New ways for fearful flyers to think about turbulence

About half of fear of flying patients list inflight turbulence as one of their primary fearful scenarios that keep them from flying, not flying as much as they could, or using medication (including alcohol) to handle the unpleasant sensations. Recalibrating how we interpret turbulence can start a process of learning to better manage our sensations while the plane does what it’s been designed to do - maintain its equilibrium through moving air!
Visit my website: Flightwise.com.au
I've listed below the topics, links, and descriptions of my other videos. Take a look, make some comments and write to me about your issues and I'll see if they can become part of a new video!
UNDOING YOUR ANXIETY - knowing hope to change Part 1
• Undoing your Anxiety -...
Why am I getting worse the more I fly/
• Why am I getting worse... • Why am I getting worse...
(In this video, I want to answer a question many fearful flyers find quite perturbing: “How is it that the more often I fly the worse I’m becoming - aren’t you supposed to get better at things with practice?”
More New ways to deal with inflight turbulence
• More New ways to deal ...
I share some handy practical things you can do to help you modulate your arousal and contain your anxiety. You still need to be of the belief “Turbulence might be uncomfortable but it’s not unsafe” to get the most our of the video
Undertanding self-talk in managing anxiety - Part 1
• Undertanding self-talk...
In this first of a series, I describe how I help patients understand the various ways they can feed anxiety by how their “self-talk” can automatically switch on their threat-responding brain-based mechanisms, in the same way that we switch on our smartphone’s Siri or Alexa.
Understanding self-talk in managing anxiety - Part 2
• Understanding self-tal...
In this second of a multipart-part series I describe the idea behind the concept of “cognitive distortions”, as well as the ideas of appraisal of if out threat response - which gives rise too yucky sensations - is an overestimation of the presence elf danger comb lined with an underestimation of our ability to cope and recompose ourselves.
Explaining those falling sensations some people experience after take-off
• Explaining those falli...
While some people enjoy takeoffs for their noise and sensations, fearful flyers can sometimes feel quite apprehensive, and believe the plane is falling as it climbs away from the airport. Quite unnerving! In this video I try to explain what’s happening from the plane and passenger perspectives.
Using apps which predict inflight turbulence - useful or keeping your fears going?
• Using apps which predi...
More and more people find apps on their smart devices helpful for travelling. More recently some of these apps (of which there are many) go out to the published forecasts and show the expected turbulence on an upcoming flight. But is this really useful or even necessary? Certainly flight crews want to know about weather en route but how useful is this for fearful flyers? You might be surprised by my explanations!
Fear of Flying: Understanding "Safety Behaviours"
• Fear of Flying: Unders...
Many patients with anxiety have inadvertently setup safety behaviours which unfortunately reinforce their fear-based avoidance behaviours. They are left with the paradox that they more they do their behaviours, the worse they’re becoming, not better. This video helps to explain safety behaviours, how they form and are maintained and what to do about it.
Fear of Flying: Issues of control and how to deal with them
• Fear of Flying: Issues...
Many patients with anxiety have expectations that if certain conditions can be met - “I must be in control of everything if I’m to fly” - then all will be well. But I want to challenge this idea, and in this and other videos will look at patients’ demands to be in control to avoid discomfort, and offer some useful strategies
Fear of Flying: Distraction as an anxiety tool is over-rated - seeking effective strategies
• Fear of Flying: Distra...
Many patients with anxiety have expectations that if certain conditions can be met - “I must be distract myself from unpleasant thoughts and sensations if I’m to fly”, then all will be well. But I want to challenge this idea, and in this and other videos will look at patients’ use of distraction to avoid discomfort, and offer some useful strategies
Fear of Flying: Challenging myths of being calm, using distraction and being in control
• Fear of Flying: Challe...
Many patients with anxiety have expectations that if certain conditions can be met - “I must be calm if I’m to fly”, then all will be well. But I want to challenge this idea, and in this and other videos will look at patients’ calmness, their use distraction to avoid discomfort, and the demands for control, all of which require some pushback!

[@sadmkahn167]

I came from the video where the guy kept saying "what is going on" during turbulance

[@tbuido]

And i came from the Allah akbar etihad one.

[@bri8396]

LMAOO SAME

[@jacobcoopervfx4674]

Me too 😀

[@stephaniechandler6198]

Meeeee toooo 😂😂😂😂

[@Tinderbox101]

i came here because i saw a FA got yeeted thru the roof

[@basketballplayer4978]

My problem with fear of flying is I have no control over the situation my life is 100% in the hands of the pilot

[@ba091479]

Same here!

[@CORNCAKE80]

@@ba091479 If it makes you two feel any better - you can be rest assured that no one would let those pilots even near an aircraft cockpit if they were unqualified or unsure in any way.

[@abu1950]

@@CORNCAKE80 What about the German wings pilot??

[@CORNCAKE80]

@@abu1950 That case most likely punched a wake up to most airline companies and they now make sure to follow their pilots' psychological conditions, as well as applying to become a pilot must be 10 times stricter and met with the best of qualifications exams and mental health tests

[@abu1950]

@@CORNCAKE80 I know what you are saying but I would say there should always be someone else present when there is only one pilot and there should be some overriding mechanism (only known by a senior crew member) for the cockpit door.

[@MattEssex33]

I use to be scared of flying, I am over it now - if this helps anyone then great....every single day (every 24 hours!) there are over 90,000 planes that take off all over the world....guess how many of them land safely? Every single one of them. Have a great day :)

[@juliakerry2955]

Matt how did you overcome it

[@MattEssex33]

Hey Julia, well my first few flights I was very anxious and I use to watch flight videos on KZbin for months before a flight which I am not sure helped lol, but then I got a job with American Airlines (on the ground) which gave me access to almost free flights and I wanted to travel America, I live in the UK so the flights were long but I decided to control the fear and not let it control me, the biggest part of it was understanding how the airline industry works from the inside, speaking to the cabin crew every day, using the flight access....what is a huge day for you with your flight is just another shift for the cabin crew, all the little "ding dongs" you hear during the flight are all completely normal and so is turbulance. When you are cabin crew for an airline like Ryanair for example, you can do 5 flights per day and thats a normal day. I just felt that I either be worried and do not travel, or I worry a little and I get to see new places, after a few flights I realised how normal everything onboard was and how the cabin crew were just doing another shift. With turbulance just know that when you experience it, the Pilots are looking for smoother air so turbulance is usually short lived and then it smoothens out.

