Natural remedy for overcoming fear of flying disorders and fear of flying phobias.

A person with a fear of flying feels intense anxiety at even the thought of having to travel by air and will usually avoid it at all costs. In some cases, when a flight is unavoidable, a person with Aviophobia will endure the flight with an over-whelming sense of nervousness, possibly even experiencing a panic attack. Other common symptoms expressed are:

• Nausea, vomiting and motion sickness
• Dizziness or a feeling of ‘falling’
• Sweating
• Muscle tension
• Heavy breathing
• Increased heart rate or palpitations
• Shaking or trembling

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• Small enclosed spaces (claustrophobia)
• Heights
• The dangers of turbulence
• The risk of crashing
• Flying over water
• Relinquishing all control to the unseen, unknown pilots at the front of the plane
• Depending on the unknown mechanics of a machine for your safety
• Fear of having a panic attack
• Fear of possible terrorism
• Motion sickness
• Taking off, or landing

Sometimes this anxiety can be traced back to the fear of the unknown and a lack of information. Many people feel anxious because they feel physical sensations, such as a loss of balance as the plane dips.

Others might hear noises that they do not understand and think this may be a sign of danger, when in fact these are normal and to be expected on any flight.

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Drug Therapy

Psychiatric medication such as benzodiazepines or other relaxant drugs are sometimes prescribed to temporarily control symptoms of Aviophobia. However it must be kept in mind that drug treatments do not treat the underlying disorder and may cause unwanted side-effects. Always remember to "test-out" any medication on the ground where medical supervision is at hand, to ensure you don’t have any adverse reactions – as this is not something you only want to discover mid-flight!

Natural Herbal and Homeopathic Remedies

Certain natural remedies may be taken to help control the anxiety associated with flying. Herbs such as Hypericum perforatum (St John’s Wort), Passiflora incarnata, Scutellaria laterifolia (Scullcap) and Valerian are often recommended for anxiety and will help to calm the nerves and relax the mind during your flight. There are also excellent herbal and homeopathic remedies for travel sickness. As with any other phobia, a holistic approach using a combination of treatments will prove to be most successful.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Desensitization is one of the more commonly used methods in treating fear of flying. This will entail gradually facing the idea of flying, starting with simply talking about it, or visiting an airport, to eventually taking a flight. You will be taught relaxation methods and coping techniques to combat your phobia.

Relaxation Techniques

Meditation, deep breathing and muscle relaxation techniques can help reduce your anxiety during flights. Practice these at home first so that they can be easily applied when you need them. Especially composed CD’s can help to reduce anxiety, relieve tension, take your mind off things and regulate breathing during the flight.

Airline-Affiliated Programs

Many Airlines now offer special programs to help people overcome their fear of flying. These may include desensitization sessions where you can actually board the plane without taking off, information provision so that you understand more about the workings of planes and what can be expected, as well as other coping strategies that have been successful for others.

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• Get informed! The more you understand about flying, turbulence, and the statistical risk of flying, the more you will realize that there is little to fear. Statistically, flying is the safest form of travel.
• Try and figure out what scares you about flying and then address that problem. Most often it’s another underlying fear that needs to be dealt with such as a fear of panic attacks or claustrophobia.
• During a flight, try keeping your mind occupied so that you don’t think catastrophic thoughts about what can go wrong. Take along magazines or make use of the on-flight entertainment and watch a movie – or you can consider flying at night, when it is less disorientating.
• Introduce yourself to your pilot and inform the air hostesses of your fear. You may find comfort in meeting and seeing the confidence of the people that you are entrusting your safety to.
• Avoid stimulants such as sugar or coffee on the day of the flight. These may increase the symptoms of your anxiety.
• Get to the airport early. Feeling rushed will make you feel more anxious by the time you board the flight.
• Try not to use alcohol to relax you. Because of the difference in altitude, it may have a greater effect on you than you’d hoped to which may make you feel more out of control.
• Book a seat near the front of the aircraft as the turbulence is less noticeable there. If you do experience turbulence, don’t tense up. Rather try relaxing your body and going with the flow. Turbulence is very common during flights and is not a cause for alarm.

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