Lessons in the treatment of fear of flying on an airplane. A special application against the fear of flying. The plane is the safest transport: what the facts say

Pilot Lyokha, also known as the pilot of the Pobeda airline Alexei Kochemasov, tells why traveling by car and train is much more terrible than flying by plane.

Let's fly. The plane chatters, but not much. A flight attendant enters the cockpit and says that the passenger is hysterical. I ask you to bring her to me. The young girl is all pale, shaking. I sit her next to me and just talk, explain that everything is in order with us. 15 minutes of calm dialogue - and no phobia. This old incident made me think - why are people afraid to fly?

So the pilot of the Pobeda airline Alexei Kochemasov, better known on the Web as the pilot Lyokha, began a meeting with passengers in Yekaterinburg. Those who love the sky came, and those who love Lyokha. The correspondent of Life rather belonged to the third group of those gathered - aerophobes who want to overcome this ailment.

Most people are afraid of flying because they don't know what's going on in an airplane. Incomprehensible sounds, rattle, steam. For example, I myself am afraid of trains. I ride trains, yes. But on long distance for a lifetime (pilot Lyokha is 51 years old. - Approx. Life) I went only two or three times. I can’t say that I have a panic fear of the train, but I feel uncomfortable, I count the trains dangerous transport because they keep going off the rails. And I don’t understand the principle of operation - why don’t the wheels fall inside the rails, especially when cornering?

Phobia from ignorance is cured at once! It is enough to simply explain what is happening and at what moment.

The second group of people are those who are afraid because they do not control the flight. They say: I don’t see where the plane is flying, I can’t do anything, nothing depends on me.

But you are a passenger in a car! The driver has a steering wheel, pedals, and you have nothing. And then KamAZ flies in the forehead. What can you do? Nothing.

The third group is the most difficult - they need to immediately see a psychiatrist. These are those who are inwardly ready to die. When they find out that they need to fly - two weeks in advance or a month in advance - they begin to eat themselves up. Recently, here in Cheboksary, the plane rolled out of the runway. Although there was nothing terrible there, the media are starting to spin: "No one died", "No one was injured." This information catches the eye everywhere, and a person winds himself up. Preparing to fly, he is preparing to die. He thinks: the planes have not fallen for a long time, so mine will fall. He comes on board already with a sense of doom.

These people are very easy to recognize. Men usually get drunk. And alcohol in the air is a dangerous and insidious thing. With the ascent to a height, a person experiences oxygen starvation and alcohol in the body does not break down, that is, there is no assimilation. Therefore, if 150 grams of vodka drunk on the ground is nothing for a healthy man, then at a height he is already blown away.

Women are even easier to identify. She will yell at the taxi driver, she was given the wrong seat at check-in, her luggage was put in the wrong place, she enters the plane and insults the flight attendants. The woman starts to fight.

I realized that it is useless to say something to such passengers, and I do not know how to deal with them. They are dangerous. The plane chattered strongly - the alarmist jumps up and runs to open the doors. The other passengers, who weren't ready to die, panicked and also helped open the door. Flight attendants often stop at the door of those who want to "get out" in flight.

"As the classics said, knowledge is power," Alexey adds. That is why in the 2000s he began to maintain his blog of the pilot Lyokha. He helps people understand the intricacies of aviation, gladly answers all, even provocative, questions and does everything to make passengers no longer afraid to fly. For example, after the flight, you can ask Lyokha in the cockpit. So be sure to listen to the name of the captain, and if there is Alex, then go to the light.

In the meantime, he tells the audience about the most popular fears and myths about flying.

Take-off landing

Why takeoff and landing are the most difficult and stressful moments in flight? Because of the proximity of the earth. It's a lack of time. The plane scatters along the runway, the speed grows and grows, but it still cannot take off, there is still not enough lift. There comes a moment when the plane is no longer "running", but not yet flying, then it takes off - and yet it flies, but the speed is low, it only accelerates. And if something happens, the margin of time is minimal - you need to react instantly. It's one thing when an airplane flies at an altitude of 12 thousand meters, it will fall to the ground for 20 minutes - there is a wagon of time. And at the ground everything will happen in 20 seconds. And statistics say that accidents most often occur on takeoff / landing. The cases when the plane fell from above can be counted on the fingers, and then there were always some external factors - terrorist attacks.

