From mild anxiety to a full-blown panic attack, the fear of flying takes many forms. For some, the heart races as the plane climbs into the sky, yet the fear does not overpower. For others, fear mutates into dread and becomes paralyzing: trembling, cold sweats, hands gripping the armrests, and a fixed gaze. For 10 out of 100 people, the very idea of flying is completely unimaginable.
Aviophobia – Why Do Some People Fear Flying?
As with its intensity, the origin of fear of flying varies from person to person. There are essentially four causes:
- Claustrophobia
- The fear of losing touch with the ground, together with the difficulty in admitting that a plane can simply fly
- The sense of loss of control and the impossibility of imagining that one’s life could be entrusted to a third party, namely pilots;
- The memory of a trip that went badly (40% of people who fear flying are affected).
From there, one can see that the fear of flying can lead to extreme situations. Think about vacations spoiled by increasing anxiety before departure, then fear of takeoff, and once on site, the stress of the return flight. Worse still: the inability to visit loved ones living far away.
On the professional side, the consequences can be dramatic as well. Refusing to travel for business, for example, can result in a loss of credibility with an employer, a hindrance to career advancement, and even job loss.
Another scenario, mid-flight: a panic attack that could lead to an emergency landing.
Peur en avion, les solutions
As you can see, mastering your fear of flying is a major challenge for many of us. If you’re affected, read the following lines carefully to discover how to reduce your travel stress when flying.
Sophrologie
By working on both body and mind, sophrology helps you confront and master fear. The therapist teaches the breathing and relaxation techniques necessary to control your anxiety and/or phobia. A typical program runs for about three months, generally comprising around ten sessions.
Peur de l’avion hypnose
Having fear of flying often falls into the category of learned fears, which can take root in childhood or emerge suddenly for no apparent reason. Hypnosis helps access the subconscious and pinpoint the exact causes of the problem. Sometimes one session is enough, but plan on two for more serious cases and three for extreme ones.
Les stages préparatoires pour lutter contre la phobie de l’avion
There are also preparatory courses organized over several months by professionals in the field. Highly effective, they combine psychological support, theoretical training, and flight experiences in a simulator.
Bonus : 4 consignes à suivre juste avant et pendant le vol
You might be thinking: “I’ll pull an all-nighter the night before departure, that way I’ll sleep once I’m on the plane!” Big mistake… The first rule, which applies just as well to people who fear flying as to others: Avoid excessive fatigue in the days leading up to your flight.
To avoid adding stress on top of stress, remember to leave the airport early. This will help you avoid panicking in heavy traffic or with public transit problems. Once at the airport, take time to stroll through the terminals: a way to tame, and thus accept, your new environment.
Next step: when you board, put aside your shyness and talk to the crew about your anxiety. There is nothing shameful about being afraid of flying. If it becomes uncontrollable during the flight, don’t hesitate to alert the cabin crew, who are trained in emergency response.
Finally, throughout the various phases of flight, strive to breathe deeply and do not yield to the temptation of alcohol or sedatives.
There you have it! You’ve just seen that overcoming fear of flying is far from impossible. Courses, online training and sophrology are among the best approaches to beat anxiety. Add to that a few simple practices to adopt before and during the flight, and you will undoubtedly approach your trip more calmly.
