Don’t Be Ashamed Or Embarrassed

What Is The Fear Of Flying

Causes

Symptoms

How To Overcome Your Fear

Courses 

Don’t Be Ashamed Or Embarrassed

Firstly before we go any further, if you are one of those passengers who suffer from the fear of flying, don’t hide it, don’t be ashamed of it and do not be embarrassed about it.

1 in 6 people have some form of fear or anxiety about flying

The fear of flying affects a large number of people and if you can learn to deal with it openly, you will probably find that it will help you when you next need to fly. I know that this is much easier said than done but let me explain what I mean.

The fear of flying or ‘Aerophobia’ is something that can be an absolute nightmare for people who suffer from it and it is something that other people who do not suffer from it may find hard to understand. This only then results in the person who suffers from the fear of flying having to bottle it up inside. This is generally through embarrassment or worrying that they will be a burden for the people they are travelling with and also the staff at the airports and on the flights.

The truth is, it is actually the opposite and if you let people know about your fear of flying, they will actually try to help you and make your flight much more pleasant and stress free! What you need to remember is that staff at the airports and flight attendants deal with passengers who have a fear of flying every single day and they are trained to provide as much assistance to the passenger as they possibly can to help them with their fear before and during their flight.

What Is The Fear Of Flying

In basic terms, the fear of flying is an anxiety disorder and one that affects people in many different ways. The fear of flying is not a disease but a symptom of a psychological problem and this anxiety can be brought on by many different factors and does not necessarily stem from just one fear. There are many fears that can contribute to why a person has a phobia or fear of flying and they can be such things as claustrophobia, a fear of heights, a fear of the unknown, a fear of losing control, a fear of not being in control, fear of health risks during flight, the fear of crashing, hijackings or even Social phobias to name but a few. However, the really good thing is that most of these fears can be controlled, treated or even cured.

The sad part is, the fear of flying can certainly affect your career if your work or business commitments depends on you flying, it can jeopardise relationships and it can stop you from enjoying the destinations that you wish to visit and it can also spoil your social life.

Causes Of Fear Of Flying

As we mentioned previously, Aerophobia (the fear of flying) is not a disease and it is not usually triggered by medical concerns. However, it is generally a result by many other factors that trigger a person to become anxious about flying. If a person has never flown before, then the fear of the unknown can be a major factor in making that person anxious. Seeing footage or hearing on the news of plane accidents certainly does not help anyone and this will only add to a persons’ anxiety if they are flying soon after such an event. If a person has experienced bad turbulence during a previous flight or has had any bad experiences throughout a flight, it can make a person very anxious about flying again.

Your own emotional state can play a significant part towards developing a fear of flying and this fear can start at any time, even if you have previously never had a fear of flying before.

Symptoms Associated With Fear Of Flying

There are different levels of fear and anxiety and they can range from a mild fear to severe panic attacks. These symptoms usually progress and develop the closer to the time of take-off. However, many people show signs of fear or Anticipatory anxiety prior to setting off to the airport whilst others can find their fears or anxiety building throughout the flight to concerns about turbulence, unusual aircraft noises, flying in the dark or flying over water.

The symptoms that many people experience are varied and they can be anything such as sweating, shaking, palpitations, becoming  irritable, becoming flushed, the sense of being unable to think clearly, feeling sick or even vomiting.

How To Overcome Fear Of Flying

As we mentioned in the previous paragraph, most of the fears and anxieties can be treated but the first step is to admit you have a fear. Admitting you have a fear of flying will allow you to take the first steps on the road to conquer your fear of flying.

The beauty of the Internet is that it is now possible to research and find good resources that will help with fear of flying. There are so many useful resources out there today such as fear of flying courses, you can buy a fear of flying book, you can get hypnotherapy for fear of flying and there are many website that offer fear of flying tips. There are even Therapists who specialise in the fear of flying and if you find that your fear is so bad that it is stopping you from flying, it may be advisable to seek professional advice.

Please Note: If you do wish to seek advice or treatment from a Therapist, please ensure that they are registered with the appropriate governing body and are fully qualified to specialise in the Fear Of Flying.

Fear Of Flying Course

Many major airports and airlines now offer courses to help with the fear of flying and these courses have a high success rate and can help with conquering your fear of flying. The following list are just a hand full of the airports and airlines that offer courses. The courses are not cheap but most people that attend the courses say they are beneficial.

Another very popular alternative and a cheaper option is ‘Fly and Be Calm’ which offers a money back guarantee:

Fear Of Flying Courses

Virgin Atlantic: Flying Without Fear (London and Manchester airports)

Easyjet: Fearless Flyer Course

British Airways: Flying with Confidence (Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dublin, New York, Dubai, Hong Kong and Johannesburg)