There are various elements that causes flying phobia.  Among them are other types of specific phobias such are:

• Fear of heights or acrophobia
• Fear of confined/closed spaces or claustrophobia
• Fear of people or sociophobia

Other caused of fear of flying are:

• Worries causes by news/stories related to air disasters.
• Fear of not being in control
• Fear due to concerns about bad weather conditions and turbulence during the flight.
• Traumatic experiences brought about by past flying experience.

The symptoms associated with fear of flying are similar to other specific phobias: uncontrollable shaking, sweating, stomach aches and heart palpitations.  In some cases, a person who has a phobia of flying feels upset and irritable weeks and even months before the actual flight.

The stress and anxiety brought about by fear of flying affects people’s lives, significantly.  People who have severe flying phobia would do anything to avoid plane rides even if it means missing special family event, canceling vacation trips or  turning down a very good job offer that involves flying.  These people would even experience panic attack just by engaging in conversation related to flying, setting foot in an airport or seeing an airplane overhead.

Overcoming Fear of Flying

There are several options available to help overcome fear of flying.  Among them are fear of flying courses offered by airlines, counseling to determine the cause of your fear, psychotherapy and hypnotherapy.

You may also opt to overcome your fear by using the PreEmptive Healing method of guided meditation and hypnotherapy call Fear of Flying – A Guided Meditation, this audio download can help condition your mind for your upcoming flight and even support you thoughout your flight.

You don’t have to be scared of flying or avoid traveling by air your entire life. Visit our website, read our blog articles about Fear of Flying and try out our wonderful audio product, “Fear of Flying  – A Guided Meditation.”

What aspect of flying are you afraid of?

-        The idea of flying high in the sky?

-        Being in a small room full of strangers?

-        Having little control of your flight?

-        Being away from people, places and things familiar to you?

-        Turbulence?

When did you start being afraid of flying?

Try to recall whether you’ve always had a fear of flying or if there’s an event from your past that had caused you to feel scared.

-        Did you have a traumatic experience associated with a past flying experience?

-        Did something happen in your life that made you feel unsure of flying?

-        Did someone cause you to feel hurt or angry or scared before you develop your fear of flying?

-        Did you experience some discomfort from a previous flying trip?

Understanding where your fear of flying is coming from is the first step to help you manage your flying phobia.  Looking at the nature of the problem can help you realized that you might need to address some other issues and not just your fear of flying.  Did you have a traumatic experience that caused your flying anxiety,  it’s possible you may need to seek the advice of a professional.

Whatever the cause, you must remember that fear of flying is a learned fear.  Something that can be unlearned and overcome.  Whether you choose to seek help from a professional or do some self-help remedy, resources are readily available to help you manage your fear of flying.

Those with a mild case of fear of flying don’t necessary have flying phobia.  They would usually just feel uneasy by certain scenarios though out the fight like when the door closes, during takeoff or when there’s turbulence.  These feelings are experienced even by the most seasoned flyers.

There are people who are called “White Knuckle Flyers.”  These people travel only when they have to and usually go through some type of an ordeal to get through their plane journey.  These are the people in the middle of the fear of flying spectrum.

At the far end of the spectrum are those who have flying phobia, people who don’t fly no matter what. They are those people who are willing to gave up a lot  just to avoid flying. The quality of their lives is greatly affected by their fear.

Whether you have a mild case or a full blast fear of flying, help is available.  One option would be to seek assistance from a professional.  There are also other ways to overcome your fear of flying such as:

1. Taking airline courses. For some individuals, it is the fear of the unknown that is preventing them from flying. Educating yourself on how an airplane works and how safe it is to travel by air can lessen fear and anxiety.
2. Joining counseling and group programs. Talking about your fear with someone or a group of people who knows what you’re going through can be another way to lessen your fear of flying.
3. Learning some relaxation methods. Through relaxation, you’ll be able to manage your fear and anxiety.  If you are more relax, you’ll also have less negative thought that causes you to be scared of flying. Our blog contains multiple articles on the subject and PreEmptive Healing has a Fear of Flying audio available to help you condition your mind and reduce your fear and anxiety.
4. Hypnosis. This method helps a person overcome his fear of flying through the power of the mind.  Performed by a trained hypnotherapist, this can be an effective method for people willing to follow their direction. Our “Fear of Flying – A Guided Meditation audio product was developed by  myself, Dr. Anthony DeMarco and a trained hypnotherapist.