During takeoff and landing, a roll (tilt) of the aircraft of 30 degrees is allowed. Moreover, I will surprise you, but the instructions for flying Boeing aircraft say that you can perform a "barrel" on them. Of course, this is not normal practice. Boeing writes that when your plane turned out to be with a roll of more than 90 degrees (lowered its nose or falls somewhere), do not take it away, tighten the barrel and fly further. By and large, the plane does not care how you fly - even upside down.

Turbulence

Not all companies in the world, in principle, bypass the "chatter" - Asians always fly directly. Most of the videos when trays and things fall from luggage compartments, for Asian Airlines. Probably, the point is in the mentality - they believe in reincarnation.

Joking aside, imagine a large glass ball. Let's put a mouse there and let it into the stream. He swims, he is rocked by the current. What will happen to the ball? Nothing. What about the mouse? Also nothing, but she will chat. The plane flies in an uneven environment - there are air currents. Between Greenland and Canada over the Baffin Sea (there is about 800 km, an hour of flight) the wind blows on average 300-400 km per hour. It's always shaking there. Sausages from the heart.

Why should you buckle up? So that your head does not hit the ceiling, but nothing will happen to the plane. Therefore, the question of turbulence should not be raised at all. Shaking and shaking.

old plane

How does the passenger evaluate the aircraft? He comes in and sees: a new chair, carpets, a pleasant smell - that means the plane is new. But the interior of the aircraft is not an indicator of its technical condition. When there were intensive flights to Egypt (for some reason, violent passengers flew in this direction all the time), in the new cabin, after several flights, the back of the chair was already torn off, chewing gum was stuck on, the inscriptions "I love you, Masha", a three-letter word. If the pocket on the seat is torn off, the entire row of seats must be dismantled, and the plane must fly away in one and a half to two hours. It just doesn't get fixed.

The age of the aircraft and its reliability are very weakly related. Until now, there are several airlines in the world that operate Douglas DC-3. It was discontinued in the middle of the 20th century, but they still carry passengers. American Airlines has one of the oldest fleets in the world with an average age of 17 years. The youngest is at Pobeda: our planes are not two years old.

I have been able to fly on airplanes ancient construction and very fresh. And it turned out that new ones break more often. Surprising but true. It's like a car: when you take it from the factory, there are "childhood diseases", and here - some small dirty tricks come out all the time.

Alexey's words sound convincing. Sometimes he switches to technical details, draws diagrams, writes formulas, operates with words I do not understand. There is no doubt about his professionalism. And he, in turn, vouches for the rest: an inexperienced person will never be put at the helm of an aircraft. And in general, it is much more dangerous to smoke at the entrance in the spring. Icicles fall more often.

Since not everyone can not be afraid to fly on an airplane. Aerophobia affects not only ordinary people who saw a real plane once in their lives, but even movie and television stars, politicians and businessmen - all those who have to fly a lot. Filled with fear and not knowing how to overcome aerophobia, they cancel the flight, replacing the plane with any ground transport. A person who experiences a panic fear of flying is ready to get to the final goal for as long as he wants by train, car or ship, just not to rise into the air. But no matter how scary it is to fly by plane, this problem is solvable, since it is quite possible to cope with aerophobia.

The root of the problem

To overcome aerophobia, it is important to find its source. main reason psychologists call this disease the fear that the plane might crash. Quite often we hear how, due to a technical malfunction, weather conditions or pilot error kills hundreds of people. And although, according to statistics, people get into accidents on the roads much more often than in the air, it is the flight that causes panic for many. After all, the chances of surviving in a plane crash are almost zero.

It's interesting that Soviet people did not even think about how to stop being afraid to fly on airplanes. In the USSR, it was forbidden to cover air crashes in the media and talk about the death of people. That is why the fear of flying on an airplane was alien to most residents of the Soviet state.

