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Fear of Flying

BA 747 

Fear of flying may be a distinct phobia in itself, or it may be an indirect combination of one or more other phobias related to flying, such as claustrophobia (a fear of enclosed spaces) or acrophobia (a fear of heights). It may have other causes as well, such as agoraphobia (especially the type that has to do with fear of open spaces). It is a symptom rather than a disease, and different causes may bring it about in different individuals.

The fear receives more attention than most other phobias because air travel is often difficult for people to avoid especially in professional contexts and because the fear is widespread, affecting a significant minority of the population. A fear of flying may prevent a person from going on vacations or visiting family and friends, and it can cripple the career of a businessperson by preventing him or her from traveling on work-related business.

Commercial air travel continues to cause a significant proportion of the public and some members of the aircrew to feel anxiety. When this anxiety reaches a level that significantly interferes with a person's ability to travel by air, it becomes a fear of flying.

Causes

The fear of flying may be created by various other phobias and fears:

  • a fear of closed in spaces (claustrophobia), such as that of an aircraft cabin
  • a fear of heights (acrophobia)
  • a feeling of not being in control
  • fear of vomiting, motion sickness can make the person vomit, thus making flying hard.
  • fear of having panic attacks in certain places, where escape would be difficult and/or embarrassing (agoraphobia)
  • fear of hijacking or terrorism
  • fear of turbulence
  • fear of flying over water or night flying
  • the result of hormone release during pregnancy
  • the result of difficulty with the regulation of emotion when not in control due to developmental issues
  • fear of crashing resulting in injury or death

Therapy for fear of flying

Behavioral therapies for a fear of flying such as Hypnotherapy and Systematic desensitization rest on the theory that phobia is due to an initial sensitizing event (ISE) that has created the feelings of fear. In other words, the initial sensitizing event was the first time that the person felt those intense feelings of fear.

Hypnotherapy generally involves regression to the ISE, uncovering the event, the emotions around the event, and helping the client understand the source of their fear. It is sometimes the case that the ISE has nothing to do with flying at all