Aerophobia (Fear of Flying) : Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

Aerophobia is a The fear of flying, bascially the fear of being on an airplane or helicopter. It is also known as flying anxiety, flying phobia, aviophobia. This phobia can cause acute anxiety which can be treated with anti-anxiety medication, exposure therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy.

Many people can experience nervousness or anxiety while sitting in a flight. The turbulence, sensation of taking off and landing can be unpleasant but it does not mean that a person is suffering from Aerophobia. But there are some of them who experience panic attacks or fear when they fly. This fear is defined as aerophobia. Aerophobia has affected approximately 20 mn American adults.

The fear of flying is known as aerophobia pr aviophobia. It can be a heritage from childhood or can emerge in adulthood as result of various triggering factors.

Depending upon the causes, symptoms of aerophobia are classified into two types.

1. Physical Symptoms
2. Physiological Symptoms

There are many possibilities that can contribute to your fear of flying. This phobia could be caused by a combination of factors. One of the reasons could be if you might have experienced a bad flight or a traumatic flight incident. Another condition is Claustrophobia that triggers aerophobia.

• Environment: If your family or parents suffered from a fear of flying, you may have internalized their trepidation. It is a common cause of aerophobia in children but affects many adults as well. You might pick up the fear of flying from close one but parents seem to have the biggest influence on phobia.
• Traumatic experience or plane crash: Traumatic news coverage of airline disaster can be enough to trigger a fear of flying.
• Other related circumstances: Your aerophobia might be rooted in an entirely different conflict.

A direct influence might be particularly bad flight you experienced or connection to someone who experienced a traumatic flight incident or any aviation event. Feeling out of control is a common anxiety trigger, and it is a common influencer of aviophobia.

The diagnosis for this phobia is clinical. It is determined if the fear of flying is a symptom of a generalized anxiety disorder or another anxiety disorder such as agoraphobia or claustrophobia.

Aerophobia can be treated with therapy, medication, or both. Anti-anxiety medications can help manage symptoms of Aerophobia before and during a flight.

Exposure Therapy: This therapy is considered to be one of the most effective treatments for specific phobias. In exposure therapy, you will work with a therapist to slowly expose yourself to what you’re afraid of. This therapy is commonly used to treat aerophobia by allowing the person to become more adjustable to the ideas and sensations of flying.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT may help if you do not feel ready to try exposure therapy. In CBT, you’ll be working with a therapist to challenge and reframe negative thoughts about flying.

It is advised to take immediate help from your mental health professional without any kind of hesitation as aerophobia is treatable. Action Steps to deal with fear of flying.

Action Steps:

• Be honest – A person can only treat aerophobia when he acknowledges the same. Flying is something that many people do and they often feel hesitated or embarrassed to speak about their being aerophobic. You must know that phobias affect many people, so you are not alone. If you are the one suffering from aerophobic, then you must speak up without any hesitation.
• Get educated: You cannot challenge your thoughts without facts, therefore, knowledge is required when it comes to conquering your fear. For example, if you are scared of turbulence caused in the flight, you must need to know the science, technology and safety that can help you feel calmer.
• You are advised to watch videos online about how to fly safely or what precautionary measures you can take during the situation. Also, you can read articles or books that explain the science of flying. You must also learn about safety regulations and pilot training as it can help you in challenging your fears.
• Set travel goals: If you are fearing to fly ever again in your life then it is important for you to set travel goals for yourself. Think of a place to travel and plan for the same, also, stay dedicated and set a date on the calendar so that you can focus on your travel goal. Try reading travel books and about the places you would like to visit so that you can gain positive vibes with flying.

Ask for help :

• There is no reason why you should not take help. Many professionals have successfully helped people overcome their fear and manage their anxiety and also achieve their travel goals. If you feel fear of flying then you must consult a therapist once.
• Aerophobia or aviophobia is nothing to be embarrassed about in fact it is something you must speak out. Once you take this step of letting your fear out, you will live the rest of your life happily and manage your anxiety about flying and live the life full of travelling.

If you are the one who is experiencing fear of flying, the following points must help you in lessening your fear in your next flight.

• Stay centered
• Find focus
• Do not stress
• Meditate
• Listen soft music
• Do not consume caffeine, energy drinks or other stimulants
• Release your fear

To treat a fear of flying, homeopathy is a form of complementary medicine that uses natural ingredients diluted in water. Homeopathy remedies can help you if you feel anxious and fearful before or during the flight.

For chronic fear and anxiety, you may need a different remedy to help resolve a deeper issue. Treating chronic anxiety is where a professional homeopath is needed, not something you should attempt to treat yourself.

• Argentum Nitricum:Apprehension and anticipatory anxiety that can begin days before the flight. The fear of heights and of being trapped in a closed space. Impulse to jump off the plane, get out. Worried about making the flight on time. Frequent washroom runs with anxiety, urination and bowel movements.
• Arsenicum Album: Fastidious person, always planning and having everything in neat order. Feel very restless and anxious, which makes it worse if they are left alone. Tremendous pre-flight anxiety. Extreme worry about health. Cold sweat may faint from fear.
• Aconite:Terrified of dying. Great fear of impending death. Person feels very uncomfortable in crowds. Great anxiety, restlessness and impatience. Rapid heartbeat. Violent palpitations, Pale faces or deley aggravate their anxiety.
• Calcarea carbonica:Anxiety about safety and natural disasters in general. Fear of heights, claustrophobia. Individuals worry about themselves, but feel responsible for the safety of their travel companions as well.

There are millions of people who suffer from Aerophobia or other kinds of phobias. There are around 40 million American adults who deal with some or the other forms of anxiety.

It is very important to reach out to a medical practitioner if fear makes you feel unmanageable. Your doctor/ therapist will help you in identifying the causes of your fear and effective ways to manage it. They might also help you in restoring your mental and physical well-being.