Flight Without Fear - The Quality Of Life

I'm afraid of planes. If there is an option, I always go by train. But soon I have a business trip to the USA. Is it possible to get rid of aerophobia on your own, or is it necessary to consult a psychologist?

Aerophobia is the fear of flying. It can exist as an independent disorder or as a manifestation of some other phobia. The first option implies the appearance of panic states before the flight and directly in the air, the second - an unpleasant state appears not only in the plane, but also in other situations, for example, when being in a confined space or at a considerable height. In any of the options, the roots of an unpleasant and even dangerous condition for health most likely have a deeper nature, often hidden for the person himself.

The first thing that must be said is that being in the air, without solid ground under your feet, at an altitude of about 10,000 meters, inside a rather bulky and heavy structure, which is an airplane, is unnatural for human nature. In addition, the passenger during the flight is completely deprived of any opportunity to somehow control the situation and influence it. Therefore, the fear caused by the lack of the usual supports and the complete loss of control is fully justified and justified.

My brother … flatly refused to fly by plane, even if I pay for the tickets. He says there is no curb in the sky to turn if the engine breaks

Stephen King

If you are faced with the task of crossing the airspace once, you can do this by temporarily suppressing the discomfort with an effort of will. You can use sedatives, which, in fact, have a depressing effect on the central nervous system, making a person more insensitive than calm. The known method, which is playfully called "teleport" - a couple of glasses of whiskey at home, before getting into a taxi. A couple more at the airport bar, restock at duty-free. With the proper skill, you might not even notice the process of boarding an aircraft. However, this method does not fit well with the rules of most airlines.

Suppressing your own experiences is a violent and extremely unpleasant process, which, as a rule, does not have a long-term effect and causes the appearance of new anxiety symptoms. Both refusal to fly and ignoring one's own experiences leads to a significant decrease in the quality of life

One of the most effective and well-proven ways to combat aerophobia is cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. At the first stages, the patient learns to cope with aerophobia as a type of panic attack, because often this fear has the same symptoms as vegetative crises: tremors, chills, sweating, dizziness, nausea, lightheadedness, aggression or excessive depression.

The task of the psychologist is to educate the patient in ways of relaxation, self-soothingness and self-control. The method is also combined with the use of computer simulations. This technology is called VRET - Virtual Reality Expositional Therapy. A person is placed in virtual conditions, very close to those of a real flight, and learns to control his condition in an absolutely safe environment. This technique has become widespread and is effective enough to get rid of the fear of flying.

As a gestalt therapist, I tend to believe that aerophobia is not a separate disorder, but rather a symptom of a deeper problem, the identification and treatment of which is the main task. Fear is a basic and very useful feeling. The best marker that the situation I am in is threatening and uncomfortable. The appearance of any symptom associated with the experience of intense feelings is a good reason to carefully consider the period of life in which it appeared.

According to statistics, traveling by plane is much safer than traveling by road. Perhaps the fear of flights, heights, confined space is caused by an imbalance in relationships that are significant for a person. Relationships where feelings of stiffness, loss of freedom, trust and predictability can appear.

An analysis of the client's life situation may make visible the circumstances where control is lost and support escapes. Gaining new experiences of powerlessness in therapy and building trust in meaningful relationships for the client can lead to a more relaxed experience of air travel and a significant increase in satisfaction from life in general.