Imagine being trapped in a metal tube, miles above the ground, with your heart racing and your mind spiraling into worst-case scenarios. Flight anxiety is no joke, and it’s something that affects millions of people worldwide. But here’s the surprising part: it’s not always about the plane itself. According to bestselling author and podcast host Mel Robbins, the real culprit is the thoughts we entertain while flying—fears of crashing, turbulence, or losing control. And this is the part most people miss: Robbins recently shared a simple yet powerful mental trick on the Delusional Diaries podcast that could change the way you approach air travel forever.
During her conversation with hosts Halley Kate and Jaz, Robbins, who is based in Vermont, revealed her go-to strategy for managing flight anxiety: the ‘anchor thought’ technique. Here’s how it works: instead of letting your mind wander into doom-filled scenarios, you visualize a specific, positive moment that will happen after the flight. For example, Robbins encouraged Kate, who was preparing to travel to Venice, to picture herself doing something exciting upon arrival—and to make the image as vivid as possible, engaging all five senses. But here’s where it gets controversial: Robbins claims your brain can’t tell the difference between this imagined moment and reality, effectively tricking it into calming down. Could this be too good to be true, or is it a game-changer for anxious flyers?
Robbins admits this technique won’t eliminate anxiety entirely, but it can significantly reduce its intensity over time. By giving your mind something concrete to focus on, you interrupt the cycle of fear. And this is the part most people miss: it’s not about ignoring your anxiety but redirecting it toward something positive and tangible. For instance, if you’re dreading turbulence, try imagining the relief of stepping off the plane and feeling the ground beneath your feet. The key is to make the mental image so detailed that it feels real.
But let’s not forget the bigger picture. New York-based psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert, author of Therapy Nation, points out that flight anxiety is often less about the plane
