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fear of flying
Situational Phobias

Aerophobia or Aviophobia – Fear of Flying

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The Fear of Flying

Let’s be honest. We live in a high-paced society, and time is a valuable commodity. Time is money they say, but it’s also precious. Take vacations for instance. Say you get a week off work, and a far-off beach is on your agenda. How are you going to get there and still make the most of your precious time?

When it comes to travel, there’s no faster mode than flight.

Whether you are on a puddle jumper, personal Cessna, or a huge flying bus like the Boeing 747, flying is the way to travel. It’s fast and it’s safe.

Some people, however, have serious issues using this convenient mode of travel. Because of fear, many cannot or will not fly. Fear of flying can put a serious crimp in any plan.

Aerophobia

 

Understanding the Fear of Flying

Aerophobia, sometimes called aviophobia, is the technical term for the fear of flying.

If you suffer debilitating fear or simply discomfort, you are not alone. There are a fair number of people who would rather drive the 2,700 miles from New York to Los Angeles than even consider getting on a plane.

The fear of flying, although enough to handle on its own, may be accompanied by other fears such as the related acrophobia (fear of heights) or claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces). It is similar to the fear of being a passenger in a car where you have no control of the situation.

As many as one in four air travelers have a considerable fear of flying. This fear may come from a past bad flight experience, recent news of airline disasters, or terrorist events such as what occurred on September 11, 2001, known now as 9/11. This traumatic event was responsible for the onset of many cases of aerophobia, which is understandable. Movies and other media may also be to blame for stoking fears of flying in those susceptible.

Other underlying conditions may exacerbate your aerophobia, like having an illness for instance. Traveling with a sinus issue, inner ear problem, or even a common cold may increase the effects of your fear of flying.

The Impact of Fear of Flying

For those of us with jobs that require travel, the fear of flying can complicate life.

Imagine this: your boss needs you to travel four states away for an important meeting. But you must turn him down because of your severe acrophobia. This could cause serious issues such as job loss or lack of advancement. This may be an exaggerated situation, but you can see where problems with acrophobia may arise. These issues may be as complex and painful as not being able to travel with your family on a long-awaited trip to Disney Land to not being able to climb the career ladder.

fear of flying

Common Symptoms for the Fear of Flying

People suffering from aerophobia or aviophobia may show signs prior to boarding a plane or helicopter. Some may exhibit high levels of irritability, hot flashes, sweating, or defensiveness when asked if anything is wrong.

Some fear sufferers may become physical in an attempt to avoid getting on the plane. This should not be taken lightly. Try to calm the traveler down to see if the episode will pass. It is best not to force anyone to do something they fear this much. If the traveler is prescribed any form of anxiety or relaxation medication, it may be best for them to take the medication prior to arriving at the airport.*

Physical symptoms for the fear of flying may include:

  • Gastrointestinal, flatulence or burping
  • Nausea with vomiting
  • Shaking or trembling
  • Elevated heart rate
  • Headache
  • Hyperventilation

Psychological symptoms may include:

  • Dizziness
  • Extreme vertigo (sensation of spinning while stationary)
  • Confusion
  • Nervous
  • Agitation
  • Fear

What Can You Do for the Fear of Flying?

Professional Treatments

  • Professional therapy
  • Flight Simulators
  • Hypnosis
  • Self Help, proactive actions such as reading and learning about aerophobia
  • Prescribed medications from your health professional only
  • Over-the-counter meds such as motions sickness pills
  • Combination of professional therapy and medication for serious cases

In Summary

You are not alone in your fear of flying. There are many well-known people who have issues flying such as Jennifer Aniston, who has a well-documented fear of flying; Colin Farrell; Kirsten Dunst; and the late, great Aretha Franklin. So you see, there is nothing to be ashamed of. It is a fairly common fear, and the good point is it can be dealt with.

It’s true that the fear of flying hampers many travelers worldwide. But if dealt with proactively you can limit the effects to make air travel acceptable if not enjoyable.

In the words of Ol’ Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra, Come fly with me!

*Please note: Do not administer medication to any traveler that is not professionally prescribed.

