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Fear of Flying Part 5: Turbulence Advice Most Anxious Flyers Never Hear

by Joel SchmidtAnxiety, Fear of Flying July 29, 2026August 2, 2026No Comments

When I write about the fear of flying, I’m often quick to highlight the fact that most anxious fliers already rationally acknowledge how safe flying is. I talk about flight anxiety being less about the plane and more about the other conditions that flying presents, such as being out of control and in a situation they cannot easily escape once anxiety sets in. That said, turbulence does seem to be a pretty universal trigger for …

View from an airport window of a commercial airplane parked at the gate before departure.

Fear of Flying Part 4: The Worst Advice for the Fear of Flying (and Why It Backfires)

by Joel SchmidtAnxiety, Therapy February 12, 2026August 2, 2026No Comments

As a therapist who works with people on the fear of flying, including understanding the science behind this fear and best practices for working with it, I see a lot of really bad advice online. Being a common fear, it’s not surprising there are many people desperate for answers and for anything that might help. There’s also no shortage of well-intended people who think they have the right answers. These ways of dealing with flight …

A Letter to My Clients: What to Expect When We Start Working with a Fear of Flying

by Joel SchmidtAnxiety, Self-improvement, Stress, Therapy, Worry January 5, 2026August 2, 2026No Comments

You’re here either because you recently decided to start work with me or because it’s something you are considering. If you’re dealing with flight anxiety—either avoiding flying altogether or white-knuckling your way through flights—you’re probably ready for relief. Ready to get over this thing so you can get on with doing the things that are truly important to you in life. And you’re also probably anxiously waiting to see how this all might work, what …

How Starting Therapy Helps You Stop Avoiding What Keeps You Stuck

by Joel SchmidtAnxiety, Self-improvement, Stress, Therapy, Worry November 13, 2025January 9, 2026No Comments

Is it possible that starting therapy can help you stop avoiding what keeps you stuck? One of the biggest and most recurring themes that comes up in therapy sessions is that of avoidance. A seemingly intuitive thing to do when faced with something uncomfortable is to try to avoid doing that thing. We avoid difficult conversations, facing our emotions, dealing with hard things that need to be taken care of, trying new things, meeting new …

Image of airplane for fear of flying blog

Fear of Flying (Part 3): 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Worry About Recent Flight Headlines

by Joel SchmidtAnxiety, Therapy August 14, 2025August 2, 2026No Comments

Fear of Flying (Part 3): 5 Reasons You Shouldn’t Worry About Recent Flight Headlines In part 3 of the “Fear of Flying” series, I thought it important to address all of the recent headlines in the news around flight-related incidents. Most fears or phobias have a certain level of irrationality, meaning that we realize our anxiety is disproportionate to the actual risk involved. Take someone’s fear of going to the dentist or doctor for routine …