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    Fear of Flying, Part II

    Fear of Flying, Part II: Finding a solution for high anxiety takes a big leap of faith and a final approach

    Jane Howze
    Jun 7, 2015 | 2:00 pm

    Recently I came clean about my fear of flying. Over the years I have explored many “cures” and treatments with varying degrees of success. For me, there has been no cure and the least effective remedy is the one most recommended by flight attendants: “You just need to fly more.” I wonder when I exceed four million miles if my fear will be lifted.

    Nevertheless, join me on my land journey to find an airborne fix.

    Communicate your fear

    In my early days of weekly travel I made a point to tell my seatmate, “I’m a nervous flier. I hope you don’t mind if I grab your arm if it gets bumpy.” Most people were quite gracious until the first wave of turbulence hit and I took their arm in a vise like grip.

    The worst times were when my seatmate was as fearful as I was. Fear is contagious. Believe me, I never passed out business cards on those flights.

    The Psychiatrist

    After one particularly bad flight in the 1990s I wangled an appointment with one of the top psychiatrists in town. He explained that the underpinnings of fear of flying (like everything else) relate back to childhood experiences of not being supported or learning trust. That made sense to me, because my younger sister’s fragile health while growing up meant my parents were not as present during my formative years.

    The worst times were when my seat mate was as fearful as I was. Fear is contagious. Believe me, I never passed out business cards on those flights.

    Dr. Y suggested that hypnosis might be helpful and proceeded to hypnotize me with thoughts of how much I enjoyed the flight and how beautiful the scenery was, how experienced the pilots were and every other positive thing imaginable. And guess what? It worked! I took a flight to San Antonio immediately after the appointment and felt a calm and dominion I had never before experienced flying.

    But the next week, despite listening to the tape of the session, it no longer worked.

    Hypnosis

    Once I sensed that hypnosis could work I bought a hypnosis tape to listen to during the flight. That led to one of my most embarrassing flying experiences. The tape, narrated by Bernie the hypnotist, contained one side with soothing affirmations by Bernie while the other side combined music with crashing waves while the suggestions were made subliminally, which meant that all I could hear were the crashing waves and music.

    I put the tape to test on a flight from San Antonio. There were thunder storms brewing and the pilot announced before we took off, “This is going to be a bumpy flight. I’m asking the flight attendants not to get up the entire flight.”

    Sure enough, lightening surrounded the plane and a deathly silence prevailed as we all counted the minutes until we landed. I put on my earphones, turned on the tape and closed my eyes, hoping for some relief from my sweating palms and pounding heart. Unfortunately, I had unintentionally turned up the volume of my tape player to as loud as it would go. The crashing waves in my ears sounded like an explosion and I involuntarily screamed.

    Before I fly I look at the weather and choose the best time of day to fly. I have apps that predict storms. I have the weather channel running continually on my office TV.

    And you know panic is contagious and we are all lemmings at heart. With my scream, others started screaming “what’s going on?” It was a long flight to Houston for more reasons than the storm.

    Fear of flying material (no, not Erica Jong)

    There are some really good materials and courses that attempt to deal with fear of flying. For some they work, although it seems like they work for the people who don’t fly a lot and don’t know how the landing gear sounds when being retracted. For me it didn’t work, in part because 99 percent of the time I fly despite the fear and when I’m not on a plane, I compartmentalize my fear.

    To anyone reading along I recommend SOAR, run by counselor and former pilot Tom Bunn, a very approachable guy with many flying-without-fear clients.

    Final Approach

    As I have aged, I have decided I don’t care about finding the answer to “why” and instead I candidly want a quick fix. So what that looks like at the front end is preparation.

    Before I fly I look at the weather and choose the best time of day to fly. I have apps that predict storms, and provide pilot reports of turbulence and airport delays. I have the weather channel running continually on my office TV.

    I have also discovered that a drink (never more than one) or an anti-anxiety pill (never both) does wonders. If you take a drug, you have to take it long before you actually board the plane. For a drink you should drink it once you get airborne because “liquor is quicker,” and it is also more potent at altitude.

    And if I am going to work I do neither and put on the headphones, work Sudoku and say a prayer of protection.

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    summer vacations

    Texas falls out of gear as a top summer road-trip destination

    Amber Heckler
    Jun 24, 2025 | 10:29 am
    Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo
    Photo by Heidi Kaden on Unsplash
    Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo is a popular stop for road trippers heading out of Texas.

    Two years after Texas accelerated to the No. 1 spot as the top state for summer road trips, it's now losing some steam.

    The Lone Star State has ranked 8th on WalletHub's 2025 list of "Best & Worst States for Summer Road Trips," with Minnesota climbing through the ranks to claim the No. 1 spot this year.

    Each year, the report compares all 50 states to figure out which are the most wallet-friendly, safe places to travel with plenty of fun activities for all. The report analyzes factors that road trippers prioritize for their trip plans, such as the average gas prices in each state, the type of attractions in each state, and more.

    Despite Texas' overall drop in the national ranking, the state still performed particularly well in the category of "attractions," ranking No. 4 nationwide. WalletHub has previously praised Texas' family-friendly activities such as zoos and amusement parks, while the beach remains a popular choice for travelers that need a coastal getaway.

    Sunflower Beach, Port AransasTexans love the beach. Photo courtesy of Sunflower Beach

    Texas also earned a high rank - No. 10 - for its various vacation costs, with the report specifically calling out high gas prices and inflation rates as major concerns for travelers this summer.

    "[Gas prices have] remained high this year, with the national average at over $3.130 per gallon now," the report's author wrote. "On top of that, [travelers will] need to consider accommodations, activities and dining, all of which continue to be impacted by inflation."

    Texas didn't do nearly as well when it comes to safety, ranking 39th for the second year in a row (though the report didn't explain why). Factors included the road quality in each state, the number of car thefts per 1,000 residents, the number of uninsured drivers, and the rate of violent crimes per 1,000 residents.

    Despite Texas' relatively low safety ranking, WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo says states like Texas were dubbed the best places for road trips because they "keep costs low while providing the best driving experience and most fun activities."

    The top 10 best states for summer road trips in 2025 are:

    • No. 1 – Minnesota
    • No. 2 – New York
    • No. 3 – Ohio
    • No. 4 – Utah
    • No. 5 – Louisiana
    • No. 6 – Florida
    • No. 7 – Idaho
    • No. 8 – Texas
    • No. 9 – North Carolina
    • No. 10 – Pennsylvania
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