Flying can have many bizarre effects on our bodies, including making us more emotional.
Many passengers are surprised when they find that they tear up more at in-flight movies without even knowing why.
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However, scientists have a reason why people sometimes cry when they fly.
First of all, you may be more distraught by the stress involved in flying.
Randi Mackintosh, an expert psychiatrist, suggested that some passengers may not be aware of how much tension travel has caused them.
He Telled Thrillist: “A lot has been building up. When you get up in the air, it might be the first time you’re realising how the stress is impacting you.”
Other factors are at play than stress.
Passengers can experience mild hypoxia (low levels of oxygen) at altitude.
This can lead to a change in emotional state that can make people feel euphoric or more upset than usual.
An analysisAccording to the American National Library of Medicine, The Effect of Altitude On Cognitive Performance and Mood States Claims: “The first mood experienced at high altitude is euphoria. This is followed by depression.
“With time, individuals may also become quarrelsome, irritable, anxious, and apathetic.”
Combining stress and altitude can create an emotional state in which passengers are more likely to cry.
The phenomenon has been called “The” by some researchers. “mile cry club”.
According to Dr Jodi de Luca, it could also be due to a perception of lack of control.
It’s not just psychological or emotional, it’s also a physical and physiological event.
She saidFlyertalk: “We are cognitively, psychologically, emotionally [compromised], and now we’re physiologically compromised. The set-up is perfect for an emotional vulnerability.”
The phenomenon also affected singer Ed Sheeran, who previously revealed in an interview with Capital FM that he started crying at the end of the film Forrest Gump – in full view of the other passengers.
He said: “I cried watching Forrest Gump on a plane, it was at the end when Jenny dies.
“When you’re jet-lagged and at 10,000ft, you haven’t slept and you’re a little bit emotional anyway because you’re going away for a long time and it just set me off.”
This is how you can avoid getting travel sickness on planes.
Here are eight myths passengers believe about flying.
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