Those who are afraid of flying are not consoled by statistics – they say that the plane is the safest transport, “100 grams for the road” do not help, and sedatives do not calm them down. What is the solution?
First of all, you are not alone. 50% of passengers experience anxiety before a flight, and 15-20% of them experience real panic.
Candidates for alarmists
According to psychologists, people who are used to keeping everything under control most often become aerophobes. The feeling that they can control everything gives a sense of security. But where does this feeling come from in the air, when you are completely dependent on the actions of the pilot? So the “controllers” suffer all the way, listening to the sound of the engines, then to the intonation of the stewardesses – is everything okay? Are we flying or are we already falling?
Other candidates for aerophobia are anxious and suspicious individuals. Their anxiety level is off the charts “in life”. And in an airplane it can even grow to the scale of panic. What if the pilot is inexperienced? What if lightning strikes? What if the fuel is of poor quality? And many other “what ifs”.
During turbulence, an overload of 1.2-1.4 G (units of acceleration of gravity) occurs, explains military pilot, reserve major, head of the Aviator club Evgeny Martenyuk. – And the plane is designed for 3-4 G. That is, it has an almost fourfold safety margin. Even if it seems to you that the wings are shaking, they will not fall off. For the same reason – they are designed for heavy loads.
Attention, alert!
Any emotion, including fear (especially fear!) causes certain physical reactions in the body. There is a sharp surge of adrenaline – the stress hormone. The pulse and blood pressure jump, the muscles tense up. We come into a state of heightened combat readiness – in case we have to attack or defend ourselves.
If you fail to cope with fear, a panic attack may begin with all its “charms”: dizziness, strong heartbeat, feeling of lack of air, nausea, trembling throughout the body, the feeling that “I’m about to lose consciousness or go crazy”…
If panic sets in before departure, the panicker may give up the ticket or run away from the plane at the last moment. And that means goodbye to vacation or business trip. In the first case, you will lose money, in the second, you may lose your job. So don’t let aerophobia poison your life. After all, it is quite possible to cope with it!
- Method one: logical. The best remedy for fear is logic. The plane is “stuffed” with state-of-the-art electronics that monitor flight safety. Aircraft designers have provided for everything, including getting into a turbulence zone (and for an aerophobe this is “an absolute horror”).
- Method two: trust . Pilots are real professionals. They are constantly checked, and every six months they undergo simulator training. If someone does not pass, they are not allowed to fly. In addition, pilots also want to live, they have families, children. And they will do everything possible (and impossible) to ensure that the flight goes well. You can trust them.
- Method three: calming . Do you feel panic coming on? Start breathing correctly. This will help drive away fear. Try, for example, the “4×4” method: 4 seconds – inhale (through the nose), 4 seconds – pause, 4 seconds – exhale (through the mouth), 4 seconds – relax (at this point it is advisable to smile). Repeat at least 20 times.
- Method four: educational . Are you afraid of flying? Find out more about airplanes: how they stay in the air, why they are not afraid of lightning, air pockets, etc. Information reduces anxiety.
- Method five: training. The best cure for fear of flying is to fly more often. No such opportunity? Try to become… a pilot. Of course, no one will let you near the plane, but you can fly on a flight simulator – many flying clubs offer this service. Having learned the process from the inside, you will stop being afraid.
Or you can look at photos of your children, advises Evgeny Martenyuk . This is also calming. You immediately start thinking about how they feel, what they ate for breakfast, what grades they brought home from school. Parental instinct is stronger than fear.
Many people are afraid when a plane “sags” a few seconds after takeoff, says amateur pilot Pavel Kladko. – But that’s how it should be! The pilot removes the flaps, which increase lift, and the plane lands on its wing. A slight descent occurs.
Remember!
Aerophobia can be an echo of other fears. For example, once during a flight you had a severe stomach ache or a fever. Then you forgot that episode. But in the subconscious it was deposited: if you felt bad on the plane, then the plane is “to blame”. It is dangerous to approach it!
