There were a reported 18 Million commercial air flights in the year 2000, on which over 1 Billion people traveled. Amazingly, there were only 20 fatal airplane accidents in the same year. Compared to the almost 42,000 traffic accidents that occurred in 2000, it is reasonable to state that airline travel is much safer than driving by car.
Nevertheless, rational human beings who have no problem racing all over town in their car every day break into a cold sweat and experience other physical and mental symptoms any time they are faced with the thought of flying on a plane.
A critical thing to keep in mind is that, although it may appear that the danger involved with flying is the cause of the apprehension, that is probably not it at all. As with all phobias, it probably stems from anxiety, which can be triggered in many different ways.
There is very little that an airline passenger can control in his surroundings. The climate cannot be adjusted if it is too hot or too cold. If the surroundings are cramped, it is difficult to make space and you can’t open a window to get fresh air. When turbulence rocks the plane, we have no brake or other controls to manage the situation. We can’t even see and probably don’t know the pilot. Contrast this to an automobile, which we either control by driving ourselves, or know and trust the driver personally.
Because we have to relinquish control, little frustrations take on bigger than life proportions on a plane. A little turbulence becomes an out of control plane spinning toward a crash. A runway delay leads to all kinds of negative thoughts as to why the plane can’t take off. Tight quarters close in more and more until we feel there is no escape.
There are those who subconsciously beat these anxieties before they ever experience them on a physical or mental level. However, many more encounter some form of anxiety when flying, which may vary in degree from uncomfortable, to disturbing, right up the scale to full out panic attack.
The good news is that, as with all anxieties, the first step to recovery is to understand why you are afraid to fly, so that it can be faced. Once that has been achieved, there are many ways to conquer the fear without drugs or expensive therapy.
Tags: Health
