Overcoming the fear of flying

 

 



Can we talk about the elephant in the room? The fear of flying. It's very easy for those of us who fly regularly to take for granted the fact that there are scores of people who believe they will meet their death if they flew on a plane. To them, it's not even about the destination or how long the plane will be in the air. Just the idea of them being on an aircraft is enough to make their heart stop. So, where does the fear come from? My mother is one such person. My mother is actually a terrible example to use because she deals with a lot of fears in her life. She has major phobia about a lot of things. So, maybe let's park that example. There's a lady who called into a radio station a few days ago. She sounded like she could be in her early thirties. A very well spoken lady who expressed her deep wish and desire to fly, quite eloquently . I gathered, it may be that she has never had any opportunities to travel by plane. Her case is different because she wants to fly, which means she is not particularly afraid of flying. I think that's a better position to be in. Far better than the position my mother has been in, her entire life. Then there's another lady (I promise I'm not picking on the women) who has never flown anywhere because she's afraid of flying. Like many people, she's scared of flying because she always imagines the plane crashing from those scary heights. She has never personally experienced a plane crash. So, chances are, she has seen reports of plane crashes via media. Millions of people out there are crippled by the same fear because of what they've seen in the media. What the media won't tell you is this: There are far fewer plane crashes than there are car crashes. Let me say that again: You are more likely to crash in your car than you are when flying on a plane. Some of the statistics I've checked actually say the chances of a plane crashing are 1 in 11,000,000. How ironic because the lady I mentioned earlier, the one who says she won't fly because she's scared of crashing on a plane, says she prefers driving to different destinations because she feels 'safer'.

When was the last time you heard of a plane crash in South Africa? When was the last time you heard of a plane crash anywhere in the world? When was the last time you heard of a car crash in South Africa? While you recount the number of car accidents you've seen or heard of recently, let me just say this, if the stats don't help give you some perspective, then I don't know what will.

Perhaps your fears and perception of flying are so engraved in your mind it may be difficult to erase or reverse them. So, what do you do. Apart from seeking professional help, there are ways to help you overcome your fears. Facing the facts is one way. Facts such as those I've already mentioned. Another way to overcome your fears is just some practical things you can do. For example, I learned just recently that seats positioned by the wings of the aircraft experience far less turbulence than those in the front and back of the aircraft. This way, you can give yourself a better chance of flying without experiencing those horrible panic attacks whenever the plane hits some turbulence because you'll be less affected. I haven't tested this out myself but I trust my source.

Interestingly, there's a large number of people who fear flying not because they are consumed by the possibility of a crash but they are crippled by anxiety. They are scared of being 'trapped' in a space for any amount of time. Some call it claustrophobia or aviophobia when specifically relating to the fear of flying. Anxiety feeds off the fear itself and so it's crucial to confront the fear in order to beat the anxiety. So, what do you do if you're simply anxious about flying or being trapped? Assess whether you are infact in danger. By getting onto a plane, does that put you in any kind of danger? Probably not. By separating your own fear from actual danger, it helps you to be more objective about what you're dealing with. It's often imagined danger rather than actual danger. Secondly, be informed. Ignorance gives anxiety power. Instead of obsessing over the million 'what ifs', fill your mind with actual facts. Although knowing the facts may not necessarily eradicate you anxiety, it's another step in getting you to a better space. Thirdly, understand what triggers your fears. Is it things you see, information you hear? Understanding what sets your anxiety off will help you manage those triggers. Lastly, focus on your destination. Perhaps occupying your mind with what awaits you on the other side of the flight will help ease your discomforts in some way.

Do you have a fear of flying? Has it stopped you from traveling? How are you dealing with it? Do you know someone who suffers from this crippling condition? Share your story. Who knows, you might help someone out there.