Fear, Overthinking And A Plane Ride

Fear, Overthinking And A Plane Ride

I recently hopped on a plane after a long stretch of no travel. That cramped cabin felt like a giant echo chamber for my ADHD, and my dyslexia added another layer of mental gymnastics to the whole experience. If you've ever found your brain darting between random thoughts while you're stuck in your seat, you'll understand why this episode feels so close to home.

In this podcast, I share what it's like when your mind won't stay on one track, especially on a plane where you can't escape your own head. I talk about letting go of guilt when you can't just tune out. I also explore those visual-emotive rabbit holes that can pop up when you least expect it. If you struggle with focus or reading challenges, you'll likely see a little of yourself in this story.

The Unexpected Plane Test

I didn't realise how much I'd forgotten about air travel until I was sandwiched between fussy passengers. My ADHD kicked in and tried to nudge me to start counting how many times the captain said "turbulence." Then my dyslexia decided to join the party when I tried to read the in-flight magazine upside down.

It's silly, but there's something about planes that forces you to sit with your own mind. You're stuck in a tube, not able to move around much, with a bunch of strangers. If you have ADHD or dyslexia, that can feel like you're juggling way too many mental balls at once.

"The moment I realised I was flipping through a magazine the wrong way, I laughed out loud. That's dyslexia at 30,000 feet."

Managing Squirrel Brain

So how do you manage a mind that pings from thought to thought, especially in a place like an airplane? One thing I've found is to catch yourself when you're about to spiral. If I notice I'm fixating on something silly, I try to label it as a distraction and gently switch to a new activity.

I won't pretend it's easy. My phone lost its appeal after the first hour, and the overhead announcements kept derailing my train of thought. But the key was giving myself permission to reset every time my brain spun off. Acknowledge, refocus, repeat.

  • Listen to an audiobook or music to engage your senses.
  • Keep a small notebook handy for scribbles or doodles.
  • Try short bursts of mindful breathing. Focus on the smallest details.

Visual-Emotive Rabbit Holes

If you're anything like me, visual-emotive rabbit holes are all too familiar. You catch a glimpse of something—a passing cloud, a magazine ad, a memory of home—and you're off on a daydream that leads to a chain of other random thoughts. Dyslexia can amplify that, since reading and visual processing might spin stories of their own.

During the flight, I had a moment where I noticed the pattern on the seat in front of me. It reminded me of a friend's wallpaper, which made me think of the last time we hung out, which took me down a spiral of old photos. Before I knew it, I'd spent a solid ten minutes lost in my own imaginary slide show.

These endless tangents can bring a burst of creativity, but they can also pull you away from necessary tasks, like filling out your landing card. Balancing awareness of your environment with a playful imagination is tricky. Still, I wouldn't trade that circus of my mind for anything else.

Why It Helps to Keep It Light

The biggest lesson from my trip has been about humour and lightness. If I get too serious, I stress myself out. If I can laugh off those moments when I'm reading something backwards—or re-reading the same line five times—then it stays playful instead of becoming frustrating.

This episode dives into how laughter and curiosity keep us open to learning. When we accept that ADHD and dyslexia aren't going away, we can find ways to make them part of our journey. It might mean turning a flight into an experiment in self-awareness. Feel free to borrow that idea the next time you're forced to sit for hours on end.

Key Takeaways

  • Air travel can boost our awareness of how ADHD and dyslexia affect us.
  • Short, mindful resets help regain focus during tedious moments.
  • Visual-emotive rabbit holes are part of the process, not a failure.
  • Humour makes challenging moments easier to manage.
  • Accepting your own mental wiring opens the door to creative solutions.

I hope this look at my plane ride helps you feel less alone in your own loops of distraction and overthinking. It's important to remember there's nothing wrong with you if your brain works differently. Sometimes you need to adapt, sometimes you can laugh it off, and sometimes you just roll with it.

If you're keen to hear the full story and a few extra tips on making sense of these mind loops, check out the episode. You'll find the podcast player waiting for you at the top of this page. Happy listening!

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