However, not only the expectation of a catastrophe provokes the fear of flying. The fear of flying on an airplane also haunts people suffering from claustrophobia and acrophobia. Fearing for your life is a normal human condition. But when these fears are accompanied by panic, they become a phobia. There are the following symptoms of aerophobia:

  • a person who does not understand how to stop being afraid to fly on an airplane, long before the flight, a feeling of anxiety arises, his mood worsens;
  • a person becomes nervous and distracted, behaves unusually;
  • people suffering from aerophobia tend to carefully study cases of air crashes;
  • immediately before the flight, a person’s pulse and heartbeat quicken, palms sweat, breathing gets out of hand.

Most often, the fear of airplanes, like other phobias, haunts people with an unstable psyche, prone to depression. However, the fear of flying can be caused by other reasons. Often people's phobias are related to accidents that happened in life. If a person once encountered trouble during a flight, then the traumatic experience is subsequently deposited in the mind and causes a fear of airplanes.

How to get rid of fear

There are actually a lot of people with this problem. For them, special courses have long been created, since it is really necessary to deal with aerophobia. Any courses begin with the study of the device of the aircraft. After all, this steel machine is not as simple as many people think. It cannot just fall down due to the failure of some part or a lightning strike that hit it. When teaching, attention is paid to such a phenomenon as turbulence, because aerophobes are most often afraid of it. The courses end with a lesson on the simulator, where everyone can feel like both a passenger and a pilot.

Having the necessary knowledge about the structure of the aircraft and the flight process, it is much easier not to panic in force majeure situations. Many tour operators and airlines offer similar courses to their clients who do not know how to overcome aerophobia. Self-education can also help. But if the degree of phobia is high, then it is necessary to add drug and psychological therapy to the courses, since it will not be possible to overcome the fear of flying on an airplane with theoretical training alone. Comprehensive treatment is also necessary in advanced cases.

If aerophobia is tormented, psychologists will tell you how to get rid of it. Experts are not limited to oral persuasion alone, but offer several effective methods for combating aerophobia. During hypnotherapy, the patient mentally returns to the events that caused the disease. Sometimes the cause of the fear of flying is not even related to the plane. The specialist helps to eradicate the fear that has settled in the subconscious of the patient. Sometimes a person is moved into a stressful situation with the help of computer images. Such therapy is quite complicated, but gives a good result.

Treatment of aerophobia can also take place with medication. There are no medicines that would eradicate fear. But strong sedatives help to calmly endure the flight. In some situations, doctors recommend taking a whole course of medical treatment 7-10 days before the flight.

Of course, a complex of such procedures is not cheap. But if you don’t know what to do with aerophobia, how to deal with the disease and get rid of the notorious fear, it’s better to spend money once and eliminate the problem forever. To consolidate the result, experts advise arriving at the airport in advance to get used to the situation. Do not wear tight and uncomfortable clothing, which will only increase general discomfort. Do not take a seat near the window or at the tail of the aircraft, where the turbulence zone is felt more strongly. Better network closer to flight attendants. It’s good if a close person flies next to an aerophobe who can entertain and calm. If the flight is to be alone, it is better to take some kind of gadget with you with music, a movie or a game to distract yourself from pessimistic thoughts.

Almost every minute in the world take off passenger planes. However, as statistics show, 70% of airline customers are simply afraid of flying. Such a phobia is quite natural, especially if you are using such services for the first time. Let's figure out together how to deal with a common problem.

Why is there a fear of flying?

  1. Most people are simply afraid of flying on an airplane, such a fear is quite acceptable, and there is a place to be. It should be noted here that some individuals cope with their phobia quite successfully. They ignore it or immerse themselves in music, a book. Other people in most cases minor concern turn into a global problem, fear. Phobia is laid deep in the subconscious.
  2. The reasons for the development of such a problem can be varied. For some people, the fear of flying is transmitted at the gene reflex level from ancestors who were afraid of heights or birds. For this reason, a person may unconsciously be frightened by a nearby plane. As soon as the airliner takes off into the sky, the human body feels tangible discomfort due to the unusual environment.
  3. In this case, if a person is subject to phobias on a subconscious level, the fear of flying begins to develop and manifest itself strongly. Panic sets in and the body experiences tremendous stress. A person simply may not be aware of the cause of the phobia. It is also important to understand that most people simply watch disaster movies and deliberately begin to develop a fear of flying.
  4. In most cases, people are afraid of flying at the moment when the procedure takes place for the first time in their lives. A person can simply be overcome by a feeling of the unknown. In some cases, due to poor health after the first flight, people are not impressed with the best. From this, a phobia begins to develop at a subconscious level. Either way, fear must be overcome.

