Today, million of Americans live with a fear of flying, known as aerophobia. This often debilitating condition affects an estimated 25 million adults in the U.S. Psychologists, as well as flight attendants across America, are seeing an increase in air travel anxiety. Jennifer Dragonette An airline psychologist, Jennifer Dragonette’s mission is to help people face their fear of flying. With her at her side, David Carbonell has authored a workbook aimed specifically to help you learn to overcome your fears.
Recent highly publicized accidents, such as the recent collision between American Airlines jet and helicopter, have brought the fear of flying front and center. Now, even Amero’s colleagues who were once unflappable about air travel are feeling the jitters. This recent uptick in interest is a clear sign that the mental burden of air travel is more damaging than people realized.
The Psychological Impact of Aerophobia
Recent incidents such as last month’s collision have made everyone involved especially anxious, explains Jennifer Dragonette, and that anxiety is palpable to both groups of travelers. “Even people who didn’t have a fear of flying are talking about it, given recent events,” she said. The psychological ramifications of these events can be significant, frequently aggravating disorders including aerophobia.
Clinical psychologist and anxiety disorder specialist David Carbonell explains the ins and outs of this tricky anxiety disorder. He points out that most people experience a fear of flying for the first time in their 20s or 30s. This time can be a whirlwind of new life transitions and increasing responsibilities. For many, these fears can grow into crippling panic attacks that shatter itineraries and cause immense physical anguish.
“We’re using counting as a proxy for acceptance.” – David Carbonell
Experts all agree that logic by itself is not enough to cure an anxiety disorder. Instead, Carbonell emphasizes the importance of teaching patients how to accept and manage their feelings rather than attempting to eliminate them entirely.
Flight Attendants on the Front Lines
Flight attendants are a critical line of defense when it comes to tackling in-flight anxieties. Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants union, has noted that crew members frequently deal with anxious passengers. In others, tempers have reached the boiling point. Flight attendants have had to use oxygen on passengers having panic attacks.
“We’ve had people have panic attacks, and we’ve had to give them oxygen. It can be quite intense.” – Sara Nelson
Adelynn Campbell, a patient who experienced a panic attack during a flight, recalled how a compassionate flight attendant helped her through the ordeal. It’s experiences like this that highlight the valuable assistance that flight crews are able to extend to passengers dealing with anxiety.
Strategies for Coping with Fear of Flying
Psychologists such as Dragonette support a range of coping methods that address the different needs of the person. One promising approach works to first desensitize patients to flying-related stimuli using a stepwise approach. Therapy can start with just viewing pictures of planes or watching footage of non-threatening flights. Further, virtual reality headsets can allow people to escape virtually through flying experiences in a safe and controlled environment.
Dragonette suggests breathing exercises, with a focus on lengthening your exhales to allow your body to calm itself when feeling anxious. By practicing these soothing techniques, travelers will feel more in control of their fear while readying themselves for future flights.
Carbonell’s process gives patients permission to feel their feelings. More importantly, it gives them the tools to manage their fears in a better way. He gives an honest appraisal of what’s difficult about that journey. More importantly, he thinks there’s hope in learning how to live with anxiety rather than allowing it to dictate your life.
Leave a Reply