Periodic media reports about plane crashes lead to many people becoming panicky about flying. Because of this, they refuse to travel abroad and waste extra time on the train. If a flight is inevitable, they suffer severely the entire time it takes place. Such people need to figure out how to overcome their fear of flying and strictly follow all useful recommendations.
Help information
To get rid of aerophobia (as well as any fear), it is first recommended to consult a psychologist. However, it is difficult to find a really good specialist, and not everyone has the money for these services, so you need to learn to cope with your phobias on your own. Most often, people are afraid to fly because of the risk of getting into a plane crash. To get rid of this fear, you need to read the crash statistics. Next, it is recommended to check it with the flight schedule and understand that accidents still occur much less frequently than successful flights. In general, according to statistics, the probability of dying in a plane crash is 1:11000000. In addition, any transport, including the one we use every day, is a risk zone. Accidents with cars, for example, happen much more often than with aircraft. Also, fear in flight arises due to a lack of understanding of the specifics of the aircraft. To overcome it, you should read how air travel works. For example, many people are frightened by the fact that during takeoff they press them tightly into the seat and have their ears blocked (and during landing too). This is fine. The plane can take off from the ground only at a sufficiently high speed (because of it, it presses down), and the ears can become blocked due to pressure changes, then everything goes away. The turbulence zone is often very frightening: a person thinks that he is falling into a hole several times in a row, but in reality there is no danger. The plane just crosses the boundaries of high and low atmospheric pressure. To avoid injury from such shaking, you need to fasten your seat belt during this time, remain seated and close the luggage compartment so that nothing falls out of it. Facts about airplanes that should help you overcome your fear:
in any airliner, almost all systems are duplicated (many even more than once), including the engines; they cannot all fail at the same time;
Before flight, each aircraft undergoes a technical inspection;
during flight, strong pressure is created under the wings, the air holds the car, it can fly even if one engine fails;
the aircraft is operated by a crew that is constantly undergoing training;
Disasters happen only when many unfavorable circumstances coincide; when organizing future flights, airlines try to take this negative experience into account.
How to set yourself up for the best
To really overcome a fear of flying, you should not watch disaster films or read in detail about plane crashes. This will make it even worse. It’s better to try to relax: read a book or watch a movie with positive content, listen to calm music. Another life hack: a few days before your flight, read “The Easy Way to Enjoy Air Travel” by Allen Carr. This book has already helped thousands of people around the world overcome their aerophobia - this is evidenced by high ratings and reader reviews, which means that the author’s method works. It is based on a methodical analysis of fears associated with flying and overcoming them. By the end of the book, you will feel that the internal tension when thinking about airplanes has been released. What should you not do? There is no need to go to any forum dedicated to air travel. Those who have flown by plane love to talk about their difficulties, and this again will increase fears. It is better to simply study in advance information about the airline and, if possible, about the pilots flying the flight. Stress and preparations on the last day in a hurry increase, so it is better to prepare for the trip in advance. On the eve of your flight, you need to get some rest and relaxation. The following recommendations will help you cope with fear:
it is necessary to choose direct and shortest flights whenever possible in order to be in the air as little as possible;
It’s better to fly during the day - when it’s light, it’s not so scary;
if you are afraid of heights, you do not need to take a seat next to the porthole;
if you feel claustrophobic, it is better to sit next to the emergency exit;
In general, it is better to take the seats between the wings - they are the safest;
during the flight you need to try to distract yourself: with an action-packed book or movie, calm music (just don’t use headphones when your ears are blocked, you should wait), some kind of handicraft, conversations with a neighbor (but in no case should you discuss possible accidents);
you can console yourself with something tasty (fruits, berries), but in reasonable quantities;
It’s worth trying to close your eyes and imagine that you are traveling on a bus or train;
you always need to repeat to yourself that everything will be fine, that the pilots are also interested in ensuring that the flight ends safely;
How to overcome the fear of flying forever
Many aerophobes take alcohol for courage, but again this should not be done: it can make you feel physically ill, and your fears will only get stronger. In addition, it is terribly harmful and can lead to conflict with flight attendants. Sedative pills are not recommended; it is better to take jars of essential oils and breathe them. You should also not drink coffee, because it will excite the nervous system, which is already on edge. You need to get rid of fear with the help of self-hypnosis, but it is also important to monitor your physical health.
Coping with poor health
Reluctance to fly may also arise due to fear of blocked ears or nausea. To help your ears, you need to do swallowing movements, such as drinking water. It is also recommended to yawn more often or simply open your mouth, or you can take a deep breath, pinching your nose, and then exhale sharply. There will be a click in the ears, and they will be put aside - the eardrum will fall into place. If you get motion sickness on an airplane, you don’t need to eat heavily before the flight, and during the flight it is recommended to eat a little lemon or orange, pickles, drink lemon or orange juice or still water, and inhale the essential oils of mint, lemon or ginger. If there is no turbulence, you can get up and walk around the cabin a little. And if you can’t get up, you should choose a stationary object next to you and concentrate your attention on it. You should always remember that only the one who fights wins. Aerophobes should not give up traveling, but look for how to get rid of the fear of flying on an airplane. Choosing the right flight and seat, convincing yourself that everything will be fine, and being distracted by interesting activities will help make the flight quite tolerable, and in the future, completely overcome the phobia.