[@juliakerry2955]

Matt thank you Matt , I must try to remember this when I’m travelling. I think it’s to do with a stressful situation I experienced in my life like les said, ( which was nothing to do with flying by the way ) however I seem to have put my fear on to this I think . I don’t want to stop travelling I love my holidays seeing the world . However it’s become such a trial when I travel to control my panic . Plus after France 447 , I keep thinking my planes going to fall out the sky !!!

[@MattEssex33]

That was the same sort of fear I use to have, about falling out the sky. But that statistic of how many planes took off every 24 hours and landed safely was what helped me get over it, and realise just how irrational the fear was. The number has actually gone up from 90,000 since I last looked a few years ago, now it is over 100.000....."According to ATAG, there are roughly 100,000 scheduled flights per day globally. To this we must add general aviation, air taxis, military, and cargo. In the US, scheduled flights are 1/3 of all flight (according to NOAA). Extrapolation would give a worldwide total of 300,000 daily flights." Yesterday 100,000 flights took off, and every single one of them landed safely, just remember when you take off that you are just one of 100,000 taking off and landing that day and its just another shift for the cabin crew and any noises you hear on your flight are all completely normal.

[@juliakerry2955]

Matt Your a star ! For taking the time out to answer me and for your advice . This talking with people who understand how I feel , will get me there in the end I’m sure

[@robinpersaud547]

The last time I had flown there was heavy turbulence and then a sudden drop,my anxiety went to the roof,I looked over to my right there was a guy covered from head to toe with a blanket, whilst half the plane was screaming he just peeked out under the blanket pulled it back over and went back to sleep... seeing that calmed me down

[@astara5802]

Robin Persaud the same happened to me in december 1988 on a night flight from JFK to ZRH with a DC10 (...) over the North Atlantic. The winter months aren't best months for North Atlantic flights... it was horrible, very heavy turbulences all over the time till we reached England in the morning, we felt like being in a rollercoaster without end, the whole plane was yelling, it was night, you could see nothing outside, only knowing that far below the plane there is the North Atlantic and you are sitting in a DC10 with only two engines... But: at the beginning of the flight a man who looked exactly like a cowboy from Texas 😁 with hat and boots, took a complete middle row for its own (the plane wasn't fully booked), put a plaid over him, with his boots looking outside, his hat over his face and started sleeping! He woke up only when we were landed in ZRH! I will never forget this man! Such kind of people calm you down! 😂

[@joesphclifton9730]

I'm usually that guy lol I flew all the time for work I flew at least 60+ times last year alone

[@jtslaptop]

asta ra, a DC10 has two turbofan engines mounted on underwing pylons and a third engine at the base of the vertical stabilizer.

[@justinbatt3191]

Boss!!!

[@BB-pt9hv]

Same thing happened to me! I screamed and grabbed the seat in front of me, then everyone slowly turned around to look at me like some freak 😅

[@ivancarlson953]

now every time i experience turbulence I will hear his voice in my head going, "bloooop"

[@lesposen]

Better than "Crikey!"

[@rachelrisor9507]

🤣

[@danmclaughlin1180]

I find that yelling out "we're all going to die" during heavy turbulence really helps me overcome fear of Turbulence.

[@alext2963]

omg! Hilarious, I think I'll try that next time I fly! Very funny

[@MsDogma68]

Yeah like yeah

[@weathercenter8294]

I would strongly disagree with that. I’m pretty sure you could find more positive ways than negative ways.

[@danmclaughlin1180]

@@weathercenter8294 this works for me but may have a different effect on everyone else. Maybe instead of yelling out during turbulence I could try whispering in someones ear.

[@weathercenter8294]

I am usually slightly afraid when I’m taking off and then I get used to it after about 15 minutes and perfectly fine.

[@wiltdidit]

I always look to the facial expressions of the flight attendants. When they show abject terror, I try to max out my CC on drinks.

[@lesposen]

The Famous Eccles but what to do when they’re all seated and you can see them? Iron Chef mode vs Short order cook! A new video I’m preparing!

[@lesposen]

The Famous Eccles but what to do when they’re all seated and you can see them? Iron Chef mode vs Short order cook! A new video I’m preparing!

[@lesposen]

The Famous Eccles but what to do when they’re all seated and you can see them? Iron Chef mode vs Short order cook! A new video I’m preparing!

[@lesposen]

The Famous Eccles but what to do when they’re all seated and you can’t see them? Iron Chef mode vs Short order cook! A new video I’m preparing!

[@RealFunFuneral976]

This made me laugh my ass off.

[@noefrancois-saint-cyr1080]

When I was real young, flying over the atlantic on my own with my sister ( we were 12 and 10, respectively) we were experiencing some moderate turbulence, which obviously seemed quite severe to me. I was terrified and when I asked the flight attendant what was going on, she told me we were only flying over speed bumps in the sky xDD it actually helped to calm me down PS: 6 years later, I am now studying to be a commercial pilot :)))

[@lesposen]

Noe Francois-Saint-Cyr good for you, Noe! It could have gone the other way, but a confident and knowledgeable FA gave the right explanation at the right time! See you in the air sometime!

