What I Noticed at the MSP Fear of Flying Workshop

After our most recent Fear of Flying workshop at MSP Airport, I found myself reflecting on the experience — not just this one event, but the shared experiences that show up every single time we offer this workshop.

What stands out most is how powerful the environment itself is.

Being in the airport, walking through security, and sitting on a plane while learning anxiety management skills is something that simply can’t be replicated in a Zoom meeting or a conference room.

Even though everyone knew we weren’t actually going anywhere, stepping onto a plane — sitting in the seats, closing the doors, staying — was a big step. For some participants, that alone brought up strong emotions.

Just Being There Was the Exposure

One of the most powerful parts of the workshop was seeing how emotional some people became just sitting on the plane.

Not because we were flying anywhere. Not because we were taking off. But because their nervous systems were responding to the experience of being there.

This is something anxious flyers often minimize or judge themselves for:

“I’m not even flying — why is this so hard?” But it makes complete sense.

For someone who fears flying or being trapped, simply placing your body in that environment can activate the alarm system. And because we aren’t flying anywhere, it gives people a chance to stay with those feelings and see that they are safe to have.

“It Feels Good to Not Feel So Alone”

Another thing that stood out was how quickly people connected with one another.

Over and over, participants commented on how relieving it felt to hear others describe the same fears:

• The fear of being stuck
  
  

• The fear of panicking with no way out
  
  

• The frustration of knowing flying is safe but still feeling overwhelmed
  
  

Flight anxiety can be deeply isolating. Many people feel embarrassed by it or assume they’re the only ones who react this way.

Watching people realize, “Oh — it’s not just me,” is incredibly powerful.

That sense of shared understanding often brings relief before any technique ever does.

Two Different Fears — One Shared Struggle

Something I notice in nearly every workshop — and this one was no exception — is that participants often fall into two groups.

About half are primarily afraid of the plane crashing. The other half aren’t worried about crashing at all. Their fear is more about:

• Feeling trapped
  
  

• Being stuck for hours
  
  

• Not being able to leave if they start to panic
  
  

Different fears — but the same underlying struggle with uncertainty, loss of control, and bodily anxiety.

Understanding what you’re actually afraid of matters, because it shapes how you work on the fear. Many people don’t realize until they’re in a space like this that flying itself isn’t the real problem.

A Moment of Confidence That Matters

At the end of the workshop, one participant shared something that really stuck with me.

They said they felt like they could get on a plane that day.

Not because their anxiety was gone. Not because flying suddenly felt easy. But because they felt more capable.

That’s what real progress usually looks like. Not the absence of fear — but a shift in how much power it has over you.

What I Wish More Anxious Flyers Knew

If there’s one thing I wish more anxious flyers understood, it’s this:

This fear is workable.

Not in a “just push through it” way — but in a real, lasting way.

During the workshop, my husband shared something personal with the group. Years ago, he struggled with panic disorder and agoraphobia. Today, that’s no longer something that runs his life.

I also shared my own experience. I once had a fear of flying myself. Now, flying is something I do regularly. I plan trips intentionally. I keep practicing. I don’t wait for fear to disappear before living my life.

That distinction matters.

Skills Help You Get Through the Moment — But They Don’t Change the Fear

There’s a place for in-the-moment coping skills like distraction and deep breathing. If you have tools that help you get through an upcoming flight, that’s important — especially if you haven’t done the deeper work yet.

But skills alone don’t change the fear.

They help you survive the moment — not retrain your nervous system.

Lasting change comes from learning how to stay with discomfort, reduce avoidance, and teach your brain that flying isn’t an emergency it needs to protect you from.

That’s the work we focus on — not just helping people “get through” a flight, but helping the fear itself lose its grip over time.

Change doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen when fear is worked with intentionally, gradually, and with the right support.

Closing Thoughts

Our Navigating Flight Anxiety Workshop helps others learn that fear of flying isn’t about willpower or logic. (If it were, you would have solved it by now.)

It’s about willingness, commitment, and realizing you’re not alone.

If you’ve been avoiding flights, dreading upcoming travel, or feeling overwhelmed by the thought of being stuck on a plane, support can make a difference — whether that’s through therapy, workshops, or guided programs designed specifically for flight anxiety.

Click here to learn more about our in-person workshop at the MSP Airport.