It turns out that what you are drinking on aeroplanes could be worsening symptoms of aerophobia or making your anxiety worse.
If you have a fear of flying and worry excessively about travelling via plane, you may have aerophobia. Believed to affect one in 10 of the British population, those suffering from the phobia can experience anxiety and panic attacks, and some people may avoid air travel altogether.
Aerophobia is most common in people between the ages of 17 and 34, but it can develop at any age, even if that person had never experienced anxiety around flying before.
While you may feel inclined to reach for a glass of alcohol to calm your nerves, this could actually be worsening your symptoms. Red wine in particular has high level of tannins and histamines which can trigger headaches and allergic reactions, so a safer alternative could be a glass of cranberry juice. Daniel Ulfman, a cocktail expert for The Whisky Masters, says: “Alcohol is a depressant which can dampen inhibitions and may lead to irrational behaviours in those who are skittish about flying.”
That means that champagne should also be avoided, not least due to its high carbonation levels which can lead to bloating, discomfort and anxiety. Ulfman explains that the traditional method of making champagne “involves adding a mixture of sugar, yeast and wine to the bottle and letting it ferment for several weeks”. This, he says, can “create exacerbated feelings of anxiety”.
If you think that mixing a depressant like vodka with a stimulant such as an energy drink would help, you are wrong. This can cause your heart rate to increase due to the high levels of caffeine in energy drinks which can make it difficult to calm down during the flight.
Lastly, one drink that many of us have a cup of every day could actually be making your aerophobia worse – coffee. With its high levels of caffeine, coffee could lead to sweating, shaking and a rapid heart rate if consumed on a flight. Try caffeine-free tea or hot water with lemon instead, Ulfman suggests.
Taking control of your breathing, avoiding caffeine, and distracting yourself whilst on the flight are good ways to deal with aerophobia, according to Trauma Research UK. Flicking through brochures and pictures to remind yourself of why you are travelling and your holiday ahead can be helpful to keep your mind away from worrying.
Sharing your fears and anxieties with a support system such as family members or friends is useful, according to Cleveland Clinic, which also advises discussing your concerns with a healthcare provider.