 

SOURCES:

https://www.psycom.net/aerophobia-fear-of-flying/
https://dream.aero/dc/treating-aerophobia
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0887618588900047

 

Stories Submitted by Our Readers

Fear of Flying

I’m a middle-aged male that has never been on an airplane. I have a fear of the plane crashing or maybe it is just that I have no control whatsoever once we take off. I never go on a plane with family; I drive and meet them there or just make up an excuse as to why I can’t take the vacation.
I do plan on trying to fly soon; however, I will see my doctor first to get some medication.
Peter J.

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Stories Submitted by Our Readers

Flying

I’m not sure when my fear began but I was working as a sales person and had to fly for training to another state. The panic set in as soon as they told me I had to fly. I talked them into letting me drive as long as I paid to get there. I won’t fly for a vacation, I always drive. The problem is that everyone else flew except my wife and I. She doesn’t like that we are on the road more than we are at the destination enjoying time with family and friends.
My wife once received a very huge promotion but we had to move to another state. She flew and I stayed behind explaining I would make sure the movers packed our stuff and got it all on the truck. I drove myself. A few years later, she received another promotion. She talked me into flying to the destination to look for a new home. While we were waiting to get on the plane, I started sweating, became dizzy, and couldn’t breath. My wife tried to calm me down, but nothing was working. I finally got on the plane with a stewardess help, but cried all the way. I didn’t die, but I did not move the entire flight. I did not eat or drink anything and couldn’t wait to be on the ground again. I was so exhausted when we landed.
Today, I still can’t fly and my wife is tired of driving to go places for vacation. I have to do something or I will be stuck at home or driving alone. I truly don’t know what to do. I am only a couple of years from retirement and we have planned trips but I know I can’t get on a plane. Can anything help?
Richard Patchen

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FearAZ.com is looking for personal stories of any 'fear of' or phobia. If you have an interesting story you'd like to share, we welcome your submission. If the story fits with our content and guidelines, we'll add it to our site.
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Your Fear Goes Up and Down

Are you someone who would rather climb the stairs than take the elevator? You call it squeezing in a workout after being sedentary the whole morning. Or perhaps you claim it's a faster route. These are both typical, normal, and acceptable reasons. But what if you need to be in the conference room on the eleventh floor in five minutes, and you're wearing your business suit and wingtips? Would you still prefer to take the stairs? If your answer is yes, then maybe it's time to take a closer look at your reasons for avoiding elevators. Elevators stir all sorts of emotions in passengers. From the discomfort of closeness to strangers to the sensations in our gut, elevators can be a source of the heebie-jeebies for many, but for some, they can also be a source of terror. Let's dig a little deeper into the latter, and see what this terror is all about and what can be done to manage it. To begin with, does being inside an elevator give you chills or the sweats? Or does it trigger an unpleasant memory? Perhaps you remember movies you've watched where something terrible happens inside an elevator. From Silence of the Lambs, The Shining, Final Destination 2, or the king of all elevator horror films, 2010’s Devil, the elevator becomes witness to something sinister and horrible. And you want nothing to do with any of it. You know that you're not claustrophobic. You can deal with heights just fine, too. And you know that you're not going to be trapped inside. All of these contribute to a fear of elevators—but they don't apply to you. Yet being inside one does something to you. It's hard to explain.

What is the Fear of Elevators Called?

What you have is a fear of elevators, which is called elevatophobia. It is most commonly triggered by an experience of getting stuck inside either due to a power outage or technical maintenance. Hearing about other people's experiences or watching a movie about similar circumstances can prompt a fear of elevators getting stuck with you inside. Usually, claustrophobics and agoraphobics may also develop elevatophobia because the triggers and objects of these fears are related. Claustrophobia is the fear of closed and cramped spaces, while agoraphobia is the fear of being trapped without any means of escape. Put the two together, and the elevator becomes the perfect combination of both phobias. The space is limited and closed, with only one means of entry and exit. You can add another point of access if you consider climbing the cables like they do in the movies, but that certainly isn't ideal.

Symptoms of Elevatophobia

If for some reason an elevator stops due to an outage or some technical difficulty, passengers with elevatophobia may go into full panic mode. Even if the maintenance team advises that it will just be a matter of minutes, by then, the person's mind has become irrational with the fear of the elevator falling, being stuck for hours, or other unpleasant thoughts. You would expect a person to exhibit the following physical symptoms: Additionally, you would be filled with that overwhelming anxiety where you feel that you have zero control over the situation. You start fearing the unknown and are filled with negative thoughts about death and imminent doom. You become irrational and unresponsive.

