Inside Our MSP Airport Workshop: What Progress with Flight Anxiety Really Looks Like
When most people imagine someone struggling with flight anxiety, they picture obvious panic.
Shaking hands. Tears. Someone refusing to board the plane.
But after hosting another one of our fear of flying workshops at MSP Airport, we were reminded again that flight anxiety often looks much different than people expect.
Sometimes it looks like taking photos from the parking ramp because simply arriving at the airport feels overwhelming and stressful.
Sometimes it looks like noticing your anxiety rise while going through security or riding the tram.
Sometimes it looks like sitting on the plane with your eyes closed, grounding yourself while nobody around you realizes how hard you’re working internally.
And sometimes, it looks like showing up even though part of you still doubts whether flying will ever feel easier.
One of the most meaningful things about our MSP Airport Workshop is that people don’t have to hide those experiences. They get to practice being in the airport environment alongside other people who understand exactly what it feels like to fear flying.
And over and over again, we see the same important truth:
Progress with flight anxiety rarely looks perfect or linear.
The Biggest Misunderstanding About Flight Anxiety
Many people come to our workshop believing they need to figure out how to feel calm before they’ll be able to fly.
They think the goal is to eliminate anxiety, stop the physical sensations, or finally “logic” themselves out of fear.
But that’s usually not how progress actually works.
Instead, we help people learn how to respond differently to anxiety when it shows up.
Because anxiety itself is not the problem.
The problem is often what anxiety convinces people to do next:
avoid
escape
over-monitor sensations
seek reassurance
mentally fight with fear
decide anxiety means they can’t handle flying
At our workshop, people get the opportunity to practice staying engaged with the experience instead of automatically retreating from it.
That doesn’t mean anyone does it perfectly or without fear. But learning how to respond differently is what it’s all about.
One Attendee’s Experience: Stepping Off the Plane…Then Trying Again
During our recent workshop, we closed the aircraft doors for part of the experience so attendees could practice sitting with that part of flying if they chose to.
One attendee decided to step off the plane once the doors closed.
There was no pressure or judgment around that decision. In fact, part of the workshop is recognizing that everyone’s fear shows up differently.
As we talked afterward, she shared concerns about an upcoming flight and worries about how panic might affect her ability to travel again.
At one point, the conversation shifted toward the idea of taking future “practice flights.”
But instead of jumping several steps ahead, we gently brought the focus back to the present moment:
What if the practice could simply be trying again right now?
Not deciding about future flights or feeling calm. But taking one small step, right now, to get back on the plane and sit. Even if it’s just for one minute.
She was hesitant, but willing.
Eventually, she chose to re-board and remain on the aircraft while the doors were closed.
It wasn’t because the fear suddenly disappeared.
In fact, it was clear she still felt uncomfortable. At one point, she stood near the fan for cool air while working through the physical sensations that had surfaced for her.
For her, progress was getting back on the plane and allowing herself to feel the panic even though she initially didn’t want to.
Sometimes progress is simply staying a little longer than you did before.
Why Repeat Attendees Matter
One of the most encouraging parts of this workshop was seeing several repeat attendees return.
For some people, attending once is enough to help them feel more prepared to fly again.
For others, the workshop becomes something they revisit before upcoming trips as a way to refresh skills, rebuild confidence, and practice being back in the airport environment.
One attendee shared that this was the third time she had attended the workshop.
And this time, while sitting on the plane, she rated her anxiety as only a 3 out of 10 — the lowest it had ever been for her during the workshop experience.
What made that moment especially meaningful was remembering where she started.
During her very first workshop, getting onto the aircraft itself felt incredibly difficult. She needed time to pause, ground herself, and work up to boarding.
This time it looked different.
She still used grounding strategies.
She still closed her eyes at moments.
She still practiced responding intentionally to anxiety.
But she stayed engaged with the experience in a way that once felt much harder for her.
By the end of the workshop, she shared that she finally felt ready to book a flight.
Not because all fear had disappeared, but because she trusted herself more in the presence of anxiety.
That’s the kind of progress we care about most.
Sometimes the Hardest Part Isn’t the Plane
One attendee shared something surprising in their feedback after the workshop:
They expected sitting on the plane to be the hardest part. Instead, they noticed more anxiety while going through airport security.
Experiences like this are important because they remind people that flight anxiety is often much bigger than turbulence or being in the air.
For many fearful flyers, anxiety begins long before takeoff:
parking at the airport
entering the terminal
seeing security lines
hearing gate announcements
walking toward the aircraft
That’s part of why practicing in the actual airport environment can feel so valuable for attendees.
They’re not just imagining the experience from home.
They’re walking through it step-by-step while learning how to respond differently along the way.
The Power of Feeling Seen
Another theme we heard repeatedly throughout the workshop was how meaningful it felt to be around other people who truly understood.
One attendee shared that she was shocked by how many people raised their hands when discussing fear of having a panic attack on a plane.
For years, she thought she was one of the only people struggling with that fear.
Another repeat attendee shared that one of the most helpful parts of returning to the workshop each time is simply seeing other people “like him” in the room.
That sense of connection matters more than people realize.
Because many fearful flyers spend years believing:
everyone else flies easily
they’re overreacting
they should be able to “just get over it”
something is wrong with them for struggling
But flight anxiety is incredibly common.
And for many people, the fear is not actually about the plane crashing.
It’s about:
feeling trapped
panicking in public
losing control
not being able to escape uncomfortable sensations
When people realize others share those same fears, shame often begins to loosen its grip.
We Don’t Measure Success by Calm
One of the most important things we teach during our MSP Airport Workshop is this:
Success is not measured by whether you feel calm.
Success might look like:
realizing anxiety can rise without needing to immediately escape it
discovering you can stay engaged even while uncomfortable
learning that panic sensation feel more manageable than you thought
noticing your anxiety decreases over time with repeated practice
becoming more willing to experience uncertainty in order to keep moving toward your travel goals
recognizing that anxiety and capability can exist at the same time
Fearful flyers often assume they need to wait until anxiety disappears before moving forward.But many people discover something different:
Confidence is often built through practicing movement with discomfort present — not waiting for discomfort to fully disappear first.
That’s why we don’t expect attendees to be fearless.
We simply want them to leave with:
more understanding
more tools
more willingness
more confidence in their ability to respond differently when anxiety shows up
And for many people, that becomes the beginning of real change.
Looking Ahead
Since the workshop, several attendees have continued practicing flying and sharing updates with us on their progress.
Moments like that are incredibly meaningful to witness. Because people begin reconnecting with places, opportunities, and experiences that fear had started to shrink.
If you struggle with flight anxiety, you are not the only one.
And finding success to fly doesn’t happen overnight. But if you have willingness, community support, and the right tools, then it’s absolutely possible for you.
Interested in Our MSP Airport Workshop?
Our fear of flying workshop at MSP Airport is designed to help people better understand flight anxiety, practice responding differently to fear, and experience the airport environment alongside others who truly get it.
You can learn more about the workshop and join the waitlist for future events here.