Aviophobia

Fear of Flying.

 

With a whopping 7%* of the world's population having Aviophobia, making it around 5 Million people suffering from the same.
It can be considered it’s own phobia itself but is sometimes associated with other phobias such as claustrophobia and acrophobia. Claustrophobia is a fear of tight spaces while acrophobia is a fear of heights. Being on an aircraft such as an airplane or helicopter provide the perfect setting for these phobias take place.

(* Source- BBC Knowledge magazine)

Causes

For example, as previously mentioned, being in a tight space several thousand of kilometers high up in the air is daunting to any person’s sense of security. Lesser obvious causes of this fear could be the fear of not being in control or a even the fear of vomiting or getting sick on a plane. Some people also dread their ears popping or not having an escape if they have a panic attack. In addition to all these causes, there is always the fear of bodily harm from a crash, hijacking or terrorism.

News outlets seem to make the fear of flying problem even worse and could also be attributed to why the prevalence of this particular fear is so high. Every plane crash is reported and document in detail yet how often would a media outlet run a story about a successful flight? They may paint the picture that air travel is increasing in danger when the truth is that the number of flights are just increasing.

Furthermore, a lack of knowledge behind the science of flight and how that large piece of equipment stays up in the air may also contribute to the cause of the fear of flight.

Flying is stressful. There are long lines, heightened security, and searches that can feel like an invasion of privacy. There is the added fear of terrorism. All of this is on top of the fear that something may go wrong with the plane while in the air. All of these can be triggers for people with anxiety.

A number of other triggers are also present when flying. Many of these triggers are caused by different types of phobias, such as:

• Fear of heights, Acrophobia
• Fear of being in enclosed or crowded areas, Claustrophobia and/or Agoraphobia
• Fear of being over water
• Social anxiety, fear of close proximity to strangers

Fear of flying can develop even after years of flying or can be present in people that have never flown before.

Symptoms

The fear of flying can cause panic attacks. The symptoms of those are the same as the symptoms for other phobias:

• Headache
• Stomachache
• Muscle tension
• Rapid heart beat
• Sweating
• Shortness of breath
• Irritability
• Trouble concentrating

Regardless of the cause of Aviophobia, many people will seek help to overcome this fear. There are also an extreme group of people that have such a severe severity of the fear of flying that the mention or even thought of having to fly on a planes causes panic attacks.

A person with this severity of a fear of flying may find themselves on missing out visiting family, attending weddings or even attending vacations with their family. It could also cause severe career problems if faced with a business opportunity that requires air travel by plane.



Regardless of the severity of one’s Aviophobia, it is important that they seek help before the fear manifests itself further. Luckily enough, there are many treatment options and solutions to help overcome fear of flying.

Treatment

Information is probably one of the best treatments for aviophobia. Learning about just how safe it is to fly and aviation in general can help lessen the fear.

Some people seek out local fear of flying courses that may be taken in groups The biggest benefit of these group type courses is the ability to share information with one another. However, these courses may be expensive and are not very convenient.

Alternatively,

There are a number of steps people can take to eliminate some of the stress involved in air travel and therefore decrease the triggers for anxiety.

Use nonstop flights whenever possible. People are often most anxious during take-offs and landings. Minimizing these during air travel can minimize some of the stress.

Look for emergency exits. It may be reassuring to know where the emergency exits are in the plane. Emergency exits are not always located in the same place.

Look to flight attendants for guidance. Flight attendants are aware of any new laws or regulations regarding air travel as well as safety measures. If a flight attendant asks you to do something, follow their instructions.

Follow rules regarding what items you can bring on a flight. There are limits to the amount of liquids you can carry with you and how they must be packaged. There are limits to the size and weight of carry on luggage. Pay attention to these rules to avoid having a problem at check in.

Fly on larger aircraft. Larger aircraft offer a higher chance of survival should an accident occur.

Stay away from alcohol. Alcohol can increase anxiety symptoms. Reducing or eliminating alcohol can help you to stay alert.

Airlines around the country also offer classes and workshops on overcoming fear of flying. Check your local airport website to find out if there is a class offered near you.

 Talk with your doctor about a short acting anxiety medication. It may be beneficial for you to take an anti-anxiety medication before and during your flight to minimize symptoms of anxiety.

Avoiding air travel is not always possible or beneficial for people. There are ways, however, to make this easier.