Afriad to Fly?

In this day and age air travel is becoming incredibly common.  We could be traveling to another city for a business meeting or escaping for a well-deserved vacation, air travel is here to stay.  However some people are fearful of flying or must endure an intense phobia and anxiety about air travel, much like others experience as panic attacks in cars or sleeping panic attacks.

It's important to realize that aerophobia (another term for a fear of flying) can have it's root cause in many different realms, it is not simply a fear of the act of flying.  Some might get anxious at the thought of how high in the air they are and other people could find fear at the idea of being trapped in a tight and cramped space.  Others might have control issues trusting the pilot to fly the plane safely, while news reports of a recent plane crash could strike fear in others.  There is surely no shortage of reasons why someone might be afraid to fly.

Are there things you can do to make your next flight more enjoyable?

First, try to trace your fear down to a root, some aspect of flying that causes you the most fear.  Do you know what caused this phobia to develop?  Could it be something stressful or traumatic that happened when you were a child?  It helps to know as much about your fear as possible so that you can be better equipped to handling it and moving past it and overcome the anxiety you face when you fly.

It may help to educate yourself more on the mechanics of aviation.  Sometimes fear can result from not understanding how airplanes work or how something so large and heavy can stay in the air.  Do your best to find a book or other resource that explains this in an easy to understand way.

Find support.  Do you think your friends or family will be understanding?  Maybe they can be a good resource of support.  Consider looking up internet message boards where you can meet other people and share experiences and stories as well as learn new techniques to deal with anxiety and stress better.  If you have some money to spend you can also look into professional therapy in your area.

Remember that you're not alone.  Others out there suffer from a fear of flying.  A lot of them have mastered the problem and now enjoy fear-free flying.  Flying should be a fun and rewarding experience that takes you to far off places.  And it can be when you overcome your fear of flying!

Andrew Hunter used to struggle with panic and anxiety attacks. After mastering his emotions and retaking control of his life, he enjoys helping others overcome fears and move past personal barriers.

If you enjoyed this article, also check out Fear of Flying