Fear of Flying? Learning to Relax

Flying With the Greatest of Ease Skip Rituals, Avoid Alcohol and Toss Lucky Charms; Instead, Teach Yourself to Relax

They clutch armrests and push mindless conversations on seatmate strangers. They bite their nails or bow their heads in prayer as engines roar for takeoff. Some load up on antianxiety drugs or alcohol—perhaps both—in an attempt to get through the air-travel experience.

Scott McCartney tells us about new techniques to ease aerophobia, the fear of flying. The fear can afflict people who must fly frequently, taking the form not of a full-blown phobia but as severe anxiety.
.Yet, experts say rituals can actually hurt nervous passengers because they reinforce their fear.

Published in the Wall Street Journal online. Read the rest of the article...