Symptoms of a fear of flying

  1. Unfortunately, people can suffer not only from aerophobia. Often, in some individuals, in addition to this, the fear of enclosed space and heights is added. Also, some people suffer from a negative feeling of an unfamiliar company on board the aircraft. To make out everything, you should know how afraid you are of flying.
  2. If you begin to experience fear of flying long before the trip, the phobia is definitely there and not weak. You start to panic from scratch imagining the whole process. If you are unable to cope with the phobia and cannot control the internal panic, you definitely have a problem.
  3. If you consume enough alcohol to calm yourself every time you board a plane, it's worth considering. This includes antidepressants and sedatives. The phobia also manifests itself if you cling to the seat every time you take off and land. Often, with such fear, palms sweat, fingers simply dig into the armrests.
  4. Also, fear begins to manifest itself in the fact that you are constantly worried. You concentrate and closely monitor the sound of the engine and its operation. In the porthole you observe any abnormal phenomena. A phobia manifests itself to a special extent if you find yourself in a zone of turbulence and mentally say goodbye to life.

How to deal with a phobia

  1. Before the flight, you need to tune in in advance and arm yourself with positive thoughts.
  2. Never watch movies before traveling. similar disasters and don't read news reports about plane crashes.
  3. Do not view the statistics of air accidents. Believe me, many more people die in car accidents.
  4. To tune in psychologically for the flight, you should check in in advance and ask for a seat away from the windows.
  5. At the moment of loading the airliner, you can get comfortable in a new place with peace of mind. Remember, don't take a seat at the tail of the plane. Shaking is especially felt there, especially with turbulence.
  6. It is strongly recommended not to resort to the help of alcohol and sedatives before the flight. Such drugs can provoke an unpredictable reaction.
  7. To cope with motion sickness, it is enough to arm yourself with special tablets or directional lozenges.
  8. So that the phobia does not manifest itself to the full extent, it is strongly recommended to distract yourself with any accessible way. Arm yourself with a music player with your favorite songs or a fascinating book.

Professional methods of dealing with a phobia

  1. Analyze your psycho-emotional environment. What worries you the most about flying? Takeoff, landing, the path itself or its duration. Find a good specialist and make an appointment. State to the psychologist all your fears and ask for support.
  2. The specialist will make every effort so that you can overcome the phobia. You will not get by with one conversation, you will need a full-fledged course. Over time, flights will not seem so scary, but rather, naturally.
  3. If we talk about professional help in the fight against aerophobia, simulators-stimulators are used in the process of therapy. They allow you to get used to long flights in a short time without feeling fear. This equipment is good because, being on the ground, you feel comfortable. Subsequently, this state is transferred to flight through the air.
  4. In addition to training on simulators, the specialist will select medication. You may need to take a course. Also ask your doctor to prescribe medications that you can take right before takeoff to make you feel more comfortable.
  5. The pills that the psychotherapist prescribes are conditionally divided into 2 types. The first can be attributed to drugs of cumulative action, to the second - high-speed. Accumulative are accepted in several steps after a certain period of time. Fast ones act immediately, 1 unit is enough for the entire flight to calm down.
  6. Drug treatment is carried out by inhibiting nerve impulses and in the form of a sedative effect. That is, in the first case, anxiety is suppressed during the flight, in the second, a person calms down, his psycho-emotional environment normalizes.
  7. It should be understood that buying and starting to take medicines on your own is not an option. The doctor must conduct an examination himself and prescribe (if necessary) a course of sedatives or anti-anxiety drugs.
  8. You can quickly get used to medicines, so it is not recommended to drink them constantly. It is enough to take a course and combine it with flight simulation on a simulator, as well as other techniques that will allow you to get rid of aerophobia.
  9. You can only take medication occasionally and in case of emergency, for example, if you travel once a year. Try to prepare for the flight well in advance. A month before the intended trip, drink Glycine or valerian infusion.

Many people who regularly watch the news notice how often planes crash. But that's just their opinion. In order not to be afraid of engine failure or other breakdowns, read design features flying apparatus.