[@collin8175]

That’s so great! I hope your pilot career is going well. I still get nervous when there is turbulence. I hope to overcome my slight fear of flying because I have a love for aviation and traveling. I also hate takeoff. I used to love it when I was younger. I’m fortunate enough to have a parent that travels frequently for work, so it helps knowing that he has been on hundreds of flights.

[@kellygilbert6070]

Wow,, amazing…best of luck x

[@simplytine2939]

WOW😮❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉

[@jabbetupac]

Thats a funny and calming story 😄Two years later i really hope you Made it pal👍

[@tanrajsingh2771]

It also helps when the captain goes on the PA and addresses the passengers in a calmly fashion. Just imagine if he went on the PA on the smallest bumps and went "WE'RE FUCKED GUYS"

[@candicehoughton]

This made me laugh so hard... thanks!

[@latoyajackson7934]

Lmao!! 🤣

[@seisiesmama9256]

😳😲🥺😣

[@bradleydavis8714]

Truth! We flew into Jackson Hole WY here sometime back and on the final approach we experienced a major, sudden drop out of nowhere and then the pilot pushed the engines back to full throttle and did a complete circle and came back in for the landing. And he never one time came over PA to address the situation! It was ridiculous.

[@raptorgator]

Me as a captain

[@rc_23]

I remembered asking a flight attendant why the turbulence was bad, she knew i was just plain scared and she told me “just pretend the plane is like Nemo the the fish swimming through a current”. And that has actually helped me calm down when it happens hehe. 🐟

[@lesposen]

R C Very nice metaphor probably handed down from one FA to another. Generally because they see so many flyers they’re very good at assisting.

[@MsElke11]

Nemo's cool, but Dory would make me ANXIOUS!

[@claudiadalmo2288]

She could have said like a bird flying… a bird follows the wind and use it to fly moving up and down and swinging….

[@abdullahmohammad3088]

I want to travel with this man ✈😂

[@usaslastresort1126]

Me too bro don’t mind the idiots. You would think smart people are in this videos comments but he’s probably here because he was scared of flying and after seeing this video he’s feeling like big man 🤣🤣

[@caligirl8904]

I’m scared of flying too but I don’t want that to keep me from living my life. I want to travel to explore the world.

[@abu1950]

I travel everywhere but flying can get dangerous but it's unlikely. The thing I hate the most is pilots like Andreas Lubitz. You can tell yourself everything would be alright but you never know.

[@marcelasilva9231]

So…have you flown???

[@caligirl8904]

@@marcelasilva9231 yes, short flights only hahah

[@WMEGW]

I have found that comparing it to a car ride helps. There are always bumps, hills, potholes, etc. The same thing happens in the air; it's just harder to see!

[@brigittelikeslanguages8916]

What a calm voice he has. Would be great to have such a person to talk to on a flight.

[@katrin896]

I hate flying so much but I am trying to overcome it. I booked a flight back home to Iceland (I'm currently living in the UK), and I am now binge-watching all the videos I can find about how safe planes actually are. I came across your video and I just want to thank you! One of my biggest fears has always been turbulence. When you said; "Planes don't just go "whoops, no air" and drop" that made me laugh cause that's honestly what I thought! So thank you for this simple explanation!

[@lesposen]

Good find! Locate my follow up video to this one to see what to do when things get bumpy….

[@Aarlington]

And you made it back safely, good stuff, no need to worry.

[@Justafan333]

Hi Les, I just wanted to let you know that since watching your video I am no longer scared of flying. I flew to America from the U.K. for Christmas and I had no panic or anxiety whatsoever. I just imagined the plane being in jelly. I look forward to my next vacation now. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[@lesposen]

This is very good news, and I am happy to hear of it. I create this videos not knowing who will be assisted and so keep plugging away with more videos to come, in the knowledge that sooner I later there will be something for everybody who perceives intrusive anxiety and is stymied from finding a solution either on their own, or even with professional help. Happy landings!

[@Justafan333]

Les Posen I have saved your video to my favourites so that I can go back to it if needed or to pass it on to somebody someday 🙂. I am eternally great full that you made this video. Now to overcome my fear of spiders 😉

[@VGAMERS365]

@@lesposen These info reduced extreme anxiety. Australians are always professional, be it cricket or flight safety. Respect straight from heart.

[@geoffburt8100]

If you're terrified by turbulence (as I once was) and have a window seat, press your head against the side wall a bit and imagine yourself becoming one with the plane. If you have a middle or aisle seat, turn your head sideways against the headrest. I know this might sound odd or zenlike to some, but when I do this I feel a sort of emotional grounding that helps me cope with it. I'm better able to feel as though the aircraft were plane like a bird in flight (which it is), that birds often have to deal with turbulence, that all is OK and it's just temporary.

[@Crisperdad]

Probably the best advice actually.

[@colinjones3834]

Very useful idea, thank you

[@GeoffBurt08]

@@colinjones3834 Thanks Colin!

[@dianacelestina29]

I actually do this whenever I ride roller coasters and during turbulence! I find this method tricks my brain to feels safer than facing directly in front. Letting my chin resting on my shoulder helps too when I do this.

[@3o5Miami]

holy shit. thas prolly the greatest thing I have ever heard on youtube.

[@raptorgator]

I hate the feeling that the plane is just "dropping" mid flight. Everything on a plane just feels wrong and like anything could go wrong at any second. I also hate take offs and landings too. Just flying in general

[@jusmeinia7]

I love that feeling at takeoff, so awesome all those g forces! Sorry that it scares you though, not a good feeling to have.

[@raptorgator]

@@jusmeinia7 I really wish i did like it, or i was someone who was a lot more laid back. I know it's stupid to feel like a scardey cat always 😔

[@byronhenry6518]

I suggest that you go a local airport, find a flight school, and take a discovery flight. The flight instructor will explain the technicalities of flying and will likely allow you fly the aircraft yourself. It's really good fun, and maybe you'll find a new passion. I am a flight instructor and I've had plenty of people come in with some anxieties towards flying and some even total fear. After the flight they almost always feel better about it now that they have a basic understanding of how it all works and how inherently safe the aircraft is. As well as how well trained their pilots, mechanics, air traffic controllers, and everyone else involved with airplanes actually are. I love my life and my family, trust me, if i thought flying was unsafe, I wouldn't be doing it every day.