We're flying. The plane is chattering, but not much. A flight attendant comes into the cockpit and says that the passenger is hysterical. I ask you to bring her to me. The young girl is all pale and shaking. I sit her next to me and just talk, explaining that everything is fine with us. 15 minutes of calm dialogue - and no phobia. This old incident made me think - why are people afraid to fly?
This is how Pobeda Airlines pilot Alexey Kochemasov, better known on the Internet as pilot Lyokha, began a meeting with passengers in Yekaterinburg. Those who adore the sky and those who adore Lyokha came. The Life correspondent was more likely to belong to the third group of those gathered - aerophobes who want to overcome this disease.
Most people are afraid to fly because they don't know what happens on the plane. Incomprehensible sounds, grinding, steam. For example, I myself am afraid of trains. I travel by train, yes. But over long distances in my entire life (pilot Lyokha is 51 years old. - Approx. Life) I only went two or three times. I can’t say that I have a panicky fear of trains, but I feel uncomfortable, I think trains are dangerous transport, because they constantly go off the rails. And I don’t understand the principle of operation - why don’t the wheels fall inside the rails, especially when turning?
Phobia from ignorance is cured in one go! It is enough to simply explain what happens and at what moment.
The second group of people are those who are afraid because they do not control the flight. They say: I don’t see where the plane is flying, I can’t do anything, nothing depends on me.
But you are a passenger in a car! The driver has a steering wheel and pedals, but you have nothing. And then KamAZ flies head-on. What can you do? Nothing.
The third group is the most difficult - they need to immediately see a psychiatrist. These are those who are internally ready to die. When they find out that they need to fly - two weeks or a month in advance - they begin to eat themselves. Recently, in Cheboksary, a plane rolled off the runway. Although there was nothing terrible there, the media begin to promote: “No one died,” “There were no injuries.” This information catches the eye everywhere, and the person screws himself up. As he prepares to fly, he prepares to die. He thinks: planes haven’t fallen for a long time, so mine will fall. He comes on board already with a feeling of doom.
Such people are very easy to recognize. Men usually get drunk. And alcohol in the air is a dangerous and insidious thing. As one rises to altitude, a person experiences oxygen starvation and alcohol is not broken down in the body, that is, absorption does not occur. Therefore, if 150 grams of vodka drunk on the ground is nothing for a healthy man, then at altitude he is already blown away.
Women are even easier to identify. She yells at the taxi driver, she was given the wrong seat at check-in, her luggage was put in the wrong place, she gets on the plane and insults the flight attendants. The woman begins to make trouble.
I realized that it was useless to say anything to such passengers, and I didn’t know how to deal with them. They are dangerous. The plane shook violently - the panicker jumped up and ran to open the doors. Other passengers, who were not ready to die, panic and also help open the door. Flight attendants often stop at the door those who want to “exit” during the flight.
“As the classics said, knowledge is power,” adds Alexey. That is why he started his pilot Lyokhi blog in the 2000s. He helps people understand the intricacies of aviation, gladly answers all questions, even provocative ones, and does everything so that passengers stop being afraid of flying. For example, after a flight you can ask Lyokha to come into the cockpit. So be sure to listen to the captain’s name, and if Alexey is there, then come in for a look.
In the meantime, he tells the audience about the most popular fears and myths about flying.
Take-off landing
Why are takeoff and landing the most difficult and stressful moments in flight? Due to the proximity of the earth. This is a time crunch. The plane runs along the runway, the speed increases and increases, but it still cannot take off, there is still not enough lift. There comes a moment when the plane is no longer “running”, but is not yet flying, then it takes off - and still it flies, but the speed is low, it only accelerates. And if something happens, the time margin is minimal - you need to react instantly. It’s one thing when a plane flies at an altitude of 12 thousand meters, it will take 20 minutes to fall to the ground - there’s a wagon of time there. And near the ground everything will happen in 20 seconds. And statistics say that disasters most often occur during takeoff/landing. The cases when a plane fell from above can be counted on one hand, and there were always some external factors - terrorist attacks.
During takeoff and landing, a roll (tilt) of the aircraft of 30 degrees is allowed. Moreover, I will surprise you, but in the operating instructions for Boeing aircraft it is written that you can perform a “barrel roll” on them. Of course, this is not normal practice. Boeing writes that when your plane turns out to be banked more than 90 degrees (the nose is down or is falling somewhere), you don’t need to take it away, turn the barrel and fly on. By and large, the plane doesn’t care how you fly - even upside down.
Turbulence
Not all companies in the world, in principle, bypass the bumpy plane - Asians always fly directly. Most of the videos of trays and items falling from luggage compartments are from Asian airlines. Probably it’s a matter of mentality - they believe in reincarnation.
Jokes aside, imagine a large glass ball. Let's put a mouse there and let it run into the stream. He floats, he is rocked by the current. What will happen to the ball? Nothing. What will happen to the mouse? Nothing either, but she will be chatted. An airplane flies in an uneven environment - there are air currents. Between Greenland and Canada over the Baffin Sea (about 800 km there, flight hour) the wind blows on average 300-400 km per hour. It's always shaking there. Sausages from the heart.
