Many people like to travel, and in order to reduce their time, they prefer to fly by air. At the same time, travelers often have to overcome their fear of flying, and they sigh with relief only on the ground. Meanwhile, the feeling of fear can be, if not completely removed, then at least weakened.
Perhaps you will be interested in information that fear of flying, or aerophobia, suffers from about 20% of the world's population. Doctors consider the emergence of this fear as a consequence of a mental disorder caused by severe stress or depression.
Who is most affected by the fear of flying?
- too impressionable people;
- those who strongly fixate on the negative moments of their lives;
- those who suffer from claustrophobia.
These people are heavily influenced by the media coverage of plane crashes, although many more people are known to die in car crashes.
If you do not belong to the above categories, the best fear prevention is to use the services of trusted airlines. And if the reaction to the flight "rolls over" in terms of fear, then it is best to turn to a psychotherapist, because very few people manage to cope with aerophobia alone.
What are the signs of fear of flying?
- anxiety before the flight;
- rapid and labored breathing during the flight;
- increased heart rate;
- imagining pictures of plane crashes.
All these reactions can turn into strong neuroses, from which it will be necessary to be treated in the clinic, so the best thing that can be done right now is to apply special techniques with the help of which obsessive fears are overcome. We will leave the treatment of neuroses to specialists and try to independently establish the cause of the fear.
Answer the question: what exactly causes you to fear this flight? Are you afraid of heights, confined spaces, or have you experienced any psychological trauma on previous flights?
Even if the reason cannot be found, you should not be upset. It is better to use expert advice to make this flight more comfortable.
So, after the plane has taken off, do not look at the clock. Consciously or subconsciously, you begin to count the hours until landing, and this is not worth doing. Better to try to relax. Think about the fact that the flight has already begun, and here you are not able to change anything. Try to close your eyes, breathe deeply, and sit comfortably in the chair. It is best to place your feet on the floor to feel support. To relax better, it is advisable to get rid of high heels, tight clothing and accessories.
Psychologists advise to do everything to divert attention. This can be easily done with pain relief, which will distract from disturbing thoughts. Press harder on the base of the nail, with your fingernail on the ball of your finger, squeeze your earlobe, or bite your lip. Just don't come to the point of your travel bruised, don't overdo it.
Don't talk to your neighbors about planes, plane crashes, and how scary flying is. This can cause group fear that will spread to most of the passengers. This emotional background will make you even harder. It is best to distract yourself from heavy thoughts.
This can be done by reading exciting books, listening to music, watching an exciting movie. You can even take a sedative, but first you should consult your doctor. A controversial issue with alcohol intake, because it has an unpredictable effect on different people, its effect is short-lived, and after taking a large amount, a hangover syndrome is provided.
Passengers experience the most unpleasant sensations during takeoff, landing and during pressure drops during the flight: it captures the heart, clogs the ears, and increases anxiety. Take care of yourself in these moments using simple techniques: suck on a candy, yawn wide, or just open your mouth wide. This method will help to normalize the pressure between the middle ear canal and the throat. With the "traveler's syndrome", acupressure of the palm is also effective - here are the so-called "soothing" points.
