How to overcome the fear of flying?
How to overcome the fear of flying? Fear of flying is quite common. It is an aspect that we could [...]
How to overcome the fear of flying? Fear of flying is quite common. It is something we might call 50/100, that is, although it seems rationally a low probabilistic danger, the truth is that it represents something terrifying to a great many people.
In this article:
We can say that flying-for a good half of the people you know-represents a wonderful experience: for the other half, however, it will be an anxiety-provoking and frightening event.
Until recently, flying represented an activity that could only be done by representatives of an elite. Trivially, only people from a very high social class could afford to fly.
Today, this is no longer the case: flying is much cheaper than in the past and sometimes even more advantageous than a train or car trip. Despite the fact that low-cost airlines offer a lot of air travel even for 10 euros, there are a variety of ways to travel conveniently and comfortably with higher figures. We can say that this last option really represents a good way to experience travel, as if you were at home or even much better. So let's talk about business class!
Why, for some people, is flying an inconvenience?
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What to say. Flying can mean feeling great discomfort. Although it is an irrational level, not having one's feet resting on the ground for some people can really represent something terrifying.
The idea of air travel means in a sense relying on someone to guide a flight. This involves not being able to decide on a course and especially putting one's safety in the hands of strangers.
In these people, the need for self-preservation and protection, and especially the idea of control, is certainly more extensive than in other individuals.
Flying is scary, why?
We do not have wings and therefore are not endowed with the opportunity to fly except through the airplane. The idea therefore that we cannot fly naturally causes an instinctive and uncontrollable fear reaction in our brains.
Fear is a primary emotion, we can call it conservative precisely because it represents a mode that our body implements to preserve itself from uncomfortable situations. Emotionality cannot be controlled, and especially in this situation so unpleasant for our person, the brain will send a signal to the whole body that can produce unpleasant and alarming sensations.
So we are talking about a fear that is difficult to understand and manage and that puts our body on alert, completely ignoring the rational part and activating only the emotional part. Thus, one experiences the fear of flying called Aerophobia. Flying phobia can result from:
- Previously experienced traumatic episodes
- A general state of anxiety
- Past fears
- Difficulty managing emotions, often with panic attacks
- Often inability to activate coping styles to deal with the problem
- Fear of height and emptiness - Acrophobia
- Fear of being in an enclosed, small space - Claustrophobia
- Fear especially during the important steps of a flight: waiting to pass the gate; taking off; landing
- Fear of all sounds that represent flight in any way, even the seat belt sign.
Rationally, we should recognize instead that the airplane is really the safest way to travel. This is because it involves advanced technology, controls, and trained flight personnel. Moreover, the plane is designed exactly for flying.
But does flying only mean "taking" the plane?
Flying does not only mean taking a plane and making a journey. To fly means to go away from one's "nest," from one's stability.
Thus, flying means leaving one's comfort zone, carrying one's existential baggage, that is, one's history.
Therefore, Flying corresponds to leaving one's small habitat and going beyond. It results in experiencing something new and observing what most represents us from another height. Flying is much more, therefore, than taking the plane and traveling.
But then how can one deal with the fear of flying?
It is a phobia that will initially seem unmanageable, but it is actually part of those anxieties that can be controlled through some suggestions.
Let's see together then some tips to overcome the fear of flying:
- Know the vehicle in which you will be traveling, in this case we are talking about getting to know an aircraft well. This will overcome some of what we talked about earlier: noises of flight phases, becoming familiar with the crew workers and then the cabin crew, and understanding how a pilot works.
- Read some research on the subject to understand how safe it is to fly. Just think of the data published at the Aviation Safety Network where airplane accidents are cited; consider how much safer it is totally than traveling by car.
- Use of natural products for more peaceful sleep. This will be able to help you feel better about your flight and especially clear-headed and much more controlled than flying;
- Better manage coping styles by learning strategies that can cope with the symptoms brought on by fear of flying. You could try meditation classes, for example, or yoga classes where you learn to control your breath and understand your body by visualizing it.
A tip on how to overcome the fear of flying: TFC's word!
If you are still not convinced that you can overcome with personal and acquired strategies this fear, we want to tell you about another opportunity: courses to overcome fear of flying offered by airlines.
Some carriers thought it was time to organize dedicated courses. From a study that emerged from the former Alitalia airline's course, 90% of participants began to fly with peace of mind.
EasyJet has also come up with a course to stop being afraid of flying; the online course is called "Fearless Flyer." Equally Lufthansa and Air Dolomiti support the Munich-based agency Texter-Millet to organize group and individual seminars to overcome the fear of flying.
Eva Air, on the other hand, offers another way to board a plane with the sole intent of circumnavigating Japan's Ryukyu Islands, departing from Taiwan without ever getting off the plane.
So there are really a lot of opportunities to try to overcome this fear, of course you have to put yourself out there and try so to use coping strategies.