Why do you need to wear a seat belt? So that your head doesn't hit the ceiling, but nothing will happen to the plane. Therefore, the issue of turbulence should not arise at all. Shakes and shakes.
Old plane
How does a passenger rate the plane? He comes in and sees: a new seat, carpets, a pleasant smell - that means the plane is new. But the interior of an airplane is not an indicator of its technical condition. When there were intensive flights to Egypt (it was on this route that for some reason rowdy passengers flew all the time), in the new cabin, after several flights, the back of the seat was already torn off, chewing gum was stuck on, the inscriptions “I love you, Masha”, a three-letter word. If a pocket on a seat is torn off, the entire row of seats must be dismantled, and the plane must take off in one and a half to two hours. They simply don't have time to fix it.
The age of an aircraft and its reliability are very loosely related. There are still several airlines in the world that operate the Douglas DC-3. They stopped producing them in the middle of the 20th century, but they still carry passengers. American Airlines has one of the oldest fleets in the world: the average age of aircraft is 17 years. The youngest is at Pobeda: our planes are not two years old.
I have had the opportunity to fly on airplanes of both very ancient design and very recent ones. And it turned out that new ones break more often. Surprising but true. It’s like a car: when you take it from the factory, there are “childhood diseases”, and here too, some small dirty tricks come out all the time.
Alexey's words sound convincing. Sometimes he switches to technical details, draws diagrams, writes formulas, uses words I don’t understand. There is no doubt about his professionalism. And he, in turn, vouches for the others: an inexperienced person will never be seated at the controls of an airplane. And in general, it is much more dangerous to smoke near the entrance in the spring. Icicles fall more often.
At least a third of the world's population suffers from aerophobia - the fear of air travel. About 14% do not dare to board a plane at all, another 10% make a serious effort. And this despite the well-known fact: airplanes are one of the safest modes of transport. According to statistics, the real probability of dying in a plane crash is estimated at 1 in 45 million. In addition, it is a very convenient transport, allowing you to quickly get to anywhere on the planet. It is not surprising that many people with aerophobia dream of not being afraid to fly on an airplane.
Features of aerophobia
Aerophobia is a mental disorder that can be an independent process or part of another phobia (fear of closed spaces or heights). The fear of flying on an airplane is often the result of some emergency situation that has affected the subconscious.
The severity of fear may vary. For some passengers, it is enough to drink a little alcohol, and they gradually get rid of the fear. But sometimes the phobia is so intense that a person simply cannot force himself to board an airliner. For many, the fear of flying manifests itself in stomach cramps, nausea, and the urge to vomit a few days before the flight. At the airport, your hands and feet become wet and cold, sweating appears, and on board the plane your heart begins to pound with a feeling of lack of air.
Important! If not properly treated, aerophobia can develop into panic disorder with sympathoadrenaline crises.
The difference between a phobia and simple fear
However, the fear of flying in an airplane should not always be considered aerophobia. Fear is a natural defense mechanism for the human body that warns against potential danger. Flying cannot be called a natural state for people, so there is nothing abnormal in the appearance of fear. The passenger realizes that the risk here is minimal, so he reacts to the flight adequately, even if he retains a certain sense of fear.
Aerophobia, like any mental health disorder, is irrational. The information that it is safe to fly is simply not perceived by a person. But every message about a plane crash becomes another confirmation of the high danger of flights.
Reasons for fear of flying
Why are people so afraid of flying on an airplane that sometimes they can’t even overcome their fear? There are several reasons for this situation:
- Modern man received the fear of being above the ground from his ancestors along with other genetic information. At one time, people were very frightened by the “iron birds”, so many people flinch when they hear the sound of an airplane.
- When an airliner takes off, the body realizes that it is outside its usual environment. Passengers prone to panic and phobias are faced with a feeling of fear.
- Some people are frightened by previously watched films or read books about plane crashes, or materials about crashes in the media.
- Fear often arises during the first flight; this is where the fear of the unknown comes into play. Sometimes such an experiment turns out to be unsuccessful, or the body mistakes ordinary motion sickness for danger and gives a corresponding signal to the brain.
Often everything is explained by a reluctance to trust your life to strangers - pilots, as well as distrust of a large number of instruments and devices unknown to man. Aerophobia can be a consequence of a long-term depressive state, severe stress or psycho-emotional shock that is not related to flying at all.
Important! Scientists have identified a genetic predisposition to such a phobia. If someone in the family suffers from such disorders, this tendency can be inherited.
Impressionable people who focus their attention on previous negative events for a long time are more susceptible to fear.
Manifestations of aerophobia
Aerophobia is characterized by a variety of physical, somatic and psychological symptoms. The manifestations of the first two include:
- Increased heart rate.
- Development of tachycardia.
- Pain in the chest area.
- Increased sweating.
- Vomiting and nausea.
- Frequent urination.
- Tension headaches.
- Redness or paleness of the face.
- Tremor of legs and arms.
