How to Overcome a Fear of Planes

The fear of flying is common: As many as one in three people suffer from it. Degrees of fear can range from mild anxiety to a level of terror that makes the thought of flying or even being near a plane abhorrent. The reasons for this are complex. Statistics show that a person is far more likely to be involved in a car crash than a plane crash, but because the fear of flying is not completely rational, knowing the statistics doesn't usually help.

Instructions

How to Overcome a Fear of Planes

• 1

  Write down your fears, trying to pinpoint exactly what is most frightening. Some people fear the takeoff, others are deterred by what they see as the fragility of the plane. For some people, there is just a fear of being confined and being up in the air. Others fear a terrorist attack.

• 2

  Write down what is causing your fear. Ask yourself key questions about when it began. Perhaps you have always been nervous about flying. Your fear may have started when you became a parent. For some people, it is associated with a particular flight in which they may have experienced turbulence. Pinpointing the pattern of your anxiety and its origins may help you to overcome it.

• 3

  Seek professional help. There are several options. Some flying schools and airlines offer courses, which claim to have good success rates based on their abilities to increase knowledge of the flying process. Consider the option of hypnotherapy. The lengths you go to may depend on how important flying is to you.

• 4

  Differentiate between fear of planes and other anxiety disorders. This fear may be the manifestation of a general anxiety disorder. Nonspecific anxiety can often "latch onto" a specific issue. Use a counselor to explore any underlying issues that may be worrying you. Being afraid to fly may often be about fearing a loss of control.