I am flying from Indianapolis to Atlanta to visit some family this Saturday. This will be my first college spring break trip and my very first time in a plane.
I have been working with a hypnotherapist who has taught me meditation exercises to do at home. That has help a little bit. The only thing that I am still
nervous about is the take off. I am afraid that I will have a panic attack during that time, because I am prone to them. I used to avoid flights and I think
this is a brave thing for me to do, but I am still worried.
 |
 |
0 Kudos
First time flying and I am so nervous
| Author | Comment | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 Hp GaL04 |
First time flying and I am so nervous |
Lead | |
|
Posts: 1 (03/11/08 17:29:29) |
|
||
|
Capt Tom Bunn MSW LCSW |
|||
|
Posts: 2161 (03/12/08 02:18:51) |
Hi,
Hypnotherapy can provide relaxation, but in general, it can provide relaxation in the hypnotist's office and also in a quiet place where you have few, if any, distractions and can concentrate on the techniques that produce trance, and with it, relaxation. That, of course, is not exactly what it is like on an airliner. If a person has a very, very mild problem with flying, hypnosis may be of some help. But, being trained in hypnosis myself, I have not found hypnosis to be worth doing - at all - for flying. Captain Truman Cummings who started the first course on fear of flying at Pan Am back in 1975 also was trained in hypnotism, tried it as part of his course, and dropped it. He told me, "If it works at all, it works temporarily." The theory behind meditation is that if you are relaxed, you can't be tense and afraid. The problem is, you can start off relaxed, and when something takes place that you are unfamiliar with, you get tense and may get afraid. That is the way we are "wired up". We are supposed to get tense and - at least alert - when something happens which we thing might possibly be a threat. Since meditation, relaxation, and hypnosis don't work (except for, as I said, the very, very mild cases of flight anxiety), I spent years looking for something that was profoundly effective. It did take some time, but I was able to develop the "Strengthening Exercise" which we now use. It is far more powerful than meditation, relaxation and hypnosis. It is considerably more powerful than medication. Why? Because this exercise causes your mind to automatically link the things that happen during a flight to a moment in which you experienced such a strong connection with another person that the anti-anxiety hormone oxytocin is produced when you recall that moment of strong connection. Oxytocin is the way the brain causes us to relax. It simply stops the part of the brain that triggers fear - the amygdala - from operating. Oxytocin is more powerful than a pill. This is why the Strengthening Exercise is more effective than medication, or anything else you could do for flight anxiety or panic. There is still time for you to get effective help. Go to: www.fearofflying.com/fasttrack which is our online program. You can complete it in just a few hours and get protection from anxiety which you will only believe once you have seen the difference when you fly. If you happen to have a video iPod (or other MP4 player), you can download the same video for your iPod at www.fearofflyingdownloads.com. If you have any question, please call. And, in any case, once you reach video clip 9, call me so I can check how everything is going to make sure you are practicing the exercise just right. |
||
|
Note from Capt. Tom I know everyone worries about weather, but pilots really do not worry about it. We simply - instead of worrying about it - completely prepare for it. Before going to the plane, we review the weather at the destination. If it is not 100% sure to be within legal limits when we arrive at the destination, we must specify an alternate airport in our planning documents, and load on plenty of fuel for going to the destination airport, and then if need be, diverting to the alternate airport. The legal limits are conservative. Even when weather is slightly outside the legal limits, any airline pilot could still land safely. You can rely on the captain never to land when the weather is not legal, and legality limits are reached prior to safety limits. If you are still anxious, call me and we can talk it over. I'm at 877 332-7359 from 10 AM until 7 PM Eastern time. For effective help, even if you are flying in a day or two, sign up now at www.fearofflying.com/fasttrack and call me when you finish Clip 9 so I can make sure you are all set. |
|
Using Weather Information If you enter your ZIP Code or City at the top of the weather presentation, it will give you weather for your area. Or, you can enter your destination ZIP Code or City.
Click on the "LOCAL RADAR" button to see whether or not there are thunder- Turbulence, though it may cause anxiety, does not mean anything is wrong. Turbulence does not mean danger. The plane can handle far more turbulence than Mother Nature can dish out. Though flying in turbulence is safe, it doesn't feel safe. And here is where the SOAR programs come in. We can help you feel as safe when you fly as you actually are. You can see these programs at www.fearofflying.com/store. |