[@Dollarshop]

I just hate turbulence. Take off and landing is fine with me.

[@davidbtw7274]

Couldve just said you hated flying in the first place, lmao

[@deenawhite3523]

This helped me with turbulence, but my BIGGEST fear with flying is not having any control. I can't fly the plane myself, I can't tell the pilot to watch out, or anything. The fact that I can't control anything scares me. I'm suppose to go to Seoul, Korea next year with my sister (19 hour flight) and I have to fly. If there was a way to hop on a boat, I would just because of my fears. I need help lol.

[@deenawhite3523]

@zompzu I'm about to go to my state fair in 2 weeks. There's a helicopter ride that you can take around the fairgrounds, and I'm going to try to get on it. I'm less scared of helicopters so I'm hoping this helps me a little with my fear lol. I hope you and I get over our fears of flying so that we both can travel. Feel free to inbox me or anything to give me updates on your status or whatever. I'll let you know how my helicopter ride went lol.

[@furiouzzzz]

you have psychological control issues

[@Dogsarebetterpeople]

Same here. As for the guy who simplified your anxiety by calling it “psychological control issues” I’m an actual therapist, a fear of being helpless at a high altitude is not the same as having “psychological control issues”...

[@donesy125]

zompzu - I’d be more afraid of missing out on life and seeing the world and friends and family than the small chance that I may die in a crash.

[@3MRashad]

Think about it this way: the system controlling the airplane is more reliable than any human being, including you. Don't trust the pilot, trust the math, hundred of flights occur daily and we rarely hear about accidents, it's less than 0.1% chance that it's going to be your flight, unless you believe you're that lucky

[@nathanlowther9699]

This mans voice is so calming. Why can’t he fly with me when I fly, it he so calming and so much better lol

[@tylar1]

Worddd

[@RABONICS]

I work at Glasgow airport in Scotland and I know a few British airways long haul pilots who fly the jumbo and 2 of them fly the dreamliner and 1 of the pilots told me in his 20 years a pilot he has never experienced severe turbulence as it's rare but flying over a thunderstorm over Croatia he says it was really bumpy but it never bothered him 1 bit because he knows how much the aircraft can handle. Another pilot, a 747 captain told me the worst thing that ever happened to him while flying through bad turbulence was that he spilled his coffee over his shirt and that's the only thing he hates about turbulence lol

[@florencewanjiru1035]

Robert Millan Thanks a lot

[@christophermallett8166]

Sounds like I've encountered worse turbulence than both of them (and a lot of people probably have...somehow) so this story is pointless

[@roguemaximmus3419]

What if the cofee is spilled over the plane instruments, could it cause a malfunction?

[@orouba14]

@@roguemaximmus3419 I'd like to know the answer to that.

[@steviekfc1869]

rogue maximmus no, planes like and need coffee too lol

[@rizzorizzo2311]

Well now I’m scared of raspberry jello, thanks doc!

[@lesposen]

Rizzo RIZZO works every time!

[@furlycee]

What you said about not falling due to an air pocket really helped that was my #1 fear.

[@harharharlee9308]

Even though it’s a year or so later, this video has helped me through my anxiety in the air. Yesterday I had a flight with extremely intense turbulence and I’d like to say I am now cured of my fear of flying. I’m sure I will never endure something worse than that.

[@lesposen]

har well, that’s good to hear, and good you’re flying again! I’ll be taking my first flight since March next month just to see how the airline system is coping as a test run before seeing patients face to face. Until then, it’s Skype and Zoom sessions.

[@EastmanEditing]

One thing that helps me with mild to moderate turbulence is simply pretending like I'm on a bus. I have my window shades closed, and imagine that every bump is simply a pothole or speed bump. This works well if you're good at visualizing and have a good imagination, or you can close your eyes if need be and picture that you're just on a road! :-)

[@lesposen]

Eastman Editing yes, your analogy is a fine one if it continues to promote a “turbulence might trigger discomfort but it’s not unsafe” mindset. Ultimately, if you can get to “turbulence on a plane is evidence of the earth “breathing”, moving air around as the planet rotates” or “planes love air moving over their wings. Humans have to learn to like it (eg rollercoasters, high Gs in Ferraris)

[@ginaf2103]

When l first flew l had no fear and as the years passed l became more and more anxious. And now 40 plus years later l don't wanna fly

[@trickyal1]

That’s the same as me, used to love it, now terrifies me.

[@audreywilliams7007]

Me too. I wonder what's that about

[@xoliswamthembu997]

Same issue here....

[@andreamichelea]

Me too!!

[@lesposen]

toni d I recorded a new video called “why am I getting more fearful the more I fly?” Locate it on my channel here somewhere. Recorded in later April 2019.

[@horse_gamer1212]

I don’t have a fear of flying, I have a fear of suddenly NOT flying.

[@Mark-pp7jy]

Thank you, from a retired commercial airline employee. There's a lot of the world yet to see, and I appreciate how you presented this information! Mark 👍

[@Justafan333]

You explained this perfectly. I like to know the science behind things for me to understand why it happens. Yours is the only video I have watched where I now feel at ease. Thank you so much, I am extremely grateful.

[@TheRagBag]

My way on keeping calm on a plane is to actually imagine I'm flying the plane via my home pc microsoft flight simulator. It helps me to concentrate and I also feel in control!

[@lesposen]

TheRagBag nice! Probably lots of pilots deadheading do the same. I show patients videos of pilots at the controls and relate it to events they’ll experience in the cabin, eg noise abatement SOP. I ask them to “see” what’s happening not just feel the sensations.