If you need to prepare for a flight again, don't worry. Thanks to the laws of physics, you will understand that a huge apparatus with many passengers on board will last in the air for a long time.

  1. Thanks to the most powerful engine, which is equipped with all modern passenger airliners, the plane soars among the clouds throughout the entire time of transportation.
  2. The plane has at least 2 engines, so there is no point in worrying that one of them will break. If motor number 1 fails for some reason, the second one will keep you in the air and work fully.
  3. The plane soars in the sky thanks to the wings, they are firmly attached to the body. Engineers have reduced to 0 the likelihood that the wings will fall off when carrying passengers. So don't worry.
  4. In airliners that are aimed at transporting people, each important control system has 3-4 backups. If suddenly the main one fails, the new system will take over its functions.
  5. All aircraft are equipped automatic system piloting, which helps to land or lift the liner into the sky. The pilot acts as an auxiliary link. Do not worry about the human factor (that the pilot will not cope).
  6. Each airliner is controlled by ground controllers who accurately track the movements of the aircraft. The pilot is always in touch, exchanging information in connection with changing weather conditions and can foresee absolutely everything.
  7. Do not be afraid of the turbulence zone, fasten your seat belts, straighten the back of your chair, close your eyes and turn on your favorite music. The stewardess or steward will warn in advance that the ship will soon enter the turbulent zone. Thanks to the aerodynamics of the aircraft a natural phenomenon will not harm the structure of the ship.
  8. It is also worth clarifying that the selection process for pilots, flight attendants, stewardesses is extremely tough. Therefore, do not doubt the professionalism of those who fly with you on board. If they are confident in the reliability of the "bird", then you should too.

What will happen if you do not get rid of aerophobia

  1. If the flight is in the near future, a person begins to worry about it in advance. Obsessive thoughts do not allow you to concentrate on the main thing, to the point that chronic insomnia or nightmares appear.
  2. The psycho-emotional background is strongly shaken. Sleep problems lead to irritability, breakdowns, unreasonable anger. This directly affects interpersonal and business relationships.
  3. If a person intentionally hides aerophobia, wanting to look like a kind of "hero", this is even worse. In the process, fear builds up, turning the man or woman into a shrill (frightened) person.
  4. On the basis of a phobia, nervous disorders develop, and they, in turn, lead to problems with the heart muscle, increased arterial and intracranial pressure, and disruptions in the endocrine system.
  5. An aerophobe cannot fully relax, because every preparation for a vacation is accompanied by obsessive thoughts.

If you have been faced with fears and fears of flying for a relatively long time, and you have to travel by plane all the time, it makes sense to seek help from professionals. Every phobia has consequences, so you need to fight your fears and concerns on initial stage origin.

Video: how to overcome the fear of flying

About, how not to be afraid to fly, many citizens around the world have to think. In fact, how else can you get to or admire the most beautiful natural architecture? The bad thing is that the fear of flying is unpredictable, it can overtake suddenly, it can be provoked even by the smiling face of a flight attendant, who affably invites you into the cabin on the last step of the ladder. But he can be dealt with.

Serious aerophobia or temporary fear?

Can't imagine what to do if you are afraid of flying? First of all, it’s worth sorting out whether this is a temporary mental disorder or a stable one, more like a disease called aerophobia. If it is not known where the sensation that has arisen from is absolutely unknown to you before, then you can try to laugh it off or philosophize. In the case of persistent fears of flying on an airplane, which are accompanied even by somatic disorders (fainting), it is worth contacting a psychologist.

It is a specialist psychologist (do not confuse with a psychiatrist) who is able to help stop being afraid to fly. For such psychological trainings to combat aerophobia, flight personnel are often invited - pilots and stewardesses. Firstly, you will see for yourself that in front of you are ordinary people made of flesh and blood, and not cyborgs. Secondly, you will hear about what is really worth doing in order to overcome aerophobia, and what cannot be done under any circumstances.

But what if you have purchased a ticket and, for example, a couple of weeks before the flight, you started to have aerophobia, which you are not able to fight? In this case, you need to approach the issue competently. But, as practice shows, it is not difficult to overcome aerophobia!

