A job can mean flying in spite of your fear
— -- Scott McKain has given a speech to a crowd of 25,000 people, a task that would set many a person's knees to knocking. But for McKain, public speaking isn't the scary part.
"My biggest fear is getting on the plane going to the speech," says McKain, a business consultant and author, who, despite his jangly nerves, has to fly for a living.
He says he's even switched flights at the last minute to avoid flying through bad weather. "I'd rather be in the middle seat in good weather than in first class in a thunderstorm," he says.
McKain's not alone. According to the Valk Foundation, a Dutch institute focused on treating the fear of flying, 26 million Americans get the jitters at the thought of taking to the air. But many have no choice, especially when their job depends on it.
"Most people think that those of us that fly for business have no issues getting into a jet," says Ron Goltsch, an electrical engineer in Parsippany, N.J., who has to fly all over the world despite his discomfort. "It's not that we have no problems flying. It is just that we have learned how to cope with it better than most."
Some business trekkers utter a prayer before takeoff. Others toss back a sleeping pill or cocktail to calm their nerves. And some would-be fliers will drive whenever they can, even if it tacks hours onto their journeys.
The fear of flying can be rooted in a range of phobias, from angst about being in a confined space to a fear of heights to anxiety about not being in control, says Lucas van Gerwen, the Valk Foundation's director.
Now, in an era of downloads and virtual assistants, there's a mobile app to help calm them.
Developed by Valk and available for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices, the app features a multifaceted menu. Passengers can learn about the phases of flight, from takeoff to landing, and the effects of fear, and get pointers on how to relax by avoiding caffeine and controlling their breathing, van Gerwen says.
There's even a "panic button." Tap it, and a therapist will tell you, via audio and text, what to do to soothe your nerves.
"If you are afraid, you don't want to have all kinds of nice stories," van Gerwen says. "You want to be taken by your hands and a therapist to tell you what's going on."
Trying to maintain calm
Other products bill themselves as helpful to skittish fliers. A beverage line by Body Works includes the "Perform Under Pressure" shot and the "Sleep Shot," which their makers say can help nervous passengers.
"The minute you feel that anxiety ... it can act as a tool to help you relax," says Marissa Spano, whose agency represents the Body Works brand.
The company recommends taking the herbal shots, which contain ingredients such as chamomile, 15 minutes before a flight, and says the effects can last for four to five hours. "We try not to make any promises, but it does have proven herbs and ingredients that do help the mind and body relax," Spano says.
Some fearful road warriors have strategies of their own.
Goltsch says that flying has always made him a little nervous, a discomfort that only intensified after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
He focuses on what's within his control: getting to the airport early so he doesn't feel rushed; keeping his iPad and phone fully charged so he can stay entertained during the flight; and picking a nice hotel that he can look forward to visiting when he lands.
