Why rawdogging, the weird new travel trend, is dangerous on long-haul flights

Some individuals can not envision boarding a flight without a book. Numerous others stock up on home entertainment by downloading films, web series, and music playlists for the hours to be invested in the sky. Numerous even bring their skin care fundamentals for an in-flight skin care regimen. And after that, there is constantly food to chomp on throughout the flight.

Essentially, the longer the flight, the more crucial these preparations are to remain inhabited. Isn’ t it? Umm … no! Individuals are dumping the normal flight routines of checking out a book, plugging in music, binge-watching programs, or getting that in-flight publication to do absolutely nothing and simply be with their ideas and musings. This pattern, rather popular in the West and on TikTok, is called rawdogging a flight.

What is rawdogging a flight?

Rawdogging is a self-imposed obstacle where you withstand the whole flight with no kind of home entertainment or diversion. It suggests no music, no phone, no screen, no books or publications, no food, no water, and no sleep. It is simply you with your ideas, and the in-flight map at the majority of.

A notorious slang term for having unguarded sex, the term rawdogging is likewise utilized to explain diving headfirst into a scenario with no preparation or security. In flight, the significance becomes boarding an airplane with no of the normal preparations or conveniences that many tourists think about necessary.

Rawdogging a flight and flying with no interruptions may appear difficult, specifically in times when we are practically continuously promoted (thanks to our phones). TikTokers, mainly guys, are taking up the obstacle and publishing about their experiences of rawdogging long flights—– 7 hours, 8 hours, and even 11 hours.

It even indicates declining complimentary food and drinks, and disregarding in-flight home entertainment choices, unless you remain in an inexpensive provider that runs long-haul flights like IndiGo, Ryan Air and Spirit Airlines. Practicing the pattern on a Air Arabia flight might be simpler, where they do not supply complimentary water.

Anyhow. While lots of consider this pattern meditative, for others it is simply an obstacle. Psychological health specialists, nevertheless, call rawdogging long flights an unsafe pattern, specifically for those with stress and anxiety problems.

Probable pros, dangerous cons

To sit with your ideas and not enjoy any diversion seems like something that we perform in treatment. It can assist one understand what feelings are attempting to inform us. If you tend to do that for 7-8 hours on a flight, it is not actually a great choice,” states Absy Sam, a Mumbai-based counselling psychologist.

There are 2 sort of individuals –– one, who may discover this advantageous as sitting with one’ s ideas can assist them comprehend feelings and get clearness. And there are others who are or have actually had previous experiences of stress and anxiety, overthinking, or any sort of injury in the past. This pattern can backfire for them,” she includes.

Dr Neerja Agarwal, psychologist and co-founder of psychological health platform Emoneeds, on the other hand, calls it a severe method to flight which can be both dangerous and advantageous.

It may promote increased self-awareness, help with deep self-questioning, and supply a special chance for prolonged analytical and reflection. For some, it might likewise act as an extensive mindfulness workout, possibly yielding long-lasting decreases in tension and stress and anxiety,” she states.

Absy Sam concurs, “ One can utilize this time to introspect, assess how and what you are doing, consider future strategies, and develop a vision board in your mind. Being with your ideas can likewise assist you end up being more compassionate towards yourself and your feelings.”

Can cause stress and anxiety attacks

The disadvantages are significant. Regardless of the possible advantages, psychological health specialists do not recommend trying rawdogging a flight for over 2 hours. Rawdogging a flight and simply sitting with your ideas for an extended time can result in recurring thinking, particularly if you have not established any coping systems to assist you handle the constant, vicious circle of ideas. Professionals state it can be hazardous and triggering, resulting in stress and anxiety and anxiety attack.

It is excellent to sit with your ideas, however not for a long stretch of time. It can trigger a great deal of stress and anxiety. If you are on a 7-8 hour flight and have absolutely nothing to inhabit yourself with, it can be really hard. Individuals who experience panic or have actually had anxiety attack, or those with numerous distressing ideas, can experience panic or stress and anxiety attacks in the air. Without much aid, you can seem like you’re numbing or closing down. This is not precisely the best practice,” discusses Absy.

Specialists likewise think that a total lack of external stimuli may magnify sensations of claustrophobia and uneasyness, leading to both physical and mental distress.

Some more cons

Another bothersome element of this pattern is abstaining from drinking water. While lots of people intentionally prevent consuming on flights due to stomach concerns, drinking water is necessary. The cabin air is extremely dry and can be dehydrating. Not taking a bathroom break for the sake of rawdogging a long-haul flight is uneasy.

Forgoing sleep, nourishment, and hydration throughout prolonged flights can have harmful impacts on general wellness. While short durations of self-questioning can be important, preserving such an extreme practice throughout a whole long-haul journey might show extreme and possibly damaging for lots of people,” states Dr Agarwal.

How about a minimal method to this pattern?

There are just a couple of opportunities when one can be with oneself, and among them is on the flight (if there is no in-flight Wi-fi). There are no calls to go to or e-mails to react to. Utilizing it as a chance to introspect and review your ideas is a terrific concept, however doing it as a difficulty on a long flight might potentially damage your psychological health.

A more well balanced technique, rotating in between minutes of peaceful and interesting in mild, conscious activities, is what psychological health specialists recommend.

Too much of anything is a no, and the exact same chooses our ideas. Rather, be with yourself and your ideas, however likewise get a little bit of all like listening to some music, reading and collect some bedtime,” recommends Dr Roshan Mansukhani, a Mumbai-based therapist and counsellor.

Doing absolutely nothing on a flight for an hour is great, however we can not state the very same for the whole journey that goes on for 7-8 hours or more.