Most dangerous places on the plane (Infographics: www.aif.ru)

What not to do before the flight

From all recipes how to deal with aerophobia, the offer to get drunk before flying on an airplane to the point of complete insanity is the most harmful. It doesn't solve the problem, and if it does, it won't be for long. You cannot predict how your body will react to alcohol doping during a flight. It is possible that under conditions of low pressure (when the plane occupies the prescribed level, it decreases somewhat in the cabin), the oxidation of the oxygen contained in the blood will go in the presence of alcohol (by the way, maybe someone will be interested in reading about) uncontrollably fast. This will lead to the fact that a person who calmly fell asleep on the takeoff of the plane will begin to experience euphoria, and even worse, panic fear. Do you know why many people are afraid of flying? But because of such subjects who suddenly came out of nirvana. In addition, it is absolutely known that the hangover syndrome that arose in flight is the most difficult to tolerate. There are even cases of heart attacks in apparently healthy people.

And one more recipe for combating aerophobia: you can’t “wind” yourself. If you have a flight, then do everything not to read a single line about the model of the aircraft on which you will fly. Don't post on forums and don't collect crash statistics. It has already been collected and these data are much more objective. According to them air transport the most reliable. No matter what they say about possible violations, deviations from the rules and other unpleasant things, aviation has been and remains the most regulated industry. As a rule, minibuses, on which you shake every day, are controlled much worse. And falling from a height of one's own height is considered by medicine as just as risky as falling from 10,000 meters.

Stereotypes that scare us

Doubts about should you be afraid to fly, are often reinforced by common stereotypes, which only exacerbate people's aerophobia. Some of the most harmful are based on anti-patriotism. For some reason, on earth we are enthusiastically chanting “Russia!” and consider ourselves the best in the world. But it is worth touching aviation in a conversation, so miraculous transformations and horror stories about liners falling apart in flight, drinking stewardesses and pilots immediately begin.

In fact, Russian aviation is firmly integrated into the global transport network and is subject to all international regulations. And the largest domestic airline Aeroflot, unlike the rest of the post-Soviet, it has relatively new aircraft, which are distinguished by good maintenance. The only thing I would like to advise is to avoid flying on the most dangerous and unreliable aircraft, the crashes of which, according to statistics, occur most often - this is Boeing 737, Boeing 747, Tu-154, An-24, Yak-40 and some others, and Boeing 777, IL-86, Airbus A340 are considered the safest airliners.

Is it possible, for example, to allow the takeoff of a technically faulty airliner with an inadequate crew? Such a plane is dangerous for everyone on the ground, and no one will risk himself for the sake of unknown commercial interests. Even the pilots themselves, due to typical human selfishness, will not lift a faulty aircraft into the air because of the threat to their own lives.

Another block of stereotypes is related to the behavior of the aircraft during the flight. No one really bothers with what shakes them on bad roads. This is perceived as an inevitable disaster inherent in our country.

On air routes, certain potholes also occur, called turbulence (by the way, they are most afraid of it). And a phrase like " air pockets' terrifies many. But this is nothing more than a catchphrase. There is a certain fluctuation of the air environment, very limited, once in the zone of action of which the wings of the aircraft lose part of the lift. Let's not lie that a noticeable "failure" is very pleasant for the body. But a mentally healthy person is able to withstand more. Moreover, at the end of the flight to Thailand, those same paradises that you dreamed of all await you. last year and maybe for the rest of your life. So, do not let aerophobia take over, we are looking for and booking and flying with peace of mind!

My husband and I dreamed of a vacation abroad. long-awaited vacation is already close, but the thought that we will have to fly by plane causes panic in both, despite our far from young age. What to do? Give up a vacation abroad, or overcome your fears?

How to define aerophobia?

People who are afraid of flying aircraft suffer from aerophobia. Nervousness in them appears a few days before the flight. Right before the flight, they can even refuse it.

If a person with aerophobia is on board the aircraft, then such unpleasant moments are possible : palpitations, uneven breathing, sweaty palms, tense muscles, anxiety, increased sensitivity to any sounds, an attempt to control the crew during the flight, constant simulation of a possible plane crash.

People suffering from this disease cling tightly to the seats and dream that this terrible flight will be completed as soon as possible. Panic attacks are also possible.

