Take Supportive Actions - The Anxieties Site

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STEP 5: Take supportive actions

There are many other small changes you can make to increase your comfort.

Start by reducing your caffeine and sugar intake on the day before and the day of your flight.
Drink lots of water or fruit juices --even if you're not thirsty -- to avoid dehydration from the dry plane air.
Refrain from drinking alcohol before or during the flight.
Pack a bag of pastimes for the flight: a good book, crossword puzzles, your favorite music and snacks, and so forth.
Get to the airport early; don't rush. Watch planes takeoff for a while to get an idea of the motions you might expect.
As you board the plane, greet the Captain and look in the cockpit. Consider mentioning to the crew and the flight attendants that you sometimes get afraid on flights.
At your seat, get comfortable; do some quieting exercises, talk to your neighbor. As others board, watch faces, notice relationships, greet people as they go by.
During takeoff, wiggle your toes for those 30-50 seconds, or take 3 Calming Breaths.
During the flight, ask the flight attendants about any sensations on the plane that bother you.
Pull out your pastime bag and get occupied with a project.
When the seat belt sign goes off, stand and stretch or take a walk.

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In other words, get involved; don't sit and quietly concentrate on your worries while checking your watch. When you get anxious, review the major points of this section: remind yourself you can trust the airline industry, accept your feelings, handle your worries, breathe, relax, and again take new supportive actions.

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