Fear of Flying
How to Overcome Fear of
Flying
Author: Simon
Lim
Have you ever wanted to take that dream trip to a tropical
island in the Caribbean to soak up the sun and atmosphere, but
had that dream taken away from you because of your fear of
flying? It doesn’t have to be this way! You need to identify
exactly why it is you harbour these, and other, fears, and
discover ways to overcome fear of flying and other
limitations.
What is fear of flying?
An unwillingness to even think about getting onboard a plane is
a sure fire sign of fear of flying, but these are some other
common symptoms:
- Worrying, and becoming overstressed about a flight for days,
weeks, even months in advance
- Having feelings of anxiety before boarding the plane
- Feeling you need a strong drink or sedatives to calm down
before a flight
- Feeling uncomfortable when the door closes, when the plane
takes off, and when you hear certain noises
- Feeling elated and overcome with relief when you finally get
off the plane
Why do you fear flying?
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In order to overcome fear of flying we need to understand why
the fear exists. There are two types of things in our lives;
things we can control, and things we cannot control. Things we
can control include our thoughts, our actions, and our
reactions to certain situations. However, we cannot control
things such as the behaviour of others (legally anyway), the
thoughts of others, and the weather, among other things.
Fears emanate from our irrational assumptions that the things
we cannot control will turn out to be bad experiences. For
example, with flying we have absolutely no control; everything
is in the hands of the captain. And even if we wanted to, we
can’t just stop the plane and get off. Where do these
assumptions come from though? We certainly aren’t born with
these fears; they are learned through our experiences and
through the experiences of others. Try to think of a time that
triggered your fear of flying, it could be a personal
experience of a turbulent flight you had, the fearful stories
of others, or the frightening images seen on television. It’s
likely that your imagination takes these experiences and
heightens them into a worse case scenario that accentuates your
fear. You need to use your imagination to overcome fear of
flying, rather than allow it to feed the fear.
Seldom do people realise that flying is significantly safer
than travelling in a car or a train. Think about that for a
second; it is more dangerous to hop into a car and drive down a
freeway than it is to fly, yet people do it every single day
without even thinking twice. When you hop into a car or a train
what are you thinking? Really, the next time you get into a car
or train, take note of what goes through your mind. Most likely
you’re not even thinking about whether or not it’s safe to do
so, you just do it. Yet when a plane is involved we allow our
imagination to overwhelm us due to the uncertainty, because
after all how can an object that big possibly fly?
Overcome fear of flying
There are a number of ways to feel more comfortable about
flying, and to use your imagination in your favour.
- Prior to the flight have a full, nutritious meal as it will
help you relax during the flight.
- Ensure you pack books to read, or music to listen to, or
anything else that will distract you, while you are waiting for
the flight, and during the actual flight
- Arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare so you can
check-in and get your luggage through without too much
hassle
- Avoid sugary foods, or caffeine prior to the flight as this
may increase stress levels
Other than these practical tips, a very effective way to
overcome fear of flying is to visualise the flight. Before your
flight try to visualise every aspect of the journey; from the
time you arrive at the airport imagine everything going
smoothly during the check-in, see yourself walking calmly, even
laughing, as you go through the gates and onto the plane.
Imagine yourself sitting in your seat, being absorbed in your
book, then seeing the magnificent view out the window.
Visualise the smooth landing, and how thankful you are to the
crew for such an enjoyable flight. Now that wasn’t so bad was
it?
Visualisation is a powerful technique not just to help overcome
fear of flying, but also to overcome any other fear you
have.
About the Author:
Simon Lim is the proud owner of http://www.rubama.com, where you can
overcome all of your mental barriers, and live the life you
desire. While you are there, grab your free copy of the ‘501
Greatest Quotes of All Time’ to inspire and motivate you to
achieve your dreams
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com -
How to Overcome Fear of Flying
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