You can determine whether a person has aerophobia based on a number of signs. The presence of an irrational fear of flying is indicated by the appearance of panic long before departure, suspicions that the flight attendant and pilots are hiding something, thoughts of inevitable death when the airliner encounters turbulence.
People with this disorder feel extremely uncomfortable throughout the entire flight, squeeze into the seat during takeoff and landing, and constantly listen to the operation of the engines, trying to hear signs of a breakdown.
Other psychological symptoms include:
- Increased irritability a few days before departure.
- Canceling a flight at the last minute.
- Categorical reluctance to use air transport.
- Obsessive thoughts about the plane crash.
- The use of special drugs for sedation.
Important! Prolonged stress after a flight also indicates aerophobia.
How to overcome fear
Since traveling by air saves a lot of time and effort, many people try to overcome their fear of flying. Submission to your fears leads to the development of a serious illness, so you should try to overcome irrational fears. The best way to do this is to simply distract yourself from anxious thoughts and your own phobia, and switch to something else.
To stop being afraid of flying on an airplane you need to:
- Try to prepare yourself correctly in advance, at least not read reports about plane crashes and not watch films on this topic.
- Choose a flight with a departure at a comfortable time (for some it is better to fly at night, for others it is easier in daylight).
- Check in in advance, asking for a seat away from the portholes.
- Do not land in the tail zone, where turbulence is most felt.
- Refuse the desire to drink something alcoholic before the flight, do not abuse coffee and sedatives.
- Find something interesting to do (download a game on your tablet, pick up an exciting book, crossword puzzles.
- Listen to calm music on headphones, which will drown out the noise of the engines.
It is easier to overcome fear when communicating with your seatmates, even if one of them turns out to be an aerophobe. You can do it even simpler - sleep during the flight. For this, earplugs, a blindfold, and a pillow under the neck may be useful. Many airlines offer blankets or bedding to passengers. Sometimes it is enough to lie down with your eyes closed, thinking about upcoming pleasant events or loved ones, to overcome the fear of flying.
Important! In such situations, breathing exercises with short breath holding help.
You should try to overcome your fear of flying when the first symptoms appear. You can discuss your feelings with a loved one in a calm environment. Often this helps to look at things differently. It is advisable to realize that your experiences will not have any impact on the course of the flight and not to focus on negative emotions.
Important! In fact, the turbulence that many fear so much does not pose any risks to the aircraft. The situation is roughly similar to driving on a rough road, nothing more.
Specialist help
But if you cannot overcome your fear of flying on an airplane on your own, you can use professional psychological help. To do this, you need to find an experienced specialist who will identify the true causes of fear and teach you how to fight the phobia. A psychotherapeutic course may be required, but after it, flying will be perceived more naturally.
Psychologists use a variety of methods to overcome fears of flying on an airplane. The most commonly used:
- Neurolinguistic programming.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy.
- Modern forms of hypnotic influence.
- Drug therapy.
To overcome aerophobia, flight simulators are used - virtual simulators that allow you to develop a certain habit of flying. The feeling of reality of flight is created on the ground, so the fear will not be so strong. Your doctor will help you choose the right pills, but you won’t be able to get rid of your phobia with medications alone. Medicines relieve certain symptoms, but do not cure the disease itself.
Will pills help with fear of flying?
Taking any medications must be agreed with your doctor. If you have to fly often, and panic occurs every time, you will have to look for another method to overcome your fear. The doctor will tell you what to do if you are afraid of flying and how to resist this phobia.
Medicines that help get rid of fear of flying are divided into several categories:
- Mild sedatives. Such medicines are herbal based and relieve mild symptoms of aerophobia. With their help, people overcome nervousness, including before the first flight. Such drugs usually have a cumulative effect, so you need to start taking them in advance. No prescription is required to purchase them.
- Tranquilizers - can be prescribed for severe panic attacks. The tablets provide a sedative and hypnotic effect and are sold exclusively by prescription.
- Barbiturates are strong sleeping pills, used for long flights and severe aerophobia.
Sedatives are relatively safe and have no side effects or contraindications. But they cannot protect you from a panic attack. Tranquilizers are prescribed as a short-term course to eliminate the manifestations of a nervous disorder. Medicines can have long, medium or short effects. The maximum period of validity is 2 days, the minimum is less than 6 hours.
Barbiturates inhibit the functioning of the central nervous system and provide a powerful sedative anticonvulsant effect. However, in their action they are equivalent to narcotic substances, therefore they are used strictly in accordance with the rules and regulations.
Important! Taking barbiturates is accompanied by addiction and the development of persistent dependence.
Typically, medications in this group act within 25 minutes, and sometimes immediately after administration. A prescription is required to purchase them. Barbiturates have a huge number of contraindications, side effects and undesirable effects.
The pills themselves do not help eliminate the fear of flying on an airplane. However, as part of a complex effect, when combined with psychocorrection, medications can give the expected result. But before you take pills, you should start by identifying the causes of the phobia.
What to do if a child is afraid of flying
As we see, even adults suffer from a fear of air travel. Children also often face this fear, and its causes largely depend on age. Children from one to five years old sensitively capture the fears and emotions of their parents, completely focusing on them. If an adult panics, the child will support him in such an experience. In fact, it is not the flight itself that frightens children, but the stress of their parents.
