Conquering the Fear of Flying

I’ve feared flying for as long as I remember. This is ironic because I was obsessed with planes when I was young and living in Cameroon. I would run outside anytime I heard a plane to watch it fly over with its fading white trails in the sky. It was an infrequent event, but it was always an exciting event. In art class, my go-to sketch was an airplane. The colors and styles often varied, but the company stayed constant- American Airways. I didn’t have dreams to become a pilot, but I always hoped I’d get the chance to fly in a plane as a passenger. It was after all the only means of getting to the States.

In July of ‘09, I finally got the chance to travel in the air. I don’t remember most of that flight except that it was nothing like I expected. The excitement of finally reuniting with my parents took over. It didn’t matter to me that I was flying France Airways instead of American Airways like in my childhood sketches.

The truth is I get anxious about flying. And it’s not just a little anxiety. It’s like panicking about being in the air when the flight is one week away kind of anxiety. Or like refusing to get on a plane without an anxiolytic kind of worry. And don’t get me started on turbulence. I know some people say it gives them butterflies. For my brother, he says it feels like roller coasters. But for me, I feel my heart sink into my abdomen every time the plane shakes ever so slightly. My palms get sweaty, (honestly, they usually stay sweaty throughout the entire flight) and my underarms become drenched. Should the turbulence last longer than 30 seconds, on come the palpitations, and then that sinking feeling of “ohhhhhh my goshhhhh we’re going to fall out of the sky.” It’s hard to explain but each time it feels like the end is near.

But one day, I was interviewing Sam Trujillo and he discussed how we don’t appreciate others enough for the sacrifices they make to become experts in their fields. He meant this in the context of medicine highlighting the enormous amount of schooling essential for doctors to acquire all the knowledge necessary to treat patients. He said we don’t thank each other enough for our hard work and dedication. Maybe the world would be a better place if we all appreciated the effort others put into their work.

I ruminated on his words for a long time. I thought back to when I was a phlebotomist. I encountered people scared of a small needle stick who ultimately had to put their fear aside, trust my expertise and allow me to care for them. Eventually, I made the connection that my fear of flying ignored the training and expertise that engineers, pilots, and software programmers all bring to the table.

I now board flights trusting (still a bit anxious but relinquishing “control”) that the aircraft is safe and that pilots and staff are equipped to handle any problem that arises. It hasn’t been easy or straightforward but each passing flight has become easier to maneuver. I’m learning more about the process of flying to demystify it in my mind and further reduce my fear.

Two years ago, I was convinced that I couldn’t fly without medication, but I completed all of my flights in 2020 and 2021 thus far without needing any. In fact, during my last flight, I was feeling adventurous and accepted seating at an emergency exit. Best of all, I’m able to sleep on the nights before flights now.

Showing more appreciation and gratitude towards others has gone a long way in the way I analyze daily life activities and show trust in other professions. I’m grateful for Sam’s words which have given me a new perspective on flight travel. I no longer have a fear of flying.

Are you grateful for a specific profession that has done something you could never imagine doing? Do you know someone whose job requires them to make a sacrifice that you’d never consider? If so, share your thoughts in the comments!