What The Pioneer Woman Does To Feel Less Nervous About Flying

Ree Drummond, also known as everyone's favorite Pioneer Woman, counts herself among the many who have a fear of flying. Per The Washington Post, 40% of people report having some fear related to flying, while 2.5% of people avoid airplanes altogether or fly with "significant distress." That's a significant number of people who aren't fans of this form of travel. And who knew one of our favorite celebrity home cooks would be part of this group?

Drummond didn't share exactly what bothers her when it comes to getting on a plane, but Ora Nadrich, a certified mindfulness meditation instructor, told NBC's Today, "Some of the primary reasons some people are afraid to fly are a fear of crashing, a fear of being out of control, a fear of the unknown, a fear of heights, having lost a loved one in a plane crash and feeling claustrophobic. Also, some people experience an overall sense of discomfort with the entire flying experience: airport procedures, crowds, turbulence, unappetizing food, cramped space and long flights."

Nadrich explained that we see these fears manifest themselves with "shallow breathing, a tightness in the chest, sweaty palms, nausea, and lightheadedness." Luckily, Drummond has a ritual she uses to manage those feelings, and on October 17, before leaving Tulsa, Oklahoma, she revealed it on Instagram.

Ree Drummond took to Instagram to share a photo of a copy of Time magazine sitting on her lap as she sat in an airplane seat. She captioned it with, "Do you have a flying ritual that calms your nerves, makes you feel better about leaving home for a few days, and keeps your mind (and central nervous system) in check? Mine is buying a copy of Time magazine. Well, and string cheese and gum, too."

The post has received close to 25K likes and a lot of comments supporting Drummond in her travels. Naturally, her followers also had all kinds of advice, much of which centered on adult beverages. One friendly fan offered, "Alcohol. Jk....kinda," to which Drummond replied, "It's too early. I think?" followed by a cry-laughing emoji. But not to fear, another follower had just the right alternative, "Bloody Mary breakfasts are the best." And still another humorously advocated for Drummond to have whatever drink she fancied, typing, "There is no sense of time in regards to alcohol at the airport. Lol."

Drummond didn't say where she was headed, but knowing her new cookbook "The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Super Easy!" is set for release on October 19, per her website, we're guessing she has some fun press and book signings on the horizon.