Despite the way the question is often phrased, Whoopi Goldberg hasn’t consistently described herself as someone who “got over” a fear of flying. In multiple interviews over the years, she’s been open about feeling anxious about air travel and has said she frequently avoids flying when she can.
Goldberg’s most commonly discussed approach has been practical and lifestyle-based: choosing alternatives like trains or buses, building in extra travel time, and structuring her schedule around routes she feels more comfortable taking. That kind of choice can be a form of fear management—reducing exposure to the trigger while still staying mobile and working.
If you’re looking at her story for a takeaway, it’s that progress doesn’t always look like loving turbulence or becoming a frequent flyer overnight. Sometimes it looks like understanding your limits, planning ahead, and using tools that keep your body from escalating into panic when you do have to fly.
Many anxious travelers do better with a repeatable routine: learning what sensations are normal, practicing steady breathing, using grounding techniques, and creating a calming “pre-flight + in-flight” checklist. For a practical set of calming strategies you can try before and during a trip, visit this guide to flying without fear.
Instead of measuring success as “no fear at all,” aim for “fear that stays manageable.” That could mean you still feel nervous during takeoff, but you can keep your breathing slow, keep your thoughts from spiraling, and let the moment pass without it taking over the whole flight.
Keep your feet planted, relax your shoulders, and use slow breathing (inhale for 4, exhale for 6) for a few minutes. Remind yourself turbulence is uncomfortable but normal, and focus on a steady point like the seatback in front of you.
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