Air travel is now a common part of our culture.  Quick business flights to far-off cities or a welcomed vacation to romantic and thrilling locales are normal and air travel is the fastest way to get from point A to point B.  Many people these days are fearful of flying or otherwise have phobias or anxieties revolving around air travel, much like others experience as panic attacks while driving or sleep panic attacks.

It’s important to realize that aerophobia (another term for a fear of flying) can have it’s root cause in many different realms, it is not simply a fear of the act of flying.  Some might get anxious at the thought of how high in the air they are and other people could find fear at the idea of being trapped in a tight and cramped space.  Others might have control issues trusting the pilot to fly the plane safely, while news stories of recent plane disasters could make others anxious.  There is surely no shortage of reasons why someone might be afraid to fly.

Are there things you can do to make your next flight more enjoyable?

First, try to get a good grasp of exactly what part of flying scares you the most.  Can you think of anything that could spark this fear?  Might it be related to something frightening or stressful in your childhood?  When you have a thorough understanding of your fear you are more equipped to handle it and prepare yourself in advance when you will be flying.

It may help to educate yourself more on the mechanics of aviation.  Sometimes fear can result from not understanding how airplanes work or how something so large and heavy can stay in the air.  Try to locate books or other media that can explain how it all works in plain English.

Find support.  Do you think your friends or family will be understanding?  Maybe they can be a good resource of support.  There are plenty of internet support forums as well where members can share experiences and offer effective coping techniques.  If you have some money to spend you can also look into professional therapy in your area.

You’re not alone.  Plenty of people are afraid to fly.  Many of them have beaten the problem and can enjoy flying.  Flying should be a fun adventure that takes you to interesting and unusual places.  And it can be when you overcome your fear of flying!

The fear of flying is one fear that almost everyone who has flown has experienced to some degree.For a large number, it is no more than an annoyance; perhaps disagreeable but nothing too troubling. 

Others, however, experience physical and mental symptoms that can range from simply “tense” to “outright panic”.There are a number of useful treatments for the fear of flying.What will work for you will probably depend on where you are on that scale. 

Fear of flying symptoms often have real life causes that, if identified, may help a person with mild fear of flying overcome their anxiety.  What often happens is a person encounters a symptom, and assuming it is caused by fear of flying, they get more and more upset until major panic sets in.  If they can recognize that pattern early on, they can stop the cycle in its tracks and overcome their mild fear of flying. 

For example, unstable air pressure in the aircraft cabin often results in inner ear problems.Inner ear problems can result in a wide variety of unpleasant symptoms, including nausea, tingly ears and skin, dizziness and loss of orientation.These are the same symptoms that occur when a person is anxious, and if they don’t recognize the source of the symptoms they may psyche themselves out and accelerate their fear beyond a normal level. 

Additionally, spending long periods in the tight seats in an airplane cabin can cause muscular pain, joint pain, and tingling from lack of blood flow.  These too are all symptoms often experienced during panic or severe anxiety attacks.  Therefore, the passenger who feels these symptoms may misdiagnose a mere physical reaction to small seating quarters as a fear of flying. 

Clearly, there are those whose fear of flying is more significant than the mild fear described here.  For those folks, mere recognition that the physical symptoms could be coming from other sources than the fear of flying may not be enough.   But for some, this awareness is the first line of defense in combating their fears for good. 

To learn more about the fear of flying visit here to receive a free twelve part audio tutorial that will share simple, effective techniques and facts to conquer your anxieties and get rid of your chronic fear of flying.