Hi, I'm Dr. Ellen Hendrickson, and you're listening to episode 12 of the savvy psychologist.

I'll help you meet life's challenges with evidence-based research, a sympathetic ear, and

zero judgment.

We'll use the best of psychology to help you be happy, relaxed, and most importantly,

yourself.

Last week on the savvy psychologist,

we discussed tips and tricks to get you on a plane

and to your destination

without leaving fingernail marks in the armrest.

If you missed it, check out how to overcome your fear of flying part one for more.

This week we'll tackle the reasons behind your flying fears, plus some more tips on how to manage them.

Now, an in-flight panic attack can be triggered by thinking you're in danger, fear of having

a panic attack itself, or even just out of the blue.

And if you've actually experienced a panic attack on a plane, memories of those excruciating minutes are often enough to keep you grounded, or at least heavily sedated on your next flight.

What you're afraid of is no longer flying, but of panic. Your fear really is of fear itself.

So how does it start? So panic often flares from a spark in your own body, a racing heart, a tight throat, a feeling of lightheadedness.

And if you're already leery of flying, you may be on the edge of your seat to begin with during a flight.

Then a sensation like popping ears, a stomach drop

due to turbulence, or feeling smothered in the recycled air can all contribute to catastrophic

thoughts of losing control, dying, or simply being trapped in a metal tube

for hours with hundreds of strangers, a surefire way to jumpstart a panic attack. Now some of us are more attuned to bodily

sensations than others. You probably know somebody who can't tell if she's

...