Aerophobia , or fear of flying, is an extreme fear that people with this phobia experience when they think about traveling by airplane or similar aircraft. These people may fear different aspects of flying, such as taking off, landing or being locked in an airplane. They may also be frightened by the waiting period before boarding or by exposure to news about the airplane. However, the most intense anxiety is experienced during the flight.
Most people with a fear of flying are not afraid of the plane crashing. Instead, they are bothered by the anxiety of being in an airplane. They experience intense anxiety and stress while flying.
What is fear of flying?
Fear of flying is the fear and anxiety that occurs during the thought of flying or during flight. Some anxiety, stress and worry occur when thinking about flying and the individual may attribute this to different reasons.
As the severity of the fear increases, the anxiety may turn into a panic attack and may cause the person to engage in behaviors that they are not aware of. Fear of flying is a fear that can occur as a result of a single trauma that can occur when many external factors come together.
What Causes Aerophobia (Fear of Flying)?
The causes of aerophobia are not known exactly. However, some environmental factors and genetic factors can cause this condition. It is also thought that some traumatic events that people experience during flight cause fear of flying. The causes and factors that can trigger this condition can be listed as follows:
Genetic Factors
It is a condition that can be inherited from the mother or father. In cases where it is seen in family members, it is also likely to occur in people in the future.
Environmental Factors
A common cause of fear of flying phobia is seeing flying as dangerous and having erroneous information about the safety of aircraft. This can occur in people who have never been on an airplane before, or it can develop in people who have flown many times.
In addition, the factors that can trigger this condition are as follows:
- Anxiety during take-off and landing
- Experiences of severe and intense turbulence
- Fears about diseases spreading on airplanes
- News about terrorism, plane crashes or violent incidents
What are the symptoms of aerophobia (fear of flying)?
People with fear of flying do not want to fly at all costs. This includes situations such as going on vacation or traveling for work. Individuals with aerophobia may show some anxiety and panic as the flight time approaches or during the flight. Symptoms of aerophobia can be listed as follows:
- Sweating too much (hyperhidrosis)
- Chills and shivering
- Dizziness and lightheadedness
- Indigestion and nausea
- Heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath
These are typical symptoms experienced during fear. Panic attack-like attacks, shouting and uncontrollable behavior can also occur during fear of flying.
Who Suffers from Aerophobia?
Fear of flying is more common in individuals between the ages of 17 and 34. This age range is usually the time when situations such as graduation, marriage or birth occur. At such times, people may fear that flying may endanger their lives. It can also occur after a very long time. A person may be afraid of flying for many years and may get on an airplane. However, if this phobia develops in the future, they will avoid flying.
How to overcome aerophobia (fear of flying)?
When fear and anxiety are experienced, this situation cannot be prevented and stopped most of the time. For this reason, people with flight phobia want to get away from these environments as soon as possible. Among the causes of flight phobia, it can be seen that there is misinformation about flying.
For this reason, information about flying should be refreshed and correct information should be obtained. There are some psychological therapies and treatment methods for these people. Aerophobia treatment methods are as follows:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
These are methods aimed at helping to change the way people think about flying and to help allay fears. It may involve learning how planes work or reviewing safety statistics for air travel related to different types of travel. The therapist or psychologist will teach techniques to manage the factors that can trigger this condition.
The person is taught what to do during take-off, landing or turbulence. Techniques such as breathing or meditation can be used to reduce the symptoms of loss. In cases where thoughts of fear and anxiety occur, it teaches how to react and respond to these thoughts.
Exposure Therapy
With exposure therapy, the person is gradually and progressively exposed to places, thoughts or situations related to air travel. They are taught to combat fears by being exposed to them. One can visit an airport and watch planes take off or land. This can also be done with virtual reality tools.