What To Do If You Have A Panic Attack During A Flight

Mental health experts share their advice for managing anxiety and panic episodes on a plane.

Air travel might feel like no big deal to many people. But for others, the experience is particularly anxiety-inducing. In fact, these difficult feelings can at times be strong enough to lead to a panic attack.

“Fear of flying can be considered a cross-section of different phobias,” said Meg Gitlin, a psychotherapist in New York and the voice behind the therapy insight Instagram City Therapist. “For example, one’s fear of flying could be rooted in other common phobias, like fear of heights and fear of being trapped and being unable to escape.”