In the last few days there has been a horrendous incident where a plane collided with a fire-fighting vehicle at LaGuardia Airport New York. This is an isolated incident, but it can only heighten the anxiety of people planning to fly in the coming weeks.
Fear of Flying and its Consequences
There are many people who experience anxiety when flying or when they are about to take a flight. This can range from mild nervousness to full blown panic attacks or anywhere in between.
For people who are expected to fly for work, this can be a real problem. The anxiety that is generated by the flight can only inhibit their ability to do their job of work properly while they are away.
For those who simply want a holiday in the sun once a year, this fear can ruin the anticipation of a good holiday, and ruin the holiday because of worry about the flight back.
How Hypnotherapy Helps With Fear of Flying
Hypnotherapy helps by tackling the primitive parts of the brain that is generating the fear. The people I have helped get over a fear of flying fit broadly into three categories:
- People who have had a bad experience of flying in the past.
- People who are always anxious when they fly, but for no apparent reason.
- People who have never flown and have anxiety over taking their first flight.
Each of these people have anxiety thinking about flying as well as being on the flight itself. Hypnotherapy allows them to calm down that part of the brain that generates the anxiety.
One client, who had a particular fear of the take-off and turbulence called me up after his trip. He said that on the return flight, they took off in the midst of a violent thunderstorm, so that as the plane left the ground they were already in massive turbulence. “I actually quite enjoyed it.” He told me.
Hypnotherapy works best shortly before the flight itself. I usually start to see people about two or three weeks before their flight.
Other Options
Although I would highly recommend hypnotherapy, you should be aware that other options are available.
- Self medication – Some people take over-the-counter medication to keep them calm or drowsy for the flight.
- Prescribed medication – Drugs to calm you are available from your doctor if the symptoms are bad enough.
- Fear of flying courses are available from many airlines.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is available from the NHS provided your symptoms are bad enough.
I am aware of people who self-medicate with a lot of alcohol. Personally, I would not recommend this option.
Ask Me About the Hypnotherapy Option
If you want to enquire further about hypnotherapy as an option to help with your fear of flying, Contact Me on the form below and I will get back to you to arrange for a free 15 minute consultation. Then, if you want to book in, I can arrange that too.
I work out of my clinic in Fleet, Hampshire, and also work online.
References
LaGuardia Air Crash
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c620w12y59
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