Do you hate flying? Does the thought of a plane give you anxiety? Would you rather take a road trip that is eighteen and half hours than a three-hour flight? You’ve probably heard that you’re more likely to get in a car accident than a plane crash, but when you stand at the terminal, you find yourself taking huge breaths to calm down. CBD might be able to help with your flight anxiety.
Cannabidiol (CBD) as shown in studies to regulate the parts of your brain that control your fear response, which is why CBD may be able to help with anxiety. When your brain starts to become overactive, CBD also elevates endocannabinoids that studies suggest help calm down that activity. Taking CBD is an excellent way to get rid of flight anxiety, but getting down to the reason you have this anxiety and abolishing those thoughts is how you get rid of it forever.
Common Reasons To Fear Flying
Experienced A Bad Flight
Turbulence might scare you, or maybe you’ve had to use the oxygen masks, or the plane was turned around because of mechanical issues. This can make you start to fear flying, even though it is one of the safest ways to travel.
The Media
The media is a massive trigger for all sorts of fears. Every time you scroll through Facebook or turn on the news, there’s a new tragedy to hear about. If you’ve seen a plane crash, this can make you feel like that situation can happen to you.
Claustrophobia
Do you hate being anywhere you can’t escape? Do the walls feel like they are closing in and the people around you are all sitting too close? Claustrophobia is a problem that can make flying almost impossible to handle.
Germs
Do public places make your skin crawl? Do you worry about germs or getting sick from being in close quarters with others? You may think that a coughing passenger is going to take everyone down in the plane. But research shows that it’s not likely to get sick from a fellow passenger.
Panic Disorder
Having a panic attack can be the worst feeling, especially if you are in an environment you aren’t in control of. Being stuck on a plane might trigger your panic response, which can make you reluctant to get on a plane again.
How To Deal With Flight Anxiety
Exposure Therapy
Some psychologists suggest exposure therapy and have used mock planes to help people get over there fears. In this exciting time of technology advancements, they have even started using virtual reality therapy and found success.
Educate Yourself
Educating yourself on the safety of airplanes can also help you learn to fear them no longer. We are programmed to think that being afraid means we are in danger, but that isn’t always the case. Learning about the vigorous testing that planes go through and how turbulence is more annoying than it is deadly can help put your mind at ease.
Positive Self Talk
When you get on the plane, tell yourself how good you’re doing. Remind yourself how safe and clean your environment is. When thoughts of anxiety try to creep in, counter them with thoughts that are confident.
Take CBD
When you are anxious, your brain is sending off fear signals at an overwhelming rate. CBD has shown in studies to help relieve anxiety. Researchers believe it is because it uses endocannabinoids to help reduce overactivity in the brain. Using CBD edibles or tinctures before the flight may be able to calm your nerves so you can enjoy your trip. Be sure to talk to your doctor about taking CBD, because it can interfere with certain medications.
Have you overcome your flight anxiety? Share your story with us in the comment section below!