Additional Tips for Reduce Flying Anxiety

• Be honest about your fear of flying.  Let the flight attendant know.  They are the people who’ll be able to help you feel more comfortable during the flight.
• If it’s the turbulence that causes you to panic, try finding a seat at the front of the plane.  Turbulence is less in the front than at the back of the plane.
• Distract your mind from thinking about your flight by reading a book, listening to music, watching a movie or answering some crosswords.
• Avoid drinking coffee or anything with caffeine.  Caffeine will only aggravate your anxiety.  But do drink other liquids to avoid dehydration.  Dehydration can only add to your anxiety and fear.
• Bring a music player with headphones.  This can help you relax during the flight.  If you bought our fear of flying audio, we recommend you listen to it throughout your flight.
• People who are afraid of flying would often stress about the flight weeks, even month before the actual trip.  As soon as you find out that you’ll be flying, start conditioning your mind and manage your fear of flying.
• Visit our product page and listen to the audio samplers and purchase Fear of Flying – A Guided Meditation.

Extensive research on commercial flight safety reveals that the death risk per flight is only one in 7 million. Based on this, if you fly on a daily basis, it would take 19,000 years before you encounter a fatal accident. In fact, flying is ten times safer compared to a trip by train, which is generally viewed as one of the safest mode of travel. There is a greater chance of dying from being stung by a bee, one in 5.5 million, compared to flying.

However, all the statistics about the safety of flying seem to be of little value since the fear has nothing to do, at all, with the risks associated with flying. It is an anxiety disorder that results from the simple awareness that life is fragile and vulnerable. It is a fear that can have several components, including the fear of heights, the fear of being over water, the fear of the dark, the fear of the unknown, undue concerns about accidents or deliberate attacks, claustrophobia or fear of enclosed spaces, of being idle for extended periods of time, the loss of personal freedom, concerns about turbulence and weather conditions, unawareness of the normal activities during a flight, the loss of control and of being dependent on technology or other people, as well as some underlying issues from past psychological or physical trauma.

People react to aerophobia in a variety of ways. Some will avoid flying entirely and go to great lengths to arrange their personal and professional lives to avoid it. Other reactions include sweating, rapid heartbeat and breathing, and nausea. Others will use drugs or alcohol to deal with it or become abusive to other people.

What Can You Do If You Are Afraid of Flying?

A number of the major airlines, realizing that this fear can affect their business, offer courses that are designed to help overcome the fear of flying.

These are normally day-long workshop where crew members explain the mechanics of flying, such as the noises the aircraft makes and the reasons for them. This technique is called cognitive behavioral therapy.

It is also possible to practice a number of self-help techniques, including breathing exercises or meditation.  This can be done both before and during the flight. Some people find that visualization, imagining themselves on the plane, with the sounds and sights that scares them, can help them cope better with their fears prior to an actual flight.

When preparing for a trip, it is also helpful to bring a travel bag full of books, magazines, CD player and other items that can help distract you while waiting to board the plane.

Eating a filling and nutritious meal can help you sleep on the flight. This will help you feel better upon arriving at your destination

Avoid sugary snacks, tea, coffee, or other caffeine-filled drinks.  These can make you feel more stressed and they can over-stimulate your already active imagination.

How Can PreEmptive Healing Help You Manage Your Fear of Flying?

PreEmptive Healing has developed a new guided meditation audio that can help. Using the PreEmptive Healing method of managing fear and anxiety, we can successfully reduce fear and anxiety by 30-50%.

Here’s how it works:

We start by conditioning your mind.  Conditioning means to undergo a change so that an act or response previously associated with one stimulus becomes associated with another.  We guide you to substitute courage, strength, love, and empowerment for fear and anxiety. We are going to condition your mind to lower your fear of flying.

We will condition your mind through suggestions and visualizations that you will implement before, during the flight and while you’re plane is landing. To learn more about Fear of Flying – A Guided Meditation, click here.

Click Here to listen to the sample excerpts or purchase this wonderful audio download.