[@gracethompson9252]

Absolute legend for making this video, ive never thought about turbulence like this

[@joyblades7474]

I overcame my fear of flying by just having the conviction that, as long as I’m on that plane, we will land safely!

[@joemunoz1476]

Mine was the complete opposite. I was thinking "be ready to crash.. we might be lucky and land safely".

[@juicyj813]

I say the same thing, and then I start thinking....wait, I just jinxed myself and we're all going to die

[@ef9374]

I find that window seats help overcoming fear of turbulence. You can see the ripples in the wind that bounces the planes. Knowing that “oh, it’s just some wind” makes the whole experience better. In fact, you can start predicting when the plane will bounce just looking at the wind ripples in the clouds.

[@lesposen]

What should we do for night flights?

[@aderasaria9160]

I used to be terrified of flying but then I started watching lots of cockpit view takeoffs and landings and I also used lots of mobile flight simulators to understand just how much a plane can deal with

[@miketacos9034]

Les, your videos helped me overcome my flight anxiety! I used your techniques of putting my hands on my thighs and remembering the place in the jello, plus keeping a song in my head and tapping to the beat wherever turbulence came, and it worked! It’s crazy how well it worked! I wasn’t trying to hold on, I was just letting the turbulence away around me while I felt calm and secure. It’s amazing how I went from terrified to totally calm in a second. Thank you Les, your videos made the difference, literally overnight!

[@sukuvar]

I just love you for the way you speak. So much peace in your voice.

[@BeautycaReviews]

This is interesting. But I’m nervous just watching it. I feel it as such an un-natural feeling and my mind can’t accept anything else 😩🤦‍♀️

[@immaggiethesenilegoldenret7918]

KA51A (nodding in hard agreement...😬)...welcome to my world!

[@jesstheplugz5669]

Same!

[@pj-hz8kq]

Thank you so much. That is really helpful for me.

[@saku577]

Thnaks so much for sharing this, I'm flying on Monday and this has really helped me!

[@patp4403]

This is a big help and I will never forget it when I fly again

[@maabdou2000]

Very simple and knowledgeable explanation. I would like to thank you for this video. Knowledge is power. Thanks for helping us get over it .

[@MFarley3]

This is the best asmr ive ever watched. Tons of tingles

[@amandazzle3383]

Moon Moon omg

[@E2EK131MM]

Thank you for sharing this video! It was brillaint !

[@brandontsai4717]

What helped me was looking at the flight attendants. But when you see them panic you know it’s no good 👍

[@giuliobassi8580]

What a nice person! A very nice way to explain :) thanx

[@rachelsheppard9660]

Yep still scared of flying!

[@jesstheplugz5669]

Lol !! Me !!!

[@bfl4202]

Thank you Les....I am a fearful flyer and it has stopped me from travelling. I will certainly use this idea...to calm my thoughts...when I plan a flight.

[@BIBECHYOUTUification]

This is awesome. Thank you for the nice explanation, sir.

[@clay2863]

Something that helped me relax during flights it’s the proven fact that you’re many times more likely to get into a minor car accident on the way to the airport than you are on a plane. Happy flights guys!

[@parmeshchopra]

This video has been the sole reason i could release my fear of flying which i caught in a stormy flight in 2017. It took me 2 years, tranquilizers and this video to help me be calm. And now I am able to survive the worst of the lot. Thanks a lot to this guy. To date, before a flight i make sure I see this video. It helps me feel stronger and safe.

[@lesposen]

Parmesh Chopra very happy to hear how you’ve put the video to good use. More power to you!

[@parmeshchopra]

@@lesposen all thanks to you sir. You are great. You are part of my travel, I guess till death does us apart. And i also hope KZbin doesn't take this down ever. It's my lifeline. God bless you with a long long long life. The world needs more good people like you. Thanks from the bottom of my heart. If ever I come to Australia, I'd love to meet you.

[@caryhernandez5948]

Thank you so much I was so afraid of flying before.... you helped us so much

[@rogerhayes93]

Very appreciative of this video and the time and effort you put into it

[@RonieSaleh]

Thank you, it was helpful!

[@soupwifey]

I was flying to Cancun on AeroMexico Airlines. We were told to stay in our seats and buckle in because they sense turbulence ahead. Everyone became silent with concern. The plane hit turbulence and dropped 10 feet down. Not a peep from anyone. My friend and I looked at each other with concern of "are we going to die?" but could not speak b/c we were so fearful at that moment. After that drop. The pilot came on and said "Thank you all for staying buckled up. We hit turbulence and just dropped 10 feet but we are in no danger but please keep your seat belts on until the seat belt light turns off once we're cleared of turbulence" We had a great smooth flight the rest of the way. They drop was so intense that some overhead bags flew out but hit no one. They just landed on the isle floor. Airline stewards put them back in place once safe to do so.

[@berly9397]

Ciera, scary experience. I am glad you are ok.

[@heidieversole8323]

This video was SO helpful to me! Thank you for the bot about "Jelly". I hung on to that picture during a particularly turbulent flight!

[@candjur1]

Watched this video the day before flying from Rome Italy to Copenhagen Denmark. Wow it helped, my anxiety for turbulence disappeared completely. Thank you so much. My pulse rate never got higher than 100 bpm. Before it could clime to over 140.

[@katherinegale6348]

You made AEROPLANE Jelly!!!

[@sandbuzz2944]

Thank you for this. My problem is, regardless how knowledgeable and aware of the know how of a plane is safe through turbulence, I just cannot control my emotion as soon as the place starts shaking and dive into panic mood!!!

