Introduction

Flying. It’s one of those things that most people take for granted and it’s a part of life. I don’t think twice about jumping on a plane to go somewhere, but in reality, it causes me great anxiety and fear.

I’m terrified of flying.

Your fear may not be rational, but it is real. Fear of flying is a common phobia and one that many people struggle with every day. There are many ways to overcome or at least manage your fear of flying, so don’t worry! With some effort and patience, you can learn how to feel more comfortable in the air.

If your fear of flying is affecting your life in any way (e.g., if it prevents you from traveling for work or vacation), consider talking with a mental health professional about how best to cope with this issue.

I know this is really stupid.

I know this is really stupid.

You are not alone if you are afraid of flying, too. It’s super common to fear flying. I’m scared of flying and have been for a long time, since my first airplane ride when I was five years old.

Even though we are surrounded by people who have been through this experience and survived it, it’s still hard to believe that they didn’t die or get hurt during their flights. To help you out, here’s a list of some other fears people can have about flying:

  • Fear of dying in an airplane crash (this one is probably the most prevalent)
  • Fear that someone will break into your plane midflight and attack you
  • Fear that your plane might crash because there were previous crashes due to mechanical failures or weather conditions

I’ve flown many times in the past but it keeps getting worse.

Confession: I’m terrified of flying.

Many times in the past I have flown and it has been fine but now it keeps getting worse every time.

I don’t know why this is happening, maybe because I am getting older? Maybe because it is a big deal for me to travel on a plane and that makes me more nervous about dying in a plane crash.

My fear has the best of me.

One of the most difficult aspects of flying phobia is the fact that the fear can be so overwhelming. It’s easy to fall into a spiral of negative thoughts, and these can really take over your life if you let them. You might start believing things like:

  • “If I don’t get on this plane and fly home, my marriage will fail.”
  • “Flying is dangerous! What if we crash? I should have never even considered flying in the first place!”
  • “If I don’t get on this plane now, my boss will fire me for being late for work too many times. How will I pay rent next month? Or buy food? Or put gas in my car? What am I going to do? Oh no! Oh no! Oh no…

It affects my life and where I can spend my vacation time.

Flying can limit your vacation options. If you’re afraid of flying, you might avoid going to places that are far away or high up. This can take away from the experience of traveling because it’s hard to get an idea of where you’re going if you don’t actually see any landmarks or sights when arriving at your destination.

Another downside is that it can be difficult to find affordable lodging in these places if they’re not well-known tourist destinations. For example, if I wanted to go hiking in a remote area of Montana but didn’t want to drive there from my home state (in Colorado), then I would have very few options for finding affordable hotels and hostels in my desired area because most travelers aren’t willing or able drive very far just for their vacation as it can be expensive depending on how many days they’ll need transportation for themselves and their belongings (especially if they have pets).

As someone who struggles with anxiety issues myself and has had friends who’ve dealt with similar situations as well, this topic hits close to home for me personally so hopefully some good comes out of people reading about my experiences dealing with fear-related challenges through education & awareness!

I don’t want to feel this way.

And that’s where I am right now. I don’t want to feel this way, but it seems that no matter how much therapy or medication or self-help books I read, I can’t seem to get over my fear of flying. So instead, my only option is to accept it—and as long as you can do that and keep moving forward with your life in spite of your fears, then there is hope for you too.

Is there hope for me?

There is hope for you. You can overcome your fear of flying, and all it takes is a bit of time and effort.

Here are some ways to get started:

  • Talk with a therapist. A therapist can help you understand why you’re afraid, and how to deal with the emotions that arise from being scared. A therapist may also be able to recommend a specific treatment option, like hypnosis or exposure therapy.
  • Try hypnosis or guided meditation recordings that target anxiety about flying specifically (there are many available for purchase on iTunes). These will help calm your mind so that your body can relax as well—and once they’ve done their job, they’ll fade away into nothingness, leaving behind no lingering side effects except possibly a few new favorite songs!
  • Consider taking medication if traditional methods aren’t working for you—but do keep in mind that each person reacts differently to medications; some will not find relief at all through this method alone! You should also discuss any potential side effects with your doctor before beginning any new treatment plan so there aren’t any surprises later on down the line when something goes wrong unexpectedly during treatment withdrawal.”

I need help to conquer my fears.

If you’re like me, you’ve probably tried to do this on your own. Google and YouTube are great resources, but they’re not enough. You need someone who can work with you directly and give feedback on how to change your behavior.

I recommend finding a therapist in person or online who specializes in phobias (such as those of flying) and getting help from them. If that’s not an option for financial reasons or because there aren’t any therapists near where you live, then consider taking classes at local community centers or finding books that can help guide the process of self-improvement independent of a professional therapist’s guidance.

Conclusion

I know that I’m not alone in my fear of flying. It’s a common phobia for people to have, and there are many ways to help yourself overcome it. The most important thing is to stay positive and keep trying until you find something that works for you.