Around the age of five, the fear of death appears. With a vivid and active imagination, children decide that airplanes are dangerous and begin to be afraid. The most common cause of children's fear is adults talking about flying in a negative way. For example, my mother tells how she was afraid to fly, learned to overcome her fear, and listened to stories about disasters.
In such circumstances, a child may well completely refuse to fly, not agreeing to fly even for the sake of interesting travel. Based on a small fragment of danger, a child's mind paints vivid and scary pictures.
Children often cry on an airplane, but the reasons may be different:
- The child was afraid of the unfamiliar surroundings, noisy neighbors, and the sound of the airliner engines.
- The baby could be hungry or simply tired from waiting for the flight.
- Young children often have blocked ears, and they do not yet know how to cope with this problem on their own. In this case, the mother's breast will help the newborn or infant. And for older children - lollipops for sucking during takeoff.
- Fear can be associated with past negative impressions, fear due to turbulence in a previous flight.
Children's fear of flying may be associated with other reasons. Here it is best to talk to the child, ask him why he does not want to go on vacation.
Parents can use tips on how not to be afraid of flying on an airplane and relieve children from fear. It is better to start preparing in advance:
- Tell as colorfully as possible about the benefits of the upcoming trip.
- Focus your child’s attention on the most pleasant moments that await him on vacation.
- Tell us in more detail about all stages of the flight, from check-in and waiting for departure to landing.
- Explain the rules of conduct on an airplane.
- Play pilot, flight attendant.
- Talk about birds that are constantly in the sky and enjoy flying.
- You can tell older children about the safety of airliners, take them on an excursion to the airport, and show them how planes take off and land.
We need to figure out what the child will do during the flight. It should be something that can seriously interest and captivate him: cartoons, board games, reading. For kids, you can take stickers or pencils, ready-made sets of travel games.
Parents will also need some work on themselves if they have any form of fear of flying. You need to learn to restrain your own negative emotions. Under no circumstances should you convey fear, discuss flying as something scary, or watch stories about disasters on TV. It’s better to tell your children how interesting it is to spend time on board and what views you can see from the window.
It is advisable for a child to choose a seat near the aisle so that the view from the window does not frighten him. An interesting conversation, playing on the phone, and getting to know other little passengers help you forget about unpleasant experiences. You can prepare some kind of surprise for your child and give it to him on the plane. For example, a toy that a child has long dreamed of will distract his attention from unnecessary fears.
Important! You can’t focus on the flight; it’s better to talk about what awaits you after landing.
What you need to know about the plane
Both adults and children who are afraid of flying should get an idea of the structure of the airliner and the features of the aircraft:
- Aircraft are equipped with powerful engines that lift them into the air and keep them at altitude for a long time.
- Every airliner has at least two engines. If one of them refuses, the second will take over its functions.
- The aircraft's wings are firmly attached to the body and cannot fall off during flight.
- Every system that is used on an airliner has a backup program. In the event of a failure, the backup software package starts working. There are at least four such “back-ups” in passenger aircraft.
- The deterioration of the pilot’s well-being cannot cause a disaster, since modern air transport is equipped with a reliable autopilot system.
- From the ground, all flights are controlled by air traffic controllers; pilots are in constant contact with them and immediately learn about unfavorable weather changes and other unusual situations.
- The aerodynamic parameters of the aircraft are calculated taking into account turbulence.
Only highly qualified professionals with sufficient experience are allowed to fly aircraft. Before departure, each vessel is carefully checked by technical service staff using special diagnostic devices. The entry of dangerous objects on board is excluded due to customs inspection at the terminals.
Fear of flying is considered aerophobia only when severe symptoms occur. But even in this case, there are opportunities to overcome your fear. The main advice of experienced travelers is to distract yourself from frightening thoughts as much as possible. This rule also applies to children who are afraid of flying. But you should be careful with medications. Tablets do not solve the problem, but only relieve symptoms, and some of them are quite dangerous.
People constantly move around the earth, heading to different parts of the planet. The fastest and most reliable form of transport is an airplane. But every fourth passenger of this air transport is afraid to fly. Many people develop aviophobia, which makes life much more difficult.
Description of mental state
Fear of flying on an airplane can arise against the background of existing phobias, such as claustrophobia or fear of heights. When certain conditions arise that can cause a reaction in a person, the body triggers a protective mechanism of fear.
A person suffering from this type of phobia is forced to limit himself in movement and choice of transport. Remote corners of the planet become inaccessible to him only because he is afraid to be on board an airplane. This type of phobia comes in two varieties.
In the first option, a person experiences natural excitement before the flight. Such fear is more likely associated with the instinct of self-preservation. Therefore, most passengers experience it. With the second type of fear of airplanes, the fear goes beyond the scope of adequate human behavior. It is so strong that consciousness and the ability to realistically assess the situation are blocked. All attempts to calm the passenger do not give the desired result. With such forms, you cannot do without outside help to cope with fear.
For such people, the very thought of an upcoming flight will cause a feeling of anxiety several days before the upcoming event. In some cases, aerophobes do not even allow the thought of buying plane tickets. Such restrictions on movement can significantly impair the quality of life of any person.