[@lesposen]

Sand Buzz the clue is not to try to control your emotions or feelings. You’ll feel worse when you discover it rarely leads to any change in the right direction. In a forthcoming video I’ll explain the way forward is how to acknowledge and accept your sensations, immediate thoughts and behaviours and then practise changing them voluntarily. Don’t expect emotional change immediately but with practise your emotions will be better regulated

[@sandbuzz2944]

@@lesposen Can't wait. thank you again.

[@danielledejesus4609]

You’re awesome!! Thank you for this!! I’ll think of it when I fly in 3 weeks!! I fly about every two months, and every time I do, my palms sweat and sometimes I even throw up before even getting to the airport :-(

[@PedroEsteban]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge Mr. De Niro

[@bee5120]

I've been on several flights back and forth between Asia and America for a while now for vacations and what I noticed is there is more likelihood of turbulence over large bodies of water like oceans, especially in warmer tropics, than when flying over landmass. My plane routes usually curves upward to Alaska then curve back down to the destination point.

[@possiblepilotdeviation5791]

This is true. The water absorbs more energy from the sun than the land and that energy creates more turbulent weather. Just like hurricanes and typhoons. They feed on the warm oceans.

[@imuwe]

I flew over plain Europe, nothing water and no clouds at all and it had turbulences!

[@harrybuckley7292]

Hi. I used to have an issue with flying and used to hate/avoid flying whenever possible. My knowledge of flying was limited at the time so I started to take a bit more interest and with this my fear grew less. You can equate most turbulence to driving your car down a very bumpy road. Here int he UK we have cobbled streets ( granted there are not many, but there are some ). If I drive my car down the most severest cobbled street that this really does equate to really violent movements and this then equates really well to turbulance. Today I enjoy flying and have been to a great number of places which include Australia and the US. Flying is the most cost effective way to travel IF you want to see the world. Thanks for yor video.

[@lesposen]

Harry Buckley your equating cobbled Streets with various forms of mechanical turbulence is one often discussed by pilots in airline fear of flying courses and has a certain amount of face validity. But I would advise to go one further and practise self-management techniques (self-talk and habituation) when bumping along so it becomes your new normal. Self talk is bumps might be be uncomfortable but the car is built to manage it. I know how to manage myself”. I’d advise fear of turbulence patients to do this every day if the can in the week leading up to the next flight.

[@theleviosadi]

watched this a few hours before my flight. you helped ease my nerves a bit. thanks

[@burakt5532]

Thank you for this precious explanation.

[@MsElke11]

I think it's just the concept of being 35K feet above a wide ocean for 7 hours that freaks me out. The nicest fight I had was AIR FRANCE with a PLANE CAM. I was glued to the screen watching the MOVIE of my own FLIGHT. That was comforting. Why can't all flights have a CAM?

[@jx861]

I find this comforting to Elke, especially during a turbulence the cockpits view is just so surreal and calming for some reason.. I think it would be great if they had a cam on every flight

[@csmihaly]

Nice explanation..., made me also hungry for some strawberry jam toast, well done.

[@VegasYouTuberSteve]

I always keep an eye on the flight crew. As long as they're relaxed...I'm good!

[@lesposen]

And if they're not relaxed while dealing with a difficult situation - from an unhappy passenger making demands through to a baby needing a nappy change - what then? FAs have a much practised professional demeanour while quickly solving problems. Rely better on yourself to manage the situation than rely on others for your feelings and competence.

[@martinavig4915]

This helped me so soooo much Les! I’m flying to Dubai then to Australia in a week so I’m kinda nervous but this video helped me calm down a whole lot

[@tedbiggs8336]

I remember coming into a landing into Montego Bay Jamaica and we turned about 20 seconds before landing and I could feel the plane going down and it felt like we were about to drop into the water because we were like 200ft from it and it looked like 30ft away. And I was holding so tight onto my seat and then I felt the touchdown

[@Firdaustravelmalaysia]

That final destination vibes while take off..lol

[@Donnabrosario]

Thank you for this video!

[@MrYOUJANI]

Thanks for evaporating my fear about turbulence. 😊🙏

[@EnjoyingTheArts]

I have flown quite a bit, but I am still always terrified!

[@SMSJSC]

My thoughts too, Nick. First flew 35 years ago, have flown over 150 times; I never have and never will get over the fear factor, but it won't stop me flying. There's a big world out there, and I want to see more of it!

[@jabeir1991ify]

Really fearful of flying since i had a very turbulent moment on flight, plus the plane started suddenly decreasing altitude really heavily. I kept thinking of the worst as i watch air crash investigation :/ probably not a good idea.

[@craigfurlow7692]

Makes perfect sense. Thank you! 🙂

[@leroyhasenaar2839]

Your voice and simple explanation gives me more than enough room to implement this idea in my head and have a much more pleasant flight! I thank you very much sir! ☺️

[@saamra6908]

Thank you for helping people who have flying phobia. First time I flew in 2012, that was a superb experience and I never thought that something bad could happen to a plan. However, in my last two flights (about 1.5 years ago), I experienced turbulence and now greatly terrified of flying, just because of that I missed many international conferences. Now I have to travel again in the next 3 days and helping myself to get rid of this flying phobia by watching the videos as you shared. The accidents happened to MH 370 left a great negative impact on many. Still, I am struggling to convince myself that traveling by plane is safest. Maybe now I am a father of two lovely kids, started to caring life more seriously.

[@lesposen]

Mhammad Shahbaz Many people after becoming parents develop new fears or can no longer push old fears to one side, from the days they lived single, fun, Care free lives. Putting someone else’s safety ahead of our own, especially a helpless child so reliant on us being vigilant for danger leaves us less able to contain our anxiety. Your task is to show your child how to manage anxiety and there’s a big exciting world out there

[@saamra6908]

Les Posen Thank you for your positive feedback

[@Joe-nm8yk]

Over my life I've been on many flights, if I had to put a number on it around 100... I get anxiety at the thought flying. The main part of flying that I fear is the heights... I'm terrified of heights, turbulence doesn't bother me as I know there has never been any records of planes crashing during turbulence and most are usually man made errors... However, the thought of being 37,000 ft above the ground makes my knuckles go white. I just finished over 40hrs of flying and coming over mumbai / asia we had a pretty bumpy ride which didn't bother me at all. All my anxiety comes from heights.

