Fear of Flying
—
Why not leave home without it?
 F
you suffer from fear
of flying, you have several options. You can, of course, simply avoid flying
altogether. Or, you can continue to fly with proverbial “white
knuckles,” each flight a misery that embarrasses you and antagonizes
your family and friends.
You could drink
yourself into oblivion, but if you fly a lot this solution may not be good
for your health. Or you might consider using an anti-anxiety medication
(tranquilizer) prescribed by a physician. In either case—alcohol or
medication—don’t try driving after the plane gets on the ground
or your blissfully sedated brain might get you into a real
crash.
Note this
comment about in-flight medication:
“I strongly
believe that no one should use any medication for in-flight symptoms without
first testing it on the ground with knowledgeable professional oversight
to assure that no bad effects might occur: idiosyncratic reactions, allergic
reactions, drug-drug interactions, and so on. Mid-air is no place to discover
such phenomena. And of course, no mixing meds with
alcohol!” [1]
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Should you decide
to do something about your anxiety, you might consider a
group
program—sometimes offered through airlines—that might help
you find relief from your symptoms. In fact, many anxious passengers simply
need the reassurance and information these programs offer. Such group programs
are usually run by aviation professionals, however, not a psychologist with
the training and expertise to evaluate and attend to your specific individual
needs. Still, if you can find help from a group program you will save the
expense of individual treatment. And there should be someone associated with
the program who has some sort of mental health training who can refer you
for individual help if you need it.
A relatively
new approach to fear of flying involves the use of
virtual
reality, but clinics that offer such treatment may not be located in
your area.
You might also
want to consider individual treatment from a qualified therapist. In this
case the fear of flying would be considered a
Specific
Phobia, and it would be treated clinically on that basis. Of course,
your therapist may not know a thing about aviation.
Best of both
worlds, of course, would be a psychologist who is also familiar with aviation,
and who can offer a Fear of Flying treatment program that covers
individualized assessment,
flight
facts, aviation procedures,
cognitive
training,
Progressive
Muscle Relaxation,
Autogenics
Training, and
Systematic
Desensitization.
Finally, you
might want to try self-treatment. Use the resources I offer on this
site—for free, without registration or marketing tricks—to learn
Progressive Muscle Relaxation, Autogenics, and a treatment
method called Systematic Desensitization. Just about everything I
offer in individual treatment is here on this website for free—except,
of course, my personal guidance. Or you can purchase a self-treatment package
from
another
source.
No
advertising—no sponsor—just the simple truth . . .
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Additional
Resources
References:
1. David
R. Jones, MD, MPH, Consultant in Aerospace Psychiatry. Personal communication.
6 May 2000, drjones@zebra.net
Further Reading:
Van Gerwen LJ, Diekstra RFW. Fear of flying treatment programs for
passengers: An international review. Aviation, Space, and Environmental
Medicine 2000; 71:430–7.
Jones DR. Fear of flying—No longer a symptom without a disease.
Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine 2000; 71:438–40.
General
Information:
Fear
of flying treatment programs for passengers: an international review
is an abstract of an article from the Aerospace Medical Association.
The abstract itself is informative, but you will have to pay to get the complete
article.
Virtual Hospital: Psychiatry: Fear of Flying —
helpful information from the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
Treatment Sources (listings do not imply
my endorsement):
Aviation Medical Practitioners Around the World is a
list of many professionals with some interest in aviation medicine. Not all
of these professionals may provide fear of flying treatment, but you can
browse through the list to see whom you can find in your area.
AIRFRAID is a UK-based
website “designed to be an information station for all those who have
a fear of flying.”
Fearless-Flight.com
run by an airline captain, offers classes in Phoenix, Arizona.
Fearless Flying
offers a self-help treatment program.
Fear of Flying Clinic is
located at the San Francisco International Airport. If you are looking
for other Fear of Flying clinics or professionals in the US or in Canada,
go to their home page and “Click on the plane” to locate some other
clinics and treatment programs.
Fear of Flying
Help Course is a free interactive course developed by an
airline captain. If you’re looking for help, this could be a great place
to start.
Flying Without
Fear primarily sells books, videos, and audios, but provides some
free quizzes, assessments, and tips.
Northwest
Airlines WINGS Program is a group program offered by Northwest
Airlines.
Virtually Better
offers a virtual reality approach for treatment. Check their
site to see if there is a clinic near you. (Here is a direct link to
their
page which lists partner clinics around the country.)
Soar sells
a self-learning treatment program created by an airline captain / licensed
clinical social worker. If there is no Fear of Flying treatment offered in
your area, or if you prefer a self-help approach to overcoming your fear
of flying, you might want to look at this site.
Related pages within A Guide to Psychology
and its Practice:
Autogenics
Training explains a self-taught relaxation technique. Why pay for
something somewhere else when you can get it here for free?
Basic Principles
of Aircraft Flight explains basic aerodynamics, including
turbulence, in relation to commercial flight.
Fear of Flying
explains the various issues related to the fear of flying.
Progressive Muscle
Relaxation explains a self-taught relaxation technique. Why pay
for something somewhere else when you can get it here for free?
Systematic
Desensitization explains a simple, self-taught treatment for fear
of flying. Why pay for something somewhere else when you can get it here
for free?
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