Fear of flying

Even though it’s a oft-repeated statistic that one’s chances of being in a plane crash are a lot lower than of being involved in a car accident, the semi-regular news about plane crashes has done nothing to reassure any of us.

Fear of flying manifests in varying degrees – from a mild feeling of discomfort and tension to a genuine phobia, such as the sudden, debilitating terror experienced by a Health24 user who couldn’t bring herself to get onto her flight back home.

Another user writes how her mother-in-law, who lives in Portugal, can’t visit the family because she’s also terrified of boarding a plane.

Treatment options available
Those who're that afraid of flying know the misery of not doing things you really want to, because you're unable to get your head around the flight. But there are ways around it.

According to CyberShrink, cognitive-behavioural therapy is the treatment of choice for this problem – a very effective technique which normally only involves a few sessions.

Cognitive-behavioural techniques that may help include desensitisation or exposure therapy, in which one is gradually exposed to what frightens you until the fear begins to fade. Three-quarters of people benefit significantly from this type of treatment.

Relaxation and breathing exercises may also help to reduce anxiety symptoms. And certain medications may sometimes be prescribed to help reduce anxiety symptoms before flying.

For those so terrified of flying that they’d rather walk, other help may also be on the way. Scientists have recently identified the parts of the brain that can help one to “unlearn” your fears.

More information
For more information on how to overcome your fear of flying, contact the Mental Health Information Centre on (021) 938 9229.

- (Health24, updated May 2010)