Possible Complications of Elevatophobia

When the panic sets in, the possibility of emergencies related to pre-existing conditions may make themselves known. This might include serious health crises like heart attacks or asthma attacks. When this happens, fear becomes a medical emergency. Elevator rides do not last long; it's just a matter of minutes or even less. But the fact that a person can escalate from panic to a near fatal medical situation classifies the fear of elevators as a 'hard phobia.'

Trying Some Self-Help Methods

Your fear of elevators can likely interfere with your social and work life and relationships. Not everyone understands that elevatophobia, like most phobias, can be crippling. But don't be disheartened. Depending on the level of your fear and level of control, you can gradually face and manage your phobia. Here are some recommendations you can try:
  1. Make a List of Everything that Entails Riding in an Elevator This is a systematic approach to getting over your anxiety. By following a step-by-step process, you can identify where the fear kicks in at its strongest. You can write a list of steps like pressing the topmost button and waiting to arrive on that floor, watching as the door closes and opens, being alone inside the elevator, or having delays with the doors opening. Now try doing the opposite. For example, face away from the door or occupy yourself with your phone so that you are distracted.
  2. Create Your Fear Ladder Although the name says fear of elevators, it is not the whole process that scares you. There are just phases and parts of the elevator riding experience that cause you to panic. So go back to the list you initially created and label the fear level you feel. You can do it numerically, too, like ten being 'really scary,' six, 'manageable scary,' and one, 'not scary at all.' You can put the corresponding fear levels so you can focus more time and effort into activities that are more scary to you.
  3. Face Your Fear By now, you have identified what scares you the most. You can try repetitive action to minimize your fear and increase your sense of ‘normalcy’. Remember that the longer you expose yourself to your fear, the better you get at handling your emotions. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stop. Pushing yourself too fast and too soon can backfire. Modify your pace and go slower instead.
  4. Talk About Your Fear People by nature, unfortunately, are not quick to offer understanding and support. You need to tell them what's wrong before they can empathize. Talk to someone who you trust and ask for their support, especially in the initial phase of overcoming your fear. If you are too afraid to ride the elevator alone, you can ask them to go with you, and before you realize it, you are on your floor, and there was no indication of panic.
  5. Learn To Be Patient Be patient with yourself and your predicament. This is, after all, your fight against fear. It might take hundreds of elevator ride practices before the fear gets under control. Even then, there might be some hesitations and episodes of nervousness. These are acceptable and expected, so cut yourself some slack and congratulate yourself for every progress.

Seeking Professional Help

Along with self-help, you can always enlist a medical professional's aid to support you with your elevatophobia. Talking to someone who has experience with similar cases can be comforting, because you know that you are not alone, and this situation can get better. Talk to your doctor about the severity of your fears and the symptoms that you experience. Explain how you deal with it in an attempt to control it. An exam and a health history are made to ensure that there are no unrelated or underlying problems that your symptoms might mask. Usually, phobias like this are approached with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Your doctor will talk about these options with you, and it's entirely up to you, with your doctor's recommendation, what you want to pursue. For psychotherapy, the most common type is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which aims to help you find different ways of behaving, thinking, and reacting when about to step inside an elevator or when already inside it. With medications, there are beta blockers and benzodiazepines, but note that these can have side effects. Whatever these side effects are, you should promptly share it with your doctor.

Simple Tips to Overcome Elevatophobia

Elevators are not perfect, but their likelihood to malfunction, fall, or get stuck is very low. If you are not fully confident with this information, you can help overcome your elevatophobia by learning common elevator safety tips and basic elevator operations. These should help curb your mild fear until you become more self-assured. In addition to that, here are some of the things that you can do to gradually overcome your fear of elevators—both in getting on and riding one.

Conclusion

Yes, elevatophobia can be a challenge in today's world, but don't allow the elevator to win. Don't let it stop you from taking a job on the top floor or attending a social gathering on the rooftop. Sure, you can take the stairs if you insist and arrive winded and sweaty, with the party about to wrap up. But is this the quality of life you seek? Elevators are designed to make life easier. There are guaranteed ways to help you overcome elevatophobia. Take the first step and seek help. Soon, you’ll see yourself breezing through the floors with those arduous stair climbs little more than a memory.
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