Fear of flying is one of the most common phobias people seek my help with.
Some clients feel embarrassed admitting to others that they are terrified of flying. Others are desperate to avoid their children ‘learning’ their flying phobia. This worry adds additional pressure and compounds their anxiety.
Fear of air travel can affect people from all walks of life, including those who are confident and capable in other situations.
If thinking about an upcoming flight makes your heart race, your chest tighten, or your stomach to spasm, you may have Aerophobia.
Some people are so anxious about flying that they won’t book a flight and will travel by car or train to a holiday even if it is inconvenient. Some will book to fly but get nervous when they arrive at the airport. Others get anxious during take-off, and some hate landing.
A holiday can be all but spoiled by spending the week worrying about catching the flight home. Fortunately, there are ways to overcome fear of flying, but it’s important to tailor the therapy to the client’s situation.
Why people fear flying
There are multiple reasons why people are afraid of flying.
In my experience fear of a plane crash is comparatively rare. Anxiety may stem from a previous turbulent flight, a fear of becoming unwell while onboard, or claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces). Most common is a fear of being out of control.
Most of my clients know that flying is statistically safe. They know that most things they fret about (the ‘what ifs’) are unlikely to happen. Unfortunately, that knowledge rarely changes how the person feels and it doesn’t change the stress response in their body.
Fear of losing control
Anxiety feeds on the belief that nothing can be done and that the individual has no control over their situation.
The fear of being out of control (or losing control) is familiar to everyone who experiences anxiety. Truth be told, we are in control of very little. See my blog called Stress, anxiety & the myth of control for useful tips.
Acceptance that we are not in control of external factors is essential.
The good news is that we can learn to control our thoughts, and our physical responses to stress. Recognition of what you can’t control, whilst being confident about what you can, is integral to a sense of control.
How hypnotherapy can help
Clients choose hypnosis for phobia treatment because it is relaxing, pleasant, and effective. Importantly, it can be useful in changing a client’s frame of mind and outlook. NLP and EMDR are often used alongside hypnotherapy for reducing fear and eradicating phobias.
Phobias aren’t logical, they are emotional. These fears are located at deep, unconscious level. This is why hypnotherapy is an effective phobia treatment. Hypnosis is frequently used as a therapy for irrational fears (the definition of a phobia is an irrational fear). This is the reason I don’t use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (with its focus on logic and statistical likelihood) for phobias.
When working with clients I don’t make assumptions about what causes their fear of flying. I typically start by establishing whether their dread is specific to flying, if they are afraid of other modes of transport, or if they are nervous about driving, etc. Knowing whether someone’s anxiety is specific, or part of a generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), helps me to decide on my treatment approach.
Effective self-help strategies
I teach all clients self-help strategies that they can use after our course of therapy.
These include easy-to-learn breathing techniques to regulate the autonomic nervous system, EFT tapping to interrupt anxious thoughts and reduce unwelcome physical symptoms.
These techniques can be used discreetly in an airport or on board and can make a real difference to your flight experience and can create an important sense of control.
Do not wait until the last minute
Approaching a flight in a calm state is preferable to managing panic attacks on board the plane.
The nervous system regulation strategies I teach can be used quietly, quickly, and discreetly. You can practice techniques such as tapping or breathwork without drawing attention to yourself, whether you’re sitting in a departure lounge or fastening your seatbelt as the plane doors close.
Clients often contact me a week before a holiday flight when they are already in an agitated state. Seeking help early gives you time to make real progress and gain confidence in your new skills before you are packing your bags or standing at the departure gate. You will be able to master the techniques I teach more easily before anxiety builds and you are experiencing unpleasant symptoms.
If flying anxiety spoils your holidays . . .
If you hate flying and have a flight booked, don’t push it to the back of your mind. It may feel easier in the short term to avoid thinking about it (or tell yourself you feel okay this time) but anxiety left unaddressed tends to build quietly in the background and intensifies as the departure date approaches.
Book therapy appointments well in advance of your next flight. This gives us an opportunity to work together while you’re in a calm state of mind.
I offer:
- One-to-one therapy sessions
- Intensive therapy retreats
- A confidential consultation to explore whether we’re a good fit
Book a call with me, I’d love to hear from you.
Featured image by Patrick Konior on Unsplash
