How can I treat my fear of flying phobia?

Answer:
Treatment is the key, you may never totally cure your

fear of flying phobia. You may always feel some sort of discomfort or anxiety when flying but there are ways to limit those anxieties. I'll mention a few ways to help you cope with air travel and enjoy travelling to the fullest.

Fear of flying anxiety is often referred to as a phobia and more specific Aviophobia is the fear of air travel. Each person is different in what effects them. You may have a fear of turbulence, someone else may have a fear hijackers or falling from the sky. No matter what your fear is, I understand your concerns and there are ways to help you cope with those fears.

First of all, commercial air travel is very safe. The statistics of how many people die in airplanes isn't even close to how many die in car accidents. Over your lifetime, you are approximately 500 times more likely to die in a car accident than in a plane crash. So why aren't people scared of driving in cars? Everyone drives cars and honestly, car accidents aren't published on the news like airplane crashes are. You will hear about every commercial plane crash in the USA if you watch the news. On the other hand, I you will probably only hear about a deadly car crash if it takes place in your city. Rarely will you hear about car crashes that take place 1000 miles from your home.

So have you every wondered why all plane crashes are published in the news and not every car crash? It's because plane crashes are so rare. Yes there is a risk to flying, there is a risk walking to your mail box but the fact remains that flying in a commercial plane is less risky than driving a car. Including those tiny prop planes there are approximately 200 people that die in plance crashes each year. The amount of planes in the air at any given time is mind boggling. Some major airports have 400 departures every day. The point is that the plane you get on and the pilot flying that plane are well equipped.

So how do you treat your fear of flying? A lot of people will just tell you to tough it out or to get drunk but drinking heavily and being tough isn't a good solution. There are two things that you should do. First, call your doctor and set up an appointment to discuss this phobia. Don't be afraid or ashamed, it's not a big deal. Most likely, someone that works in that doctors office (including the doctor) may have the same fear. Your doctor will likely prescribe a Sedative like Xanax. Likely he will prescribe a light dosage. Taking a Sedative isn't scary and it doesn't put you flat on your rear. What it does is depresses your central nervous system which in turn calms you down, makes you a bit drowsy which removes some of your anxiety. So similarly to having some drinks, a Sedative won't last as long, is healthier and you won't have a hangover afterwards. If you are driving from the airport you may need to wait a little while for the drug to wear off as it can be dangerous to drive while on this drug.

So a Sedative will calm you down and you won't have the worries that are normally associated with your fear of flying. It's quite nice flying free of fears as it gives you a chance to really enjoy the views.

After you have your doctor visit and get your prescription I would recommend flying more often. Try to get on a plane a few times a year to get used to air travel. Eventually, you will forget to take your Sedative and you won't need it any longer.

Flying is safe and a fear of flying phobia isn't abnormal. I suggest treating it with medication and repetition. You'll eventually get over it and enjoy traveling to the fullest.