Why do I get sad on flights?

  • Jul 16, 2024
Why do I get sad on flights?

Why do I start to get so depressed on a plane?:

I guess it is not uncommon to experience some form of sadness or even melancholy when on a plane. This is because being confined to a small space for an extended period combined with limited opportunities for movement, fresh air, and sunlight can cause people to feel more lethargic than usual, or even depressed. Here is a list of some of the chief causes of flight-induced sorrow and some things you can do about it.

It separates you from the normal routine In this case let us take a look at some of the,

Traveling disrupts normal routines. Yes, even if you are going away for the weekend if you're skipping your day-to-day work, exercise, social networks, and going-to-bed routine the place can be destabilizing. Being on a plane also immerses you to a large extent in a highly controlled environment where you have limited control over your actions, this tends to make people more anxious and sad. Lack of ability to do fun things such as be mobile, go out for some fresh air or sunbathe, or be in a position to interact with people can be draining. The upsetting feeling of not being in touch with the regularities and the activities that would otherwise keep you afloat is the reason why flights make people sad.

You Lack Sensory Stimulation

In this respect, plans are low on sensory stimulation. The air and pressure inside the cabin reduce your sense of smell and this leads to a loss of taste. It is, however, necessary to point out that exhaust noises tend to mask other sounds. The reclining positions reduce the skin contact and since it is stationary, the stimulation of tactile senses is limited. Books and movies indeed impart some visual experience but it becomes very repetitive. I learned that sensory deprivation results in a lack of interesting stimuli and consequently melancholy. The brain is left with only itself to dwell on and it will dwell on whatever it can get, rather concentration is on negative thoughts and feelings with nothing to distract it.

Okay you are trapped with no way out

In the actual world, if you so much as feel sad, you can always take a walk, go meet friends, get some fresh air, or do something that will make you feel much better. However, when in a plane, you are confined and cannot be able to move around or walk to another place. The inability to be in a large area or, in other words, to distance oneself physically from undesirable feelings or social contacts creates tension and anxiety. One of the worst feelings is to be cooped up at 30,000 feet with no one to talk to, and the sadness sets in and amplifies itself through your thoughts.

You cannot afford personal care and other necessities of life.

Flights affect your capacity to fulfill physiological requirements and other fundamental human necessities such as feeding, resting, and interacting with others. A standard fare that they offer includes tight seating arrangements and restricted availability of food which may not allow you to have your normal balanced diet. The constant noise, people coming in and out of the room, and the chairs being anything but comfortable prevent truly resting. There is a rising sense of social isolation while people stay focused on phones and entertainment. People become out of order and start feeling sad when basic needs are not met for an extended period. The fact is that when the Four Basic Psychological Needs are not met, it results in a bad mood.

There is something about traveling that slowly drains one's reserves.

The tediousness of traveling by air packing and carrying bags, arriving early at the airport, striding through terminals, going through security measures, noisy cramped planes, and recovering from jet lag, all are stressful to one's psychological faculties. At some point, one feels like doing all that just to arrive at a destination already feeling tired and sadness sets in. Traveling comes with added work pressures that simply add to the workload on top of your other activities. It may not come as a shock that you find yourself feeling low when your tank is already empty. You are generally not able to handle stress; you do not have the capacity in general to handle stress. And that's when it is possible to lose it mid-flight, for one little thing to be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Strategies for managing SAD during flights.

While some sadness is normal given the constraints of air travel, there are ways to help yourself feel better: While some sadness is normal given the constraints of air travel, there are ways to help yourself feel better:

  • Hydration - lack of water makes mood worse, so there should be a lot of fluids.
  • Get a DVD of your favorite comedy movie and watch it or put on some cheerful music to lighten up your mood.
  • Employ techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or light exercise that can be accomplished without having to get up from your seat. It may alleviate anxiety.
  • The attendees should bring noise-canceling headphones and ergonomic pillows to enable them to have a comfortable experience.
  • Do not drink alcohol and try and eat less sugar and heavy meals to prevent flooding your body with glucose.
  • Carry small meals to maintain stable blood sugar levels and prevent volatility of the moods.
  • Ideally, they should bring items from home such as a photo of their family, their favorite slippers, and a scented candle.
  • Engage in conversation with the passengers nearby to kindle human interaction.
  • Walk around the aisle for several minutes, then sit back down and converse with the flight attendants.
  • It means flying in some off-peak hours when there are fewer people to ensure one does not have to sit near another passenger.
  • Try to book a better seat such as one that has more leg space or a first-class seat if possible.
  • If flight anxiety is a recurring problem, it is better to get prescription medication that is appropriate for use during flights.
  • The last thing to consider is to avoid getting emotionally stressful before flying as it would leave one emotionally drained.
  • Ideally, schedule leisurely activities immediately after the arrival as this is when the stress is likely to be at its peak.

Flying produces feelings of sadness for several reasons changed schedules, isolation, confinement, hunger and thirst, and fatigue, among others but there are ways to ease this sadness. Maintaining small routines, comfortable items, isolation, proper scheduling, medicines, and controlling expectations are some ways that can reduce flying sadness.

The realities of air travel impose some small measure of sadness upon the accepting of it. But we find that adequately addressing loneliness, optimism, what is in your control, and nurturing your needs can certainly lessen those lonely blues at 30,000 feet. Some people can get bored during their flight, but even a short walk or a conversation with fellow passengers will help improve your mood. If you expect flights to make you sad, carrying items that can make you happy also goes a long way.

Therefore, if one is well-equipped and ready, the experience of flying does not have to be a total letdown. Just as with the physical dimensions, of the airplane, managing expectations and fulfilling your basic needs can help avoid the danger zone of a descent into a funk at thirty thousand feet. Some things are hardly going to alter; for instance, the aircraft design or the crowded environment and seating arrangements are not going to change anytime soon but what you can do is manage your experience and turn point where the take-off is not only of the aircraft but also the mood.

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