Around the world, there are about 20% of people suffering from aviophobia. Such people have never boarded an aircraft. It's not just fear. This feeling is akin to the primitive horror that a person experiences at the sight of a giant machine. It appears even when the airport image appears.
You can distinguish such people on an airplane by the following signs:
- A man listens to the sounds of a running engine. It detects the slightest changes in its operation in order to notice problems. His heart begins to work slower from any shock.
- Long before the flight, the imagination of an aerophobe draws inevitable pictures of a plane crash. He feels anxious at the thought that he will soon have to fly.
- Such people have a need to study various information about plane crashes or historical data about them.
- When boarding an aircraft, he may experience increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, gag reflexes and, in some cases, an attack of diarrhea. Weakness in the limbs and dizziness may also occur.
All people suffering from this type of phobia can be divided into two groups. The first group is afraid of flying machines. The second is afraid of her own reaction to flying on an airplane. They fear that they will not be able to cope with their experiences. Some people are afraid of having a heart attack.
One of the causes of aerophobia (the so-called fear of airplanes) may be a consequence of a person’s desire to control the entire flight process. Because he cannot do this, fear arises.
Purposeful people often suffer from aerophobia who are used to keeping everything under control. Lack of control may be perceived by such people as a security threat. An airline passenger does not understand how the plane works and what protective mechanisms the aircraft has. Due to the lack of this knowledge, his brain perceives the plane as an unsafe place.
Another cause of aviophobia may be a negative experience of flying in a person’s immediate environment. This fear was formed by loved ones. The reason could be a plane crash in which someone close to you died, or another negative experience told by someone. All this creates a negative attitude towards flying in the mind. The cause of the development of aviophobia may be:
- fear of limited space in the aircraft cabin;
- acute fear of heights;
- lack of control over the flight process;
- fear of lack of control over the body's reaction, nausea or vomiting may occur;
- fear of a panic attack in conditions of inevitability;
- the theoretical possibility of the plane being hijacked by terrorists;
- fear of injury during the flight;
- fear of turbulence.
To avoid fear of flying, there are several steps you need to take. Many airlines in Europe have training centers that help you cope with your fear of flying. There is only one such center in Russia, which is located at Sheremetyevo Airport. They will help you overcome your fear of flying and get rid of this fear.
To free yourself from aerophobia, trainings are conducted in such centers. They consist of the following steps:
- A detailed description of how the aircraft works. The fear of flying is often associated precisely with the fact that a person does not understand how such a large airliner can be in the air and not fall. Therefore, it is important for him to know all the basic mechanisms of the aircraft.
- Presence in the cockpit of a pilot in a simulator. Using this simulator, a potential passenger can experience a real flight while on the ground. If a person becomes ill, he can leave the cabin at any time.
- After completing the entire theoretical part and the simulator, passengers are invited to take a short flight in a real plane. This flight is carried out accompanied by a psychologist. As a rule, after such trainings a person either completely gets rid of the fear of flying, or it becomes much easier for him to do it.
First of all, to treat any phobia, you need to understand that you should not close yourself off from your fears, but try to face them. Many people who have problems with flying take sleeping pills or alcohol before boarding the plane so that they can sleep through the entire flight. But this approach will not help in solving the problem. It is necessary to take an adequate look at the flight process.
It is necessary to evaluate all the processes in order to understand why the aircraft is able to take to the skies. The plane is designed in such a way that if the engine fails, it can remain in the air for a long time. According to statistics, plane crashes happen extremely rarely and only under certain tragic circumstances.
In some severe cases, when trainings do not help, medication may be required to treat such a phobia and the help of a psychotherapist. In the first case, sedatives and tranquilizers are used, which are taken in a course before the flight. Such pharmacological agents eliminate attacks of anxiety and fear on an airplane.
With the help of psychotherapy, the patient is immersed in the atmosphere of flight. A person repeatedly experiences takeoffs and landings under the control of a psychotherapist. Relaxation skills are developed during the flight. Thanks to such activities, it is possible to achieve a patient’s state where the flight is no longer associated with panic and fear. On the contrary, an atmosphere of peace and tranquility is developed during flights. Hypnosis can also be used in psychotherapy sessions. In this state, the patient's reaction to a certain situation is studied. Under the influence of hypnosis, the patient learns to relax and respond adequately to what is happening around him.
If you have a fear of airplanes, what to do in the cabin during a flight:
- Take a comfortable position for your body.
- Relax by turning on some light music.
- Try to imagine the good things that await you at your destination.
- Start a light conversation with a fellow traveler. During a flight, it is not recommended to allow growing fear to take over your mind. At the very beginning of its formation, you need to be distracted. Do something that will be pleasant and bring positive emotions. This could be delicious food or looking at interesting magazines. The main thing is that the interest is so strong that there is no room for fear.
Aviation phobia is a fear that deprives a person of many opportunities. Therefore, it is necessary to get rid of it as soon as it appears. There are many effective ways to do this that will definitely help if you purposefully pursue your goal.
