We worry about phobias because they are obstacles to a healthy and happy life. Emotional disorders are misunderstood by people who do not suffer from them, and many phobias are considered hobbies or whims. However, these disorders can make your life very complicated. Discover what is aerophobia or the fear of traveling by plane.
If you are afraid of traveling by plane…
Aerophobia is the fear of flying. Logically people cannot fly, but plans can. What if you are unable to get on a plane because that flying causes you? It’s true that most people don’t have to get on a plane every day, but avoiding this situation can lead you to lose contact with relatives who live far away or miss out on an opportunity to be happier.
That you cannot get on a plane is not like other phobias that manifest themselves on a daily basis, but that does not make it less dangerous. In fact, phobias are closely related to anxiety disorders and even if you don’t usually have to face your fear of flying, the phobia creates discomfort within you that can turn into many other things.
Causes of aerophobia
What causes aerophobia? There are several factors that can trigger. In this case, the fear of flying may be due to a previous traumatic experience on a flight. But generally it is about that fear of not having control over a situation and in the case of an airplane; we are in the hands of the pilot, the engineers, the mechanics and a series of factors that are beyond our control.
Although a certain fear of getting on a plane can be logical, it is not in the case of phobia, which is an irrational fear that causes you to avoid that situation. What if you need to catch a flight for your life’s work? In other cases, aerophobia develops due to an anxiety or depression problem that makes you fear
Symptoms of aerophobia
The most obvious sign that a person has aerophobia is the avoidance of the situation that triggers the rest of the symptoms. If it cannot be avoided, if the person has to get on a plane for whatever reason, then they will suffer the typical symptoms, such as sweating, dizziness, altered heart rhythm and may even have a panic attack.
The psychological symptoms are also important, such as the feeling of incapacity because deep down they are aware that it is an unjustified panic, the distortion of reality or catastrophic thoughts.
How to overcome the fear of flying?
All phobias need psychological help to overcome them at least that guarantees a future with more emotional stability. Contrary to what happens with, aerophobia has attracted more attention or there are more people interested in being able to overcome it and there are numerous specialized courses to remove the fear of traveling by plane.
One of the most effective techniques used in therapies for aerophobia is exposure in the imagination. In other words, the person who is afraid of flying has to imagine themselves inside an airplane, in mid-flight and, if possible, keeping in mind the positive objective of that action.
As all phobias go hand in hand with anxiety, relaxation techniques are essential to deal with that initial fear that leads you to avoid the situation. Meditation or Mindfulness is also helpful tools when treating any phobia.