off
C. on && D. up
surprised &&& & B.
certain && & D.
before && && B. for
C. to & & D.
and && && B. but
C. so & && D. or
after && B. in
C. before & & && D. until
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right & && D. right
fast & && B. slowly
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C. no one && & D.
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necessary && && D. ill
fell && & B.
C. grew & && D. failed
gone off &&& && B. missed
pleased && && D. left
your home &&& && B. your
dream && D. bed
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