How do I conquer my fear of flying?
Written by admin on April 13, 2010 – 12:36 pm -I have a flight tomorrow morning to Oklahoma, but I also have serious aerophobia (I’m terrfied of flying in airplanes). Even the slightest bump from turblence nearly gives me a panic attack. I am always afraid that the plane is going to crash, even if it’s a short flight (1 hour) such as this one. I would like to be able to tolerate, better yet enjoy, flights. Are there any suggestions to help me get over my intense fear of flying?
Tags: conquer, fear, flying
Posted in Behaviors | 12 Comments »
How to Overcome Fear of Flying
Written by admin on March 17, 2010 – 2:28 pm -
Have you ever wanted to take that dream trip to a tropical island in the Caribbean to soak up the sun and atmosphere, but had that dream taken away from you because of your fear of flying? It doesn’t have to be this way! You need to identify exactly why it is you harbour these, and other, fears, and discover ways to overcome fear of flying and other limitations.
What is fear of flying?
An unwillingness to even think about getting onboard a plane is a sure fire sign of fear of flying, but these are some other common symptoms:
- Worrying, and becoming overstressed about a flight for days, weeks, even months in advance
- Having feelings of anxiety before boarding the plane
- Feeling you need a strong drink or sedatives to calm down before a flight
- Feeling uncomfortable when the door closes, when the plane takes off, and when you hear certain noises
- Feeling elated and overcome with relief when you finally get off the plane
Why do you fear flying?
In order to overcome fear of flying we need to understand why the fear exists. There are two types of things in our lives; things we can control, and things we cannot control. Things we can control include our thoughts, our actions, and our reactions to certain situations. However, we cannot control things such as the behaviour of others (legally anyway), the thoughts of others, and the weather, among other things.
Fears emanate from our irrational assumptions that the things we cannot control will turn out to be bad experiences. For example, with flying we have absolutely no control; everything is in the hands of the captain. And even if we wanted to, we can’t just stop the plane and get off. Where do these assumptions come from though? We certainly aren’t born with these fears; they are learned through our experiences and through the experiences of others. Try to think of a time that triggered your fear of flying, it could be a personal experience of a turbulent flight you had, the fearful stories of others, or the frightening images seen on television. It’s likely that your imagination takes these experiences and heightens them into a worse case scenario that accentuates your fear. You need to use your imagination to overcome fear of flying, rather than allow it to feed the fear.
Seldom do people realise that flying is significantly safer than travelling in a car or a train. Think about that for a second; it is more dangerous to hop into a car and drive down a freeway than it is to fly, yet people do it every single day without even thinking twice. When you hop into a car or a train what are you thinking? Really, the next time you get into a car or train, take note of what goes through your mind. Most likely you’re not even thinking about whether or not it’s safe to do so, you just do it. Yet when a plane is involved we allow our imagination to overwhelm us due to the uncertainty, because after all how can an object that big possibly fly?
Overcome fear of flying
There are a number of ways to feel more comfortable about flying, and to use your imagination in your favour.
- Prior to the flight have a full, nutritious meal as it will help you relax during the flight.
- Ensure you pack books to read, or music to listen to, or anything else that will distract you, while you are waiting for the flight, and during the actual flight
- Arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare so you can check-in and get your luggage through without too much hassle
- Avoid sugary foods, or caffeine prior to the flight as this may increase stress levels
Other than these practical tips, a very effective way to overcome fear of flying is to visualise the flight. Before your flight try to visualise every aspect of the journey; from the time you arrive at the airport imagine everything going smoothly during the check-in, see yourself walking calmly, even laughing, as you go through the gates and onto the plane. Imagine yourself sitting in your seat, being absorbed in your book, then seeing the magnificent view out the window. Visualise the smooth landing, and how thankful you are to the crew for such an enjoyable flight. Now that wasn’t so bad was it?
Visualisation is a powerful technique not just to help overcome fear of flying, but also to overcome any other fear you have.
Simon Lim is the proud owner of http://www.rubama.com, where you can overcome all of your mental barriers, and live the life you desire. While you are there, grab your free copy of the ‘501 Greatest Quotes of All Time’ to inspire and motivate you to achieve your dreams
Tags: fear, flying, Overcome
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Nervous Flyer? Try Fear of Flying Hypnosis
Written by admin on February 24, 2010 – 1:34 pm -
We don’t know exactly how hypnosis works; we just know that it does. According to the Orlando Sentinel, both the National Institute of Health, and the American Psychological Association supports the use of hypnosis in therapy. So, can it help you with your fear of flying? Hypnosis is proven highly effective in treating a lot of problems, from phobias and anxiety to pain and even gastro intestinal problems.
It is not clear how effective hypnosis is in helping people in stopping smoking and loosing weight, but many people claim it has helped them with these problems and a lot of therapist offers hypnosis as treatment.
Using hypnosis means “overruling” you conscious mind and tapping into your unconscious mind to get to the bottom of what your fear is all about. When you are hypnotized you are in a state where you can very easily receive and accept “commands” that will help you deal differently with your situation.
If we are talking about fear of flying hypnosis, this would mean figuring out exactly what it is you are afraid of and then change the response you have to the situation.
Hypnosis is not a magical quick fix that immediately takes away your fear, it is more of a long term practice that can help you deal with your issues. Most hypnotherapists recommend you come back regularly for top-ups, or get a recording that help you maintain you hypnosis at home.
With regular use of fear of flying hypnosis over time and gradual exposure to plains and airports, chances are you can beat your fear.
Fear of flying is so common that it is no longer considered a phobia, and there is a lot you can do about it. Using fear of flying hypnosis can be a good way to build your comfort level with the situation (flying) without even being in it. Over time, your new response will be as natural to you as the old one was, and you will be able to manage your fear to the point where it no longer stops you.
When you manage a situation you are afraid of, you build of positive associations with it, and over time, you can even learn to enjoy it.
There are people who report dramatic difference in how they are feeling after only one hypnosis session. Don’t be discouraged when you try your fear of flying hypnosis and it doesn’t immediately make you want to sign up as a steward; it is normal to not notice any particular change right away. Hypnosis is usually done over time, and it doesn’t necessarily give you an instant response.
Fear of flying can be both painful and difficult to deal with, especially as we are living in a world where flying is almost an everyday event for many of us. Fortunately, fear of flying is very common and, fortunately, highly treatable.
A fear of flying hypnosis program can help you overcome your fear and reclaim your life.
Enjoy Travelling Again with Fear of Flying Hypnosis
Overcome Your Fear of Flying Easily with Downloadable Hypnosis Sessions.
Tags: fear, Flyer, flying, Hypnosis, Nervous
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Why do I fear flying more every time I do it?
Written by admin on February 24, 2010 – 12:40 pm -I’m a frequent flyer, and lately it seems my little fears have blown out of control and just make me insane on every flight I have to take.
I never had a problem before, and now it is crippling. Why does flying increase this? Shouldn’t the practice of flying and landing safely HELP the problem?
Tags: every, fear, flying, more, time
Posted in Behaviors | 3 Comments »
