Sound and Flight: What 45 Travellers Taught Me About Flying Anxiety

When people think of flying, they often picture adventure, new opportunities and exciting destinations. But for many, air travel isn’t just about excitement — it’s also about a sticky relationship with airplane anxiety.

I know this feeling firsthand. For years, I experienced intense flying anxiety — nausea, racing thoughts and the only way out was to self-medicate with Gravol. However, over time my work as a sound therapist inspired me to ask: what if sound could help ease travel anxiety?

To explore this question, I began experimenting by swapping my usual dose of Gravol for sound baths - listening to them at the peak times I’d experience anxiety - during takeoff, moments of turbulence and while landing. And I was incredibly happy to find that my anxiety and motion sickness subsided completely.

So, this sparked a deeper inquiry into the subject. I conducted a survey with 45 travellers who also experience flight anxiety. Here’s what I learned — and how it’s shaping new approaches to supporting anxious travellers in the air.

What Causes Airplane Anxiety?

The survey revealed some consistent triggers:

• Lack of control: Many respondents described a feeling of helplessness — not being able to leave, not being in charge and surrendering to the unknown.

• Turbulence & fear of crashing: Even knowing how rare crashes are, the fear persisted, often amplified by media stories or past experiences.

• Claustrophobia & being “trapped”: Tight cabins, middle seats and limited movement triggered anxiety for many travellers.

• Physical discomfort: Motion sickness, dizziness, shortness of breath and back pain often intensified anxiety.

• Anticipatory worry: For some, anxiety started days or even weeks before a flight, leading to racing thoughts and sleepless nights.

The Physical Side of Flight Anxiety

Air travel anxiety isn’t just emotional — it shows up in the body. Respondents reported:

• Gastrointestinal issues

• Motion sickness and vertigo

• Panic attacks

• Muscle tension and shortness of breath

These are classic signs of a dysregulated nervous system, especially in confined or overstimulating environments like airports and airplanes.

How People Cope with Flying Anxiety

When asked how they manage airplane anxiety, respondents said:

• Breathing techniques (68%)

• Meditation (36%)

• Over-the-counter medications (29%)

• Prescription medications (20%)

• Alcohol (11%)

Interestingly, sound-based tools (like calming music or sound baths) were mentioned far less frequently — even though research shows sound can slow breathing, shift brainwave states and regulate the nervous system.

Sound Therapy: An Untapped Travel Companion

As a sound therapist, I see an untapped opportunity here. Listening to certain sounds and frequencies can help slow breath, support relaxation and bring the nervous system into a regulated state via a process called brainwave entrainment.

This work inspired me to create two sound offerings:

• Exhale – a 30-minute sound bath for airplane anxiety and overstimulation (plus special binaural brainwave edits)

• Everyday Ease – shorter soundscapes for daily stress, sensory overload and travel anxiety

These tools are for anyone who wants to feel more grounded and calm while flying.

Why This Matters for Airlines and Travellers

Supporting anxious travellers isn’t just about wellness — it’s about improving the entire travel experience. Calm, regulated passengers mean:

• Greater satisfaction and loyalty

• Fewer stress-related incidents

• A smoother, more positive flight experience for everyone

Airlines and travel companies have a unique opportunity to move beyond distraction-based entertainment and offer calm as a service.

Want the Full Research Report?

If you’re interested in reading the full findings on airplane anxiety or exploring ways to bring sound-based nervous system support into travel, I’d love to share the full report and start the conversation.

Contact me at info@withbiancalee.com