Every minute an airliner with passengers on board rises into the sky. Most people in the cabin feel fear of flying, especially when it is their first time. I'm afraid to fly on an airplane, what should I do? This question is asked by approximately 40 percent of the population of our planet; they experience varying degrees of development of fear. It takes over a person so strongly, to the point of developing panic fears and refusing to fly. The fear of flying in an airplane is called aerophobia. About 10 percent of the population actually deals with a phobia. They refuse to travel abroad and prefer to travel by land.
Almost all people who have flown or are planning to do so feel anxiety and discomfort. But this is not necessarily aerophobia. Panic fear of airplanes (phobia) has a number of symptoms:
- while in the cabin, your hands sweat and tightly grip the armrest;
- and breathing;
- throughout the flight, listen to the sounds of the engine;
- afraid to look out the window;
- are afraid of closed spaces;
- fear of turbulence;
- every movement of the flight attendant seems suspicious, you try to decipher her emotions;
- before the flight there is a desire to drink sedatives or alcoholic drinks.
Causes of aerophobia
Before you overcome your fear of flying on an airplane, you should find out what contributes to its appearance. Usually, the development of aerophobia occurs in the same way for everyone. A person getting ready to go on a trip or a business trip experiences severe anxiety. He is visited by thoughts that the plane may fall and he will die. A few days before the appointed date, the stomach shrinks, nausea and vomiting occur more and more often. Already at the airport, sweating increases, hands become cold. After passing through the terminal and boarding the plane, the heartbeat quickens, it becomes difficult to breathe, and dizziness occurs. A person realizes with fear that he will have to take an air flight. Sometimes it comes to the point that the passenger gets off the flight.
The main reasons for the development of aerophobia include:
- Development of fear against the background of other mental disorders. Mainly due to stress and depression. Impressionable and sensitive individuals are more likely to be afraid of flying. Fear of flying is inherent in people who live in confined spaces.
- Genetics also influences the occurrence of a phobia. It manifests itself in an individual whose relatives have anxiety-phobic disorders.
- Living conditions. The environment where a person grew up and the formation of character or personality in childhood play a huge role in the development of phobias.
- Social factors. In most cases, the emergence of aerophobia is influenced by the media, which focus attention on the crash of the airliner and the number of victims. Plus films with scenes of a plane crash.
How to overcome the fear of flying on an airplane?
To travel the world freely, you need to learn how to overcome your fear of flying. First, you need to observe your feelings to further determine the nature of the fear. When a person mistakes anxiety for a phobia, you can cope with the fear yourself.
Statistics
The safest means of transportation is an airplane. According to the figures, the chance of crashing is 1 in 30 million. A huge number of fatal accidents occur in motor vehicles.
According to statistics, the probability of getting into a car accident is 1 in 5000. The most unsafe section of travel is the route to the airport. After boarding the aircraft, you can breathe easy - the most dangerous route has been overcome. When flight anxiety strikes, remember these statistics.
Before the flight
Flying on an airplane, and what do you need to do for this? Timely preparation will help reduce discomfort before the upcoming trip:
- What to do to stop being afraid of flying on an airplane. Most people think that they will not be involved in a plane crash because they manage the transport themselves. In the airliner, another person sits at the helm; I will not send you to control the flight and eliminate the shaking. Accepting the situation will help you perceive what is happening easier.
- Preparing for your trip can help reduce your fear of flying. Find out more information about the country you are going to visit. If this is a tourist trip, make a daily plan, write a list of attractions, restaurants, cafes, amusement parks. Find out what the weather will be like on the day of arrival and pack your things. If this is a business trip, make a meeting plan and prepare a presentation. In your free time, plan to visit museums and art galleries. Preparation will help you forget about your fear of flying.
- Exercise before your flight. This approach will not only help overcome the fear of flying on an airplane, but will also relieve nervous tension. Physical exercise relaxes the body and improves your mood. People become calmer and less anxious.
- I'm afraid to fly on an airplane. Don't be shy and admit it to others. Not saying anything makes the situation even worse. Tell your family or psychologist about your worries and experiences.
- Before traveling, do not read the news or look for crash statistics. Limit watching films with tragic endings, and do not look at scary photographs. Avoid visiting forums where plane crashes are discussed. All this causes the development of fear of flying.
- Before departure, it is recommended to visit the airport a few days before the scheduled date. Walk around the terminal and look around. This method may seem radical, but it will help you tune in to the flight.
- Arrive at the airport early. You will have enough time to check in your luggage and check-in. During the waiting time, you will be able to adapt and tune in for the flight.
How does the plane work?
Lack of knowledge of how aerodynamics works increases anxiety. When boarding an airplane, many people do not understand how such a heavy machine can fly. Ignorance leads to the development of fears. Find out more information about airplanes and how they work. This will help debunk myths that are scary. The fear of flying on an airplane is due to a lack of information.
How not to be afraid to fly - some facts will help:
- The board rises into the sky thanks to four forces: drag, lift, and thrust. To understand how they interact, you should read specialized literature.
- Each plane has two engines. If one of them fails, the second will work. Within two hours the pilot will be able to land the ship. In addition, the engines are much more powerful than those of a car. If two engines fail at once, the plane will make a soft landing.
