Fear of Flying (Aviophobia)

A person who has a fear of flying will try to avoid flying at all costs because just even the thought of flying can cause them lots of stress and anxiety.

Sometimes such people cannot avoid flying and so when they do take a flight, they suffer a lot. Some people are even known to have panic attacks.

Some of the common conditions faced by a person who is afraid of flying include:

=> Nausea, vomiting and motion sickness
=> Dizziness or a feeling of 'falling'
=> Sweating
=> Muscle tension
=> Heavy breathing
=> Increased heart rate or palpitations
=> Shaking or trembling

There are many reasons as to why a person might have fear of flying. There are so many factors that can contribute to the cause of fear of flying and can be different from individuals to individuals.

Many times fear arises due to previous bad experiences. A person may have gone through a turbulent flight before or may have lost someone due to air accidents.

Then there are million others that have developed a fear of flying due to news reports and movies of air crashes and terrorists attacks of airplanes. There is a genuine fear factor here especially after you are bombarded daily of news reports of such and such airlines having such and such accidents. Bad publicity encourages and propagates the fear of flying in many of us.

Another cause of fear of flying can be attributed to having no control in airplanes. You are dependent on others (pilots, air stewards) to fly you from place to place and all you can do is sit quietly and worry if they are doing their job correctly and if all the machines are working like they are supposed to.

Fear of being in small confined places (claustrophobia) may also cause fear of flying. Spending hours on a flight is a small seat can create stress and anxiety in a lot of people.

Other factors that may attribute to the fear of flying include motion sickness and the fear of height.

There are a number of things you can do to help you overcome your fear of flying.

Treatment Options for Aviophobia

Drug Therapy

Some drugs can be used to help you relax and temporary control your symptoms of Aviophobia. However it must be kept in mind that drug treatments do not treat the underlying disorder and may cause unwanted side-effects. Always remember to "test-out" any medication on the ground where medical supervision is at hand, to ensure you don't have any adverse reactions - as this is not something you only want to discover mid-flight!

Natural Herbal and Homeopathic Remedies

Certain natural remedies may be taken to help control the anxiety associated with flying. Herbs such as Hypericum perforatum (St John's Wort), Passiflora incarnata, Scutellaria laterifolia (Scullcap) and Valerian are often recommended for anxiety and will help to calm the nerves and relax the mind during your flight. There are also excellent herbal and homeopathic remedies for travel sickness. As with any other phobia, a holistic approach using a combination of treatments will prove to be most successful.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Desensitization is one of the more commonly used methods in treating fear of flying. This will entail gradually facing the idea of flying, starting with simply talking about it, or visiting an airport, to eventually taking a flight. You will be taught relaxation methods and coping techniques to combat your phobia.

Relaxation Techniques

Meditation, deep breathing and muscle relaxation techniques can help reduce your anxiety during flights. Practice these at home first so that they can be easily applied when you need them. Especially composed CD's can help to reduce anxiety, relieve tension and take your mind off things.

Airline-Affiliated Programs

Many Airlines now offer special programs to help people overcome their fear of flying. These may include desensitization sessions where you can actually board the plane without taking off, information provision so that you understand more about the workings of planes and what can be expected, as well as other coping strategies that have been successful for others.

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