Aviophobia? Incapable of taking an airplane? What to do?

A fear of flying affects people in different ways and can become a real handicap. It’s something very common in fact, as numbers show that one in four people may be apprehensive, or experience fear when considering flying. This fear manifests itself in different ways – it can be as simple as trying to find alternatives to flying, or to actually refusing to embark on a plane. It’s something that can hold people back when they wish to go on a holiday and hurts them and their family. However, it is possible to get a grip of this fear of flying, whatever the level of fear of flying you have.

Why so scared?

We’ve heard it time and time again, aeroplanes are one of the most secure means of travel. Statistics show that it is 100 times more dangerous to travel in a car than by airplane. However, human beings aren’t made to fly and so they experience a primitive fear.
Even knowing that security is at the forefront of all flight companies, and that there’s a zero tolerance policy, and that pilots are trained and tested time and time again, still the fear takes hold of us.

Our reasons for a fear of flying differ between individuals.

Different reasons for a fear of flying

Contrary to what many think at first, a fear of flying isn’t necessarily connected to the flight itself.  It has emerged from courses that aimed to comfort people who have a fear of flying, that there are other connected fears, including:

• Claustrophobia
• Fear of heights
• Agoraphobia
• Misophonia
• Social anxiety
• The fear of having a panic attack
• Emetophobia – an intense fear of vomiting
• Security measures
• Turbulence
• Terrorist attacks
• Concerns about the airplane

Tips to ease and calm a fear of flying

Before the flight :

• Have a good night’s sleep and eat a light meal. When we are tired, our stress levels increase. Eat light meals on the day of departure. Avoid stimulants such as caffeine, tea and alcohol.
• Fear of flying courses. Many flight companies offer courses for people who have a fear of flying. The results in general are very positive, and the trainers have a great deal of knowledge about frequently occurring problems related to a fear of flying.
• Create a cocoon to cause less stimulation from outside elements. You can do that by wearing sunglasses and earplugs or by listening to music with headphones to lessen the aggressive sounds and bright light at the airport that may contribute to your stress.
• Arrive at the airport early to ease your stress. If you’re late and you don’t believe you will arrive on time to take all the necessary steps you need to before making your flight, it will cause heavy tension and you will be stressed before boarding the plane.
• Medication and sedatives are not recommended by the WHO, because they raise the risk of phlebitis and thromboses. Preparation for the flight and a fear of flying can be made in advance through natural solutions. Bach flower mix 91 gives great results.

When boarding the airplane:

• One more time, be in the boarding line well in advance.
• If you attended a course recently, the crew will know about it and you will receive special treatment and extra attention. If this isn’t the case or you took the course a long time ago, it’s good to let the crew know. Try to avoid the back seats of the airplane, because that’s where the movement of the plane will be mostly felt. The best choice is to be seated near the wings, this is the most stable place.
• Put yourself at ease: your clothes should be comfortable, take off your shoes and try to relax your muscles, because when your muscles are relaxed, your emotions will be less likely to be tense.
• Handle turbulence well. A well-known psychologist in the airplane business environment offered very good advice when faced with turbulence. It’s called the ‘4 R rule’. React, you should have a reaction, don’t let yourself be caught up in fear or panic. After the reaction, it’s important to regulate your respiration by breathing in slowly and breathing out long and slowly. After this step, consciously, relax the muscles. After that part try and remember – think about - nice things. 
• The respiration technique isn’t only for moments of turbulence, but for every moment where stress will try and take over during the flight.
• It’s important to know that turbulence is a very normal thing: it’s like a sea wave, it’s not comfortable, but it’s not dangerous. You can also compare it to the shaking of a vehicle when driving on a paved road.
• Find an anti-stressor. Like kneading balls, or little gadgets to spin a certain way, something that will help you remain grounded.
• And of course, avoid stimulants such as coffee, tea, alcohol. They should be banned pre-flight. You should stay calm.

Don’t hesitate to use Bach flowers First Aid in addition to mix 91 on the day of the flight. Use it when you feel the need for it.

Don’t forget that eventually the airplane is heading for something you wished for, so think about the things that come after the plane landed. Remain positive and everything will go well!

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