Live Fearless - How to Conquer a Fear of Flying

By Dana Goldberg

Airplanes take off and land safely everyday. Very rarely, though, something does go wrong. Though it is less likely for an accident to happen while on a plane than in a car, many people still suffer from aviophobia, or flying phobia.

Being afraid to go on an airplane is very hard to get over and live with. This fear can seemingly come out of nowhere, but for others it can be traced to a specific event.

Aviophobia is characterized by many physical and psychological symptoms. These include, difficulty breathing, muscle tension, sweating, stomach discomfort, chest pain, and dizziness. Some people even experience weakness, forgetfulness, and make poor decisions as a result of the fear.

These feelings arise due to a feeling of being trapped and having no control over one's surroundings. Not being able to move around freely makes this worse.

Generally, people who have this fear visit with their doctor prior to flying. The doctor will usually write a prescription for a drug, such as Valium or other relaxants. However, there are other ways to deal with aviophobia.

Some people seek educational treatments. This education provides the passenger with information on how the aircraft works, how it is flown, and the safety checks that are performed before the plane takes off. This works very well for some people and significantly reduces their fears.

Other treatment options include cognitive behavioral therapy, hypnosis, and desensitization. During these kinds of treatments, a doctor attempts to uncover the source of the fear and then heal the patient by helping them get over the traumatic event.

If you are suffering from flying phobia, you don't have to live with it forever. Medication can provide you with a quick fix, but therapy can give you long lasting relief. - 30415

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