[@TheNatsuhime]

Thank you so much for making this video. This got me through a flight to Amsterdam. A short one but my first in many years. I repeated after you and thought of the jelly. Thank you honestly

[@lesposen]

Mae you really very welcome. Many more happy landings to come

[@furki99]

Beautifully explained, I am 52 but still have fear from flying

[@terencehill3972]

I always scream like hell when there is any turbulence. I can't help it, it's like an automatism...

[@elliott7268]

Not a good habit. Will panic the other passengers. Is also very stressful for the flight attendants to try to calm screaming people down. Not your fault, but I bet with the right help from people like this doc here, you can change it and fly like the coolest kid on the block!

[@cnordegren]

Great video I prefer US airlines when flying internationally because they have Dr. Pepper. I used the excuse of being fearful of turbulence to drown myself with free Dr. Pepper. Big kudos to AA as they are most generous with the drink ;)

[@jonshepherd9839]

This man has such a soothing voice, I listen to him when I go to sleep at night. I dont care if its odd, it works!

[@colbyandbrennen3543]

You know the video will be good when there's a middle-aged man on YT that looks like he'll passionately explain a topic

[@nicholasbella7459]

I dont know if this video has helped me with my fear of flying or not.

[@lesposen]

Book a short flight and see.

[@nicholasbella7459]

I did fly and found it to be fun. :)

[@shallyine986]

Always scary

[@Tekashi-tv2pe]

Nicholas Bella bullshit

[@aero6298]

@@lesposen i hate the feeling you get when you drop on a roller coaster ride and thats why im terrified. Heights dont scare me but the feeling when you drop does so i was wondering do you get that feeling during desend or turbulence ( or landing whatever u call it

[@zariqafsha]

I always have such an anxiety whenever flying.. esp after 2x terrible air pocket experience. Nowadays whenever there’s a turbulence, I try as much to comfort myself and not to think abt it.. and never unfasten the seatbelt. 😔

[@tylerkilarski5831]

Thank you, I just had a flight yesterday, and when there was turbulence I wasn't worried

[@louisebrown4622]

As someone who doesn’t like flying that was very helpful thank you very much I subscribed and I’m going to watch all of your videos you have a nice style of presentation

[@whykatera81]

Once I did edibles before my flight and was tooo high. We hit turbulence and I yelled out FUCK!!! Then everyone started crying and yelling. I single handedly ruined everyone’s calm.

[@Got2LuvM33]

😂😂

[@clarktrent3036]

I haven't flown in many years. several times I have had to assume the "crash" position due to different things, like landing gear not locked at takeoff, etc. .. mercifully, these sorts of emergencies, on my own passenger flights, were resolved. I'm still here; However, an acquaintance of mine of 12 yrs time, died on Northwest Airlines Flight 255 out of Detroit, my hometown.(everyone died except a baby girl) ... I don't care how many millions of flight miles per air-death it is... I think my own experience (and that of my classmate on 255) proves the odds haven't exactly been spot on. Numbers aren't very real when you're a statistic, or in an emergency.

[@Ari-on-on]

Funny you mentioned the "air pocket" because that's what I heard someone said and it just stuck with me.. of course the airplane doesn't just stops, drops, then lifts again but someone how I had that image in my head. This video actually made me feel better about the bumps. Thank you so much!

[@Shauna_180]

I've never personally had a fear of turbulence but I do find this very interesting. What a great visual way to explain how it works and why it's nothing to fear.

[@lesposen]

Shauna Stanley thanks Shauna. Hopefully, you might have occasion to help a friend using this explanation, or be stimulated in your own metaphor creating!

[@firefly-fu3ce]

I was flying to NYC it was my first long haul flight from Dublin. There was extremely bad turbulence. I thought we were going to die. I was so upset. Scared the living daylights out of me.

[@furiouzzzz]

when was it? and was it Aerlingus? I flew back from NY to Dublin with aerlingus and experienced terrifying turbulence over the Atlantic once...yeah absolutely terrible ride that was

[@firefly-fu3ce]

@@furiouzzzz it was with delta and it was a few weeks ago, we flew through the night. The turbulence was very violent

[@furiouzzzz]

@@firefly-fu3ce ok then it happens every time over Atlantic. How severe turbulence were you got in? Puking people and being strapped to the seats for a long time that was my experience

[@mariannasoares2388]

@@furiouzzzz There are nine islands in the middle of the Atlantic called the Azores; on the Westernmost islands of the archipelago we don't even have a hospital. Women have to leave the island a month in advance of their due dates to have babies and go to one of the bigger islands to deliver them. For them, it's like taking the bus. And, boy, are those flights and landings intimidating. But then you get used to it and you do not even notice it. It really is just like taking the bus. And it really is just a matter of getting used to it.

[@gorgeousgentleman111]

I'm uncertain why - but I've recently developed a very strong fear of planes. I'm 22 and haven't flown in over 2 years. Prior to this, I had flown many times: From Canada, to Hawaii, China, Japan, Sri Lanka, even North Korea... the list goes on and I can honestly say that I wasn't scared about any of those flights. Its like I was just blissfully unaware of the danger, or something like that (not saying that its statistically dangerous, rather, just seemingly unaware of the potential). Recently, I've been watching 9/11 footage and learning about the horrors of that day. Since I was so young when it happened, it never really clicked for me until now. Because of this, now I've been associating planes in my mind with 9/11.. Like I'll see a plane overhead and feel instant anxiety. Over the past few weeks I've had unshakable nightmares, the most vivid being last night, I dreamed that I was flying and the pilot lost control of the aircraft and was trying to make an emergency landing on a major highway. I woke up in a total panic, heavy breathing , sweating etc... I've been trying all day to shake the feeling. Now resorting to watching videos such as this. I wonder if this is just a phase, or if I will have this fear for the rest of my life. I truly hope its not the latter, as its more paralyzing than I could have ever imagined.