Why me and my husband were afraid to fly on a plane: I understand the reasons

Instead of accepting the flight as normal, we classify this situation as dangerous (the brain makes a mistake in determining the event). This is how I describe my fears. It's just that my psyche, apparently, at some point failed. I think the reasons come from childhood, from there they take the roots of such a disorder, the fear of flying.

And what my husband's fears are based on, I have yet to figure it out. I think we need to consider the causes of the phobia.

I was able to identify several main causes of aerophobia

  • hereditary predisposition.
  • Suspiciousness, suspicion.
  • Conducting associations with specific stories seen on TV with lists of victims.
  • Fear of turbulence (many passengers are sure that the vibration of the aircraft is already a deviation from the course and the approach of danger).
  • Distrust of your life to the pilot and crew.
  • Experienced emotions in childhood, which later developed into a phobia.

How to overcome the fear of flying once and for all!

Treatment of aerophobia through education

To overcome your fear of airplanes, you must first face your fear. Try to learn as much as possible about the aircraft, the principles of their work, perhaps your fears were exaggerated.

Find only information that motivates you to fly, do not look through news releases about the crash of aircraft. For a complete victory over aerophobia, you you will have to learn as much as possible about aircraft construction . Most of well-known facts are myths.

It is important to know that the staff pays great attention to caring for the "iron swallow".

Every hour the equipment is in the air is compensated by 11 hours Maintenance on the ground. Before each flight, the aircraft is checked for technical condition, the salon is thoroughly washed, all the staff undergo medical care.

Psychological therapy

Most often, all our problems come from the subconscious, so you need to be able to cope with fear. Relaxing activities (meditation, walking, massage) will help reduce fear. Remembering the pleasant sensations of relaxation, you can return to thinking about them in stressful situations, thereby becoming calmer.

Here's another fairly simple way to reduce anxiety: do not drink coffee during the flight . The caffeine in it increases anxiety.

There are specially designed programs based on psychological knowledge and piloting knowledge. It is claimed that with the help of these techniques it is possible to defeat aerophobia in 97% of cases.

Treatment occurs by way of discussing the problem. Group seminars are held, designed for 1-2 days, depending on the degree of the disorder. At these seminars, they gradually give information that a person must analyze - statistics of actual accidents, and also talk about aviation.

Next comes an attempt renewal of thinking in a person with a phobia. As a result, he must perceive the aircraft as a space where there is no danger. At the next stage of the seminar, participants listen to the experiences of others in order to understand the reasons for their anxieties by analyzing the thinking of these people.

On the second day, the man is ready to try plunge into a frightening situation . To come face to face with the object of fear is what you might call exposure therapy. The simulators will emulate the feeling of flying, but only all this happens on the ground.

Having knowledge and skills, able to control his thoughts, his behavior, a person finds himself in similar situation like on an airplane. And here he is able to fully control his emotions, use all the knowledge gained. That's the kind of therapy.

Medical treatment

If you can't manage your anxiety on your own, see a psychologist. Only a doctor can choose the right treatment for you. Drug treatment is used, as a rule, in exceptional cases and only in the case when other methods did not help to cope with the fear of flying .

Basically, antidepressants and sedatives are used for treatment. But sometimes a person cannot control his fear, and fainting, tantrums, and others appear among various symptoms. In this case, more serious drugs (tranquilizers) are prescribed.

A few final statistics

Air travel is the most safe view movement, and statistics only confirm this.

Below are a few interesting facts, which will help in the fight against the fear of flying.

  • In a plane crash, 1 out of 11,000,000 people die. For comparison: 1 out of 5,000 people die in a car accident, 1 out of 3,000,000 die from food poisoning.
  • All aircraft systems are repeated twice, in case one fails.
  • The plane has 2 engines. The chance of an engine failing is negligible. But, even if this happens, the pilot will be able to fly on one engine. According to statistics, both engines are damaged once every 2,000,000 hours of flight, that is, once every 228 years.
  • The average price of an engine is $10,000,000. It is not profitable for the airline to have such an expensive unit often out of order, so the care of the aircraft heart is given the most attention.
  • Every year the number of air passengers increases by 10%, and accidents have decreased by 15%.

My husband and I got rid of this problem and are very happy about it. Now we are not afraid of flying in the sky. We have the opportunity to quickly