What is fear of flying?
Fear of flying is one of the most common phobias. According to Anxiety UK, an estimated one in 10 people experience flight anxiety, while the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) suggests fear of flying may affect 10-25% of airline passengers. For some people, these feelings can be mild, while for others they can be severe enough to make flying difficult or lead them to avoid it altogether.
Anxiety is a natural response to situations we perceive as threatening. With a fear of flying, this response can happen even when a person knows that flying is generally considered a safe way to travel.
In this video, clinical hypnotherapist Claire Williamson (Dip Cp, Dip Hyp, LHS MSC) discusses how hypnotherapy can help you overcome your fear of flying.
Living with a fear of flying
Having a fear of flying can often interfere with personal holidays and business trips. This can lead people to avoid career paths that involve travel or even miss out on family holidays abroad. Many aspects of flying can lead to feelings of anxiety, including:
- fear of having a panic attack
- fear that something will go wrong during the flight
- claustrophobia
- being out of control
- fear of terrorism.
And it’s not just while on a plane that anxiety can set in. If you're afraid of flying, anything from booking a holiday, arriving at an airport or even thinking about getting on a plane can trigger feelings of anxiety.
It’s important to note that not everyone who suffers from fear of flying will experience the same amount of distress. Experiences can range from mild to severe anxiety, which can prevent a person from getting on the plane.
Common symptoms include:
- sweating
- dry mouth
- panic attacks
- blurred vision
- rapid heartbeat
- nausea.
What causes a fear of flying?
There isn't always one clear cause of a fear of flying. For some people, it may develop after a difficult flying experience or from seeing someone else experience fear around flying.
It's important to bear in mind that a fear of flying may be connected to other fears and phobias, such as claustrophobia, fear of heights, or agoraphobia.
Can you overcome fear of flying?
Many of those who don't experience a fear of flying may not understand how it feels. They might try to reassure the person, quoting statistics and personal experiences. But for those living with a fear of flying, these reassuring words aren't always helpful. They may, in fact, do the opposite, making the individual feel like the fear is just a weakness.
But fear of flying can affect anyone. Overcoming a fear of flying takes courage and practice, but it is possible with appropriate treatment.
Gradual exposure to the feared situation is commonly used to help treat specific phobias. This approach is often used as part of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), where you gradually face your fear in a safe, manageable way.
Avoiding flying may reinforce feelings of fear or anxiety over time. For some people, anxiety can begin well before a flight, such as when booking a trip or thinking about travelling. This is sometimes known as anticipatory anxiety. Support for a fear of flying may help you find ways to manage anxiety both before and during a flight.
There are a number of approaches that may help people manage a fear of flying, including talking therapies and hypnotherapy.
Hypnotherapy for fear of flying
Hypnotherapy is one approach that some people may consider for a fear of flying. It uses techniques such as relaxation, focused attention and suggestion to explore thoughts, feelings and behaviours associated with flying. The aim is to help you respond differently to feelings of fear or anxiety and feel more confident about managing them.
During hypnotherapy for fear of flying, a hypnotherapist may use relaxation and suggestion techniques to help you explore how you think and feel about flying. Sessions can be tailored to your individual fears and triggers, with suggestions aimed at helping you feel calmer and manage anxious thoughts or feelings around flying.
What to expect from a hypnotherapy session
During your initial consultation, your hypnotherapist will take time to get to know you. They will talk to you, asking you why you're seeking hypnotherapy for fear of flying and what you want to achieve. Your therapist can then take time to understand what you have told them, analyse this information, and look for patterns.
After explaining the process to you and confirming you're happy to proceed, your hypnotherapist will help you enter a relaxed, trance-like state. They may ask you to picture getting on a plane or booking a holiday – whenever it is that you begin to feel anxious. You may be asked to focus on how you feel and what you think triggers the fear.
When you have recognised these sensations, you'll be offered suggestions or calming words. What they will say will depend on you and your fear. The idea behind this is that when you feel the onset of fear, these words will enter your conscious mind. These suggestions are intended to help you manage your emotions and feel more in control of how you respond to anxiety.
Your hypnotherapist may also teach you self-hypnosis techniques. You can practise these techniques outside of sessions and use them when you feel anxious about flying.
My hypnotherapist showed me some techniques to use if I became anxious and these really helped. I'm glad I did the hypnotherapy now as I feel more confident about flying, and I feel more in control of how to deal with my anxieties too.
- Mel shares how hypnotherapy helped her fear of flying.
How can I find a hypnotherapist?
If fear of flying is affecting your travel plans or causing you anxiety, you may want to consider speaking to a hypnotherapist. Finding someone you feel comfortable with is important, so take some time to explore their experience, approach and how they work.
You can browse our hypnotherapists who work with fear of flying, read their profiles, and contact a professional directly when you feel ready.