[@harvestmoon1033]

Danielle Posthuma I usually take Anti Anxeity pills prior flying and it helps which is Clonazopam.

[@DaLoganFrost]

I'm 38 and developed a fear of flying in the past few years. Never before was I nervous, but I am now and I don't know why this started. I was in the army and jumped out of planes for a living, and I have been retired for a while and fly all over the world. I fly from Hong Kong to Chicago 3 or 4 times a year round trips. I can't explain why this has happened. I have nightmares on a regular basis. On one flight from Hong Kong to Korea I had a nightmare during the flight that we were crashing into the ocean. As the plane crashed in the dream I woke up screaming in a semi-filled plane. I was embarrassed, but happy the plane was still in the air. I have no idea what has happened inside my brain to have these feelings of fear of flying. So strange.

[@alessandram9367]

I know what you're feeling! I'm 24, and I've been flying since I was 15. Never had a problem until I was 22 more or less.. I don't know why, but maybe there's a reason. I fly to Germany quite often, and since I lived in Köln I flew with Germanwings (now Eurowings), and since its tragedy in 2015 I started to feel less comfortable. At the beginning it was just a feeli g of uneasiness, but everytime I fly it gets worse. I am completely paralyzed for the whole duration of the flight, every movement or every sound (even the Ryanair announcements about perfumes!!) makes me sweat and I struggle to even breathe regularly. When I was younger not only I flew problem free, but I genuinely enjoyed it. Now I'm sure I won't be able to sleep for example, or to stand up for going to the toilet (for now I've just flew short distance, max 2 hrs). I know it's ridiculous, and it's incredible for me to look back at my younger self and think I was so calm and relaxed. I don't know if my anxiety is related to that awful tragedy or not, since I've became more anxious about other things in my life too, but that's the only explanation I can give to myself at this point. Anyway I hope I'll be able to fix this problem, since I love flying and traveling and I really don't want this issue to stop me from it. I've read a self help book, let's see during my next flight if it really worked!

[@lesposen]

Sudden onset after a previous life time of happy flying is a common presentation. Sometimes it happens after we take on new responsibilities so we’re not as carefree as before - new relationship, new children, new job with more things to be concerned about. Issues of control then arise because we can become aware of the consequences of things going wrong or relying on others for our safety. Flying becomes a screen onto which we can project these new anxieties, even though we know intellectually it’s the safest thing we can do compare to most other territorial adventures we take for granted. This disconnect can add another emotional overlay, called symptom stress.

[@RaveSharrma]

I don't see any reason why you should be afraid of flying coz of 9/11 incident! It wasn't the fault of plane or the pilots! Have you seen seconds from disaster .. that's actually the reason why am a bit scared of flying...

[@forfoodsake]

Really enjoyed the explanation ! thank you

[@elisemurray6586]

Hopefully this will help my fear. Very interesting too. Thank you very much. 👍

[@podavus]

I'm not frightened about turbulence, what gives me nightmares is contemplating the notion that airplanes are not that safe and short-circuits can occur any time, especially while taking off. Some mechanical glitch and I'm dead.

[@lesposen]

David Rojas “not that safe” compared to What? Elevators, escalators, moving walkways?

[@podavus]

I said it wrong. What I meant was that airplanes are fallible, and even though there's a slim chance that you might die in one, it still possible. So, I'm always paranoid when boarding any airplane. Anything could happen. You'd think it would be completely safe given the new high-tech airplanes being released, but if you dig a bit deep, you can find news about crashes. Then again, I'm aware it's safer to board a plane than a two-decked bus. Aerial travel is safer than land travel, for sure. Let's just hope for the best.

[@elliott7268]

@@podavus Hey man, coming from a pilots point of view here. Even if there is some mechanical or computerised glitch on a flight, we have many backups for instruments and systems. Also, as long as the main aircraft frame is mostly in tact, the plane can continue to glide safely because of the aeronautical shape. Trust me, planes are not as fragile as you may think. Well that is with the exception of the new Boeing 737 max. Steer clear of that junk.

[@jazzminebrierley6486]

People die more often from car crashes every second than people die of plane crashes in one year. ;-) Just a thought.

[@baab4229]

I think a lot of people's fears come from not understanding how flight and aircraft work in general. Many people don't know that when the wings bend it's not dangerous, because they are meant to and they're even designed to bend A LOT more than they actually do. Similarly, even the most severe turbulence are far far away from what an aircraft can take. Remember that the aircraft you board and fly has been specifically designed to bend, shake and vibrate. It has been through some really tough testing and the fact that you're boarding it already means that it has passed all the tests. So yeah, before you get anxious just think of the fact that failure due to turbulence is one of the first things engineers think of when designing a plane.

[@lesposen]

The Earth Is a Cylinder!! Yes, good guidance. Although for some people knowing this is insufficient to tamp down the frightening sensations turbulence can induce. Intellect vs instinct for want of a better term. For some people, training to improve both is required!

[@sussisidy4863]

Es verdad además desde cuando se han descubierto los aviones imaginaros cuántos aviones en el mundo y cuantos vuelos se han realizado a lo largo de la historia de la humanidad infinitos y seguirán si llega ser por las turbulencias se muere la gente seguro nadie en el mundo volaría asique si una avión sufre un accidente igual que un tren o un camión o una caída desde una escalera

[@onlychino]

Thank you so much. I needed this. I’m going to Geneva with my school in February and I’m quite nervous but this video helps. So thanks 👍

[@caligirl8904]

Thanks for the video!! This help me a lot!