Aerophobia
Aerophobia is typically the fear of flying and is a major type of anxiety disorder that those who are affected by it experience extreme panic and fear when flying. Although no specific cause of aerophobia has been established, psychologists relate it to a combination of factors such as the fear being modeled to kids by their parents and exposure to media content showing plane crashes. However, the feeling that one is not in control of the situation and their safety has been prominently related as the major cause of aerophobia.
Although everyone is prone to aerophobia, its prevalence is more among children and young adults below the age of 20 years. Psychologists relate this phenomenon to early exposure to hazardous events related to flying such as plane crashes. This fear can build up and later become aerophobia. the prevalence of the disorder is high among women compared to men. Generally, aerophobia affects about 6.5% of all Americans which is about 20 million people. statistics indicate that the lifetime prevalence of aerophobia among Americans stands at 7.4% (Hudson, 2012). usually, people who suffer from aerophobia do not display any symptoms relate to the phobia until they are in a plane or helicopter. Symptoms can range from increased heart rate, choking sensation, trembling, nausea, cold hands, and shortness of breath.
Psychologists suggest many possible factors that can be considered. One is obtaining sufficient information related to air travel and the risk factors involved. Researchers have established that this is among the forms of transportation with minimal risk of death. One needs to perform self-evaluation in a bid to identify why they are afraid of flying. Such questions can range from why they are specifically afraid to fly or trying to identify the first time they started experiencing fear of flying. Such questions can guide one into identifying if there is certain trauma that one experienced at a young age which may be causing the phobia may make it easy to deal with the trauma first as a way of finding solutions for aerophobia.
Severe cases of aerophobia are treated with medication, therapy, or a combination of both. The medications are most effective in managing symptoms just before the flight and during the flight. However, psychiatrists propose the use of exposure therapy as a long-term solution to aerophobia. Normally, this therapy is applied by gradually allowing an individual to become accustomed to the idea and sensations of flying. This is usually done by exposing these people to small heights then the psychiatrist helps such s person test the reality of irrational mind patterns that they harbor about flying (Meiliyana & Fauzia, 2014). An individual can learn to overcome this fear by first and foremost arming themselves with adequate information. Having enough knowledge helps an individual separate fear from danger based on the facts that they have from their acquired knowledge. In addition, it is always advisable to anticipate anxiety. this anxiety is usually what we experience when we are anticipating fear. Although it’s the most intense anxiety that one will experience during a flight, its nevertheless a predictor of how one will feel during a flight.
References
Meiliyana, D., & Fauzia, R. (2014). SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION IN PATIENTS AEROPHOBIA. International Journal of Academic Research, 6(4).
Hudson, M. F. (2012). FEAR OF FLYING. Aviation, Space, and Environmental Medicine, 83(3), 324-325.