Around 25 million Americans suffer from some form of the fear of flying, says Barbara Rothbaum, professor in psychiatry and director of the Trauma and Anxiety Recovery Program at Emory University School of Medicine. The reasons that you're afraid might be entirely different than the reason your seatmate is nervous. If your fear of flying is disrupting your life or making for unpleasant air travel, discover the root of your fear to discern the real reason.
Death
One of the most obvious causes of the fear of flying lies in the fear that you could die in an airplane crash. Time magazine did the math in 2004 and reports that your odds of dying in a fatal plane crash are one in 600,000. Unfortunately, there is little comfort in the statistics for those who are afraid of not beating the odds. If you are afraid of dying on a plane, take the time to read about safety precautions and the safety features of the plane you're traveling on. It can help you feel more in control if ever there were cause to be afraid for your life on a plane.
Traumatic Experience
Having a bad experience or a bad experience associated with air travel can make you fear airplanes. Even if the experience didn't happen to you, it can still be traumatic and make you afraid of planes, according to the University of Iowa. Having a relative be injured or die in an air travel accident, suffering some sort of pain or trauma on a plane or even a traumatic event portrayed by the media can cause you to fear. Visiting with a therapist may help you understand more about your past and how they are connected to your present fears.
Other Phobias
You may think that you have a fear of flying, when in fact you are suffering from another phobia entirely. The fear of being enclosed in a small space, claustrophobia, could be the root of your flight fears. A fear of heights or fear of relinquishing control could also contribute to a feeling of anxiety while flying, notes IndependentTraveler.com. In this case, a more throughout examination of your fears and phobias can help you get treat and conquer them so flying isn't such a stressful event.
Sickness
If you suffer from nausea and motion sickness while flying, it can make you fear getting on a plane when it makes you feel so awful. You might also fear getting ill from being in an enclosed space with other people for a long period of time. Over-the-counter medicines and homeopathic remedies, like ginger pills or breathing exercises, can help you feel better so you can board the plane, confident and fearless.