- Before each flight, the ship is thoroughly inspected. There are 11 hours of maintenance per vehicle.
- Many passengers, when boarding, are afraid that the door will open. At an altitude of 9 thousand meters, the door is under the influence of enormous force. In such conditions it is securely locked.
- Wings help the airliner soar through the air. You don't have to worry about them falling off. The wings are firmly attached to the ship. The probability of loss is reduced to zero.
- The flight support systems are duplicated. When the main program fails, it will be replaced by a backup. The passenger airliner has four spare systems.
- Many passengers are worried that during the flight the pilot will become ill and will not be able to control the aircraft. Each plane has an autopilot; a built-in program will land the plane at the airport.
- There are professionals in their field working on board the ship. Pilots have about 1,500 hours of flight experience under their belts. Don’t worry, there are experienced specialists at the controls, if something happens they can easily land the plane.
Turbulence
The study showed that about 20% of passengers are frightened by turbulence. How to stop being afraid of flying, and what you need to know about air pockets to overcome your fear. Turbulence is the oscillation of an airliner due to crossing the boundary of low and high pressure. Such bumpiness is harmless and does not pose a threat; it is rather similar to falling into a pothole on the highway. The aircraft is designed to withstand such loads. Whether passengers think it will shake or not is influenced by the actions of the pilot. In fact, the airliner is on autopilot. Only in very strong turbulence does it turn off and go into manual mode.
During descent and takeoff, the plane shakes a little as the ship encounters headwinds. Over the past decades, there has not been a single recorded case of a crash caused by turbulence. Injuries sustained during a bumpy ride are due to the fact that passengers were not wearing seat belts.
How not to be afraid to fly on an airplane, exercises during turbulence:
- when entering an area of high or low pressure, follow the instructions of the flight attendant;
- fasten your seat belt and remain in your seat until the aircraft leaves the turbulence zone;
- look at the scoreboard and follow the recommendations indicated there;
- use one of the breathing techniques;
- cover your head with your hands if things fall from the top shelves;
- suddenly your thing fell, do not get up from your place, as soon as the shaking is over, you can pick it up;
- close your eyes and imagine some bright event, this will help you to distract yourself and calm down.
How to overcome your fear of flying - reducing anxiety
Breathing and relaxation exercises will help you get rid of anxiety:
- Sit comfortably, place your hand on your stomach. Take a deep breath in through your nose and exhale slowly for a count of four. Try to breathe from your stomach, not your chest. Do yoga, meditation helps to cope with fears. To achieve results, perform the exercise 5-6 times.
- Relaxation exercises. What to do if you are afraid to fly on an airplane - special exercises will help. Before doing this, determine which part is clamped. Often with anxiety, a person squeezes his shoulders. Inhale deeply and relax your shoulders. Then move on to another part of the body.
- Visual images. Close your eyes and imagine the place or country you are going to. Analyze, what do you see? If this is a tourist trip, mentally walk through the sights. You can turn on relaxing music.
Purchasing plane tickets
How to overcome the fear of flying on an airplane? Direct flights are one easy way to reduce anxiety. Purchasing tickets for direct flights guarantees less time spent on the plane. If you are afraid of turbulence, sit near the wing, there is less shaking here. For flights, give preference to long flights, they have less shaking. The larger the airliner, the quieter it flies. Fly on daytime flights. Night flights can increase anxiety because you can't see anything out the window.
What to do on board?
The main reason for the development of aerophobia is that there is nothing to do on the plane. Free time contributes to increased fears. How to stop being afraid of airplanes while in the cabin:
- Once on board, say hello to the crew. Inspect the interior and passengers, get to know each other. Flying with a group is not as scary as flying on your own. Chatting with passengers can take your mind off bad thoughts.
- Take with you literature that you have long wanted to read.
- Listening to music not only calms you down, but also insulates you from engine noise.
- Most airlines have Internet access on their planes. Visiting social networks is addictive. Time flies quickly, you will not even notice how you reach your destination.
- Download a movie to your tablet or smartphone, watch it directly on board, play games.
- Try to sleep. The flight can take several hours, during which time you can get a good night's sleep.
- If you are starting, take a deep breath and exhale.
- During takeoff, squeeze the armrest to reduce anxiety. Tighten your abdominal muscles, stay in this position for ten seconds and release.
- During the flight, you should refrain from drinking alcoholic beverages. They not only do not reduce fear, but, on the contrary, increase it. The same applies to coffee, it increases anxiety and agitation. Green tea, on the contrary, calms and relaxes.
- Airlines include delicious food in the ticket price. Sweets help get rid of negative thoughts.
- How to stop being afraid of flying. Tell the people flying with you about it. Not only will you be able to calm down, but you will also receive recommendations on how to overcome anxiety from experienced passengers.
Recourse
It happens that a person cannot overcome his fears on his own. Fear of flying on an airplane, what to do? If necessary, you should contact a specialist. One of the most modern methods of getting rid of aerophobia is hypnotherapy, i.e. putting a person into hypnosis.
The main goal of hypnotherapy is to reduce the use of medications to zero, replacing them with fear control. An effective method of getting rid of aerophobia is treatment with hypnosis according to the method
