How To Help If Someone On Your Flight Is Having A Panic Attack

For some people, boarding an airplane and flying somewhere is no big deal. Maybe it’s vacation, maybe it’s for work, but whatever the reason for your trip, you’re pretty much OK with it. For others, though, it’s not so simple. In fact, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, about 6.5 percent of the U.S. population suffers from aviophobia (fear of flying), while around one-quarter of us experience some sort of flying-related anxiety. And then there are the people who are mostly fine with flying, but do get a little nervous, especially during takeoff, landing and turbulence.

Usually this low-grade anxiety goes unnoticed by fellow passengers, but what should you do if you see someone on a flight having a full-blown panic attack? Before we get into that, let’s take a look at exactly what constitutes a panic attack and what differentiates it from general anxiety.

Read full article