There is nothing more exciting than planning a trip with your loved ones to go to foreign countries to experience different cultures. Or you might just want to go to a different state or region within your own country. For many people, their deep-seated fear of flying stops them in their path.

A fear of flying, known as aviophobia or aerophobia, is an anxiety disorder where a person experiences intense fear or panic when thinking about or engaging in air travel. This fear can range from mild unease to severe anxiety that can significantly impact one’s ability to fly.

Common Symptoms of fear of flying include:

Symptoms can include rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, nausea, fainting, dizziness, and panic attacks. This fear can be debilitating for those who need to travel frequently or for those who avoid flying altogether.

6 Common aspects of Fear of Flying include:

1. Fear of Crashes: Worrying excessively about the possibility of a plane crash, despite statistical evidence showing that air travel is one of the safest modes of transportation.
2. Claustrophobia: Feeling anxious about being confined in the small space of an airplane.
3. Turbulence: Anxiety about experiencing turbulence and the associated sensations of bumpiness or instability.
4. Loss of Control: A fear of not being in control, as passengers are reliant on the pilots and crew to manage the flight.
5. Previous Trauma: Past negative experiences related to flying or associated with aviation can trigger or exacerbate the fear.
6. Fear of Heights: A general fear of heights (acrophobia) can contribute to the fear of flying, as planes are high off the ground.

Hypnotherapy can be successful in helping people overcome their fear of flying due to several key factors:

1. Access to the Subconscious Mind: Hypnotherapy works by accessing the subconscious mind, where deep-seated fears and anxieties are often stored. By addressing these underlying issues, hypnotherapy can help reframe the way you think about flying.
2. Deep Relaxation: The hypnotic state promotes profound relaxation, which can significantly reduce the physiological symptoms of anxiety, such as rapid heartbeat and sweating. This relaxation helps create a more manageable and less frightening mental environment.
3. Reframing Negative Thoughts: Hypnotherapy helps change negative thought patterns and beliefs associated with flying. Through guided suggestions, hypnotherapy can help replace fearful thoughts with more positive and realistic ones, making the idea of flying less intimidating.
4. Visualization Techniques: Hypnotherapy includes guided visualization, where clients imagine themselves flying comfortably and safely. This mental rehearsal helps desensitize the fear and build confidence about the flying experience.
5. Coping Strategies: Hypnotherapy can teach clients techniques for managing anxiety, such as deep breathing or self-hypnosis. These strategies can be used during flights to help maintain calmness and control.
6. Breaking the Cycle of Anticipatory Anxiety: Fear of flying often involves significant anticipatory anxiety, where the mere thought of flying causes stress. Hypnotherapy can help break this cycle by addressing and reducing the anxiety before the flight even occurs.
7. Addressing Specific Triggers: Hypnotherapy can help identify and address specific triggers or past traumatic experiences related to flying. By resolving these underlying issues, the overall fear can be dramatically reduced or eliminated.
8. Building Confidence: Through positive reinforcement and suggestion, hypnotherapy can help build confidence in one’s ability to manage flying, reducing the sense of helplessness or fear associated with air travel.

At Flourish Hypnotherapy we have helped many clients overcome their fear of flying, by providing tailored sessions, which approach the fear of flying by addressing the psychological and emotional aspects of this phobia, along with any triggers.

There are many cases that have been reported on, have a look at this article written by BBC News that details the story of a young boy too frightened to fly home and stuck in a foreign country for 15 months until he found Hypnosis.

  https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-somerset-24426988

Start your journey today!

Fear of flying may feel overwhelming, but you do not have to face it alone. If you are ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, book in for a free consultation. Let us work together to assist you to break free from the shackles of fear of flying and embrace your dreams of traveling once again.