# My stupid ridiculous fear of flying **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 4, 2012, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-ridiculous-fear-of-flying/617797 "2012-04-04T11:01:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Stelios](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Stelios](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stelios)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-ridiculous-fear-of-flying/617797/21 "2012-04-05T00:41:37Z")
> [@gracer](#): > > Stelios, can you explain more about the hypnotherapy? What does it change? As it pertains to flying, hypnotherapy helps you overcome the destructive thought patterns and so-called “Thinking traps” which cause you to dread the very notion of setting foot on an airplane. Intellectually, you know your fears are baseless. You said as much in your OP. So why do you still feel this way? The reason is because you’re the victim of a set of destrutive thought patterns which you have adopted and internalised to the point where they’ve become deeply ingrained in your unconscious. Here’s an example. You know that aeroplanes are fantastically complicated pieces of machinery. In all likelihood you, like most people, probably haven’t the foggiest idea how they actually work, right? God knows, I certainly don’t. So there you are, suspended 40,000 feet in the air, encased in several million dollars of what might as well be alien technology when you hear a strange sound emanating from one of the engines. Now, you probably have some preconceived idea of how things which _work_ are supposed to sound. When your car makes a funny noise, it’s a sign that something’s wrong. You take it to a mechanic, and receive a bill for services rendered. The bill also itemises several repairs which you never even suspected were necesary. The lesson is learned. When something starts kicking out weird noises for no reason, chances are good that _not only_ is something seriously wrong, but that, whatever it is, _it’s only the tip of the iceberg!_ So you start freaking out. There’s a problem with the engine. You’re doomed. Smoke 'em if you got 'em 'cuz you’re going down. That kind of thinking is typical of the sort of destructive thought patterns which so bedevil anxious flyers. Hypnotherapy is all about providing you with positive thought patterns with which to counter the negative ones. The induction of a trance state is useful because it allows for the suggestion of these positive patterns to be absorbed unconsciously, which makes them more effective. Incidentally, the concept of the “trance” is one which has been grossly misrepresented in the media. Hypnotic induction isn’t something that’s done to you. It’s something you do to yourself, with the hypnotist’s help. It’s all about getting you into a relaxed frame of mind where you can attain a greater level of focus than you would be able to do otherwise. You remain completely in control at all times. A positive thought pattern typically comprises facts which run counter to the negative patterns. Such as the fact that you have no idea how a plane works and are absurdly unqualified to judge which noises are normal and which aren’t. Or that aeroplanes are subject to rigorous safety checks after every flight, and that the aviation industry as a whole is absolutely _obsessed_ with safety. Alternatively, a positive thought pattern may emphasise the pleasant and enjoyable things about flying, such as the gorgeous views, the presence of a wide range of entertainment facilities, or the fact that you’re sharing a space wih several hundred people taking advantage of a technology which would have seemed like high witchcraft 150 years ago. And let’s not even get started on the tempting range of foods and beverages awaiting your purchase from the refreshments trolley. The unconscious adoption of thought patterns like these allows you to step aboard the flight with a completely different attitude. These positive patterns are also self-reinforcing, and get stronger with every safe, successful, and utterly uneventful flight that you take. There is, I believe, a peculiar law of mental conservation which states that one cannot hold two contradictory ideas at the same time. Since, during hypnotherapy, the positive thought patterns are adopted at an unconscious level, and since they are so pleasant to hold, they will easily overwrite the uncomfortable negative thought patterns, leaving you wondering what all the fuss was about in the first place. Also, while under hypnosis, the unconscious is more prone to suggestion. That means the hypnotist can induce you to recall positive thought patterns at strategic points throughout the flight. For instance, the hypnotist may suggest you think about how much fun you had on your first ever flight (since you alluded, in your OP, to the fact that you used to be a very good flier, I assume you must have enjoyed your first flight) when you see the drinks trolley. Or she may suggest that the decor of the typical 747 is, for some unaccountable reason, particularly relaxing to you. Or something like that. I’m not going to say that hypnosis is a magic bullet. Everyone’s different, and who knows, maybe I’m just particularly susceptible? I will say, however, that my experience was _so_ positive, that I feel comfortable urging any nervous flyers to at least give it a whirl. What have you got to lose? ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-ridiculous-fear-of-flying/617797/22 "2012-04-05T01:00:22Z")
> [@gracer](#): > > Maybe I should ask about Atvian, that sounds good, thanks **not what you’d expect**. It didn’t relax your muscles or anything? ('Cos, y’know…I’ll come back for you and all that ;)) No, that was a plus. Physically, I was great. But I did have a little bit of memory loss. Until I was reminded about it later, I totally forgot about the bus ride out to the plane in San Francisco. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-ridiculous-fear-of-flying/617797/23 "2012-04-05T09:20:23Z")
Thanks **not what you’d expect** and **Stelios** , and everyone else for all the advice. I’ll look into all of it, and I will make it work. I will get across that Atlantic Ocean! ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-ridiculous-fear-of-flying/617797/24 "2012-04-05T10:33:05Z")
> [@gracer](#): > > I didn’t used to be afraid of flying. I flew all over the world, I’ve been up and down the Atlantic all the time. Then I went to Africa and went gaga on the malaria tablets. I had hallucinations and panic attacks until I finally, finally realised that I wasn’t normal and went to see a doctor. My fear was that the plane would attempt & botch a landing on water (I’m genuinely so crazy that I’m not afraid of crashing into the water, because I know I would just explode) and then the water rushes in, I float up to the ceiling, take one last breath and drown in the plane. I told the doctor I couldn’t fly home, so he gave me some tablets. I grabbed him by his shirt and screamed at him that if he was giving me anything that would make me sleepy or relax my muscles I would come back and find him. I’m not joking, I said that! That’s how crazy I was ☹ > . You took mefloquine, didn’t you? That stuff is evil. I freaked out while taking it back in the 1990s before the medical establishment would admit that severe psychological side effects are actually relatively common. Thank god I figured it out on my own (“shit, I’m going stark raving mad once a week on Monday nights … what am I doing once a week that could be causing that?”) and there were enough anecdotal reports floating around that I knew it wasn’t just me. Sorry I can’t help with the flying phobia, but you have all my sympathy on the malarial drug freak-out. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-ridiculous-fear-of-flying/617797/25 "2012-04-05T12:52:46Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > You took mefloquine, didn’t you? That stuff is evil. I freaked out while taking it back in the 1990s before the medical establishment would admit that severe psychological side effects are actually relatively common. Thank god I figured it out on my own (“shit, I’m going stark raving mad once a week on Monday nights … what am I doing once a week that could be causing that?”) and there were enough anecdotal reports floating around that I knew it wasn’t just me. > > Sorry I can’t help with the flying phobia, but you have all my sympathy on the malarial drug freak-out. Actually, strangely it was Malarone, which is supposed to be the mild thing that people don’t freak out on. Still, hallucinations & panic attacks are still among the side effects and I guess they just had a really bad effect on me. It’s so strange, when I look at the pictures of that time now I can see how crazy I was, how my whole reality was totally warped (hello, threatening the poor doctor!). But it started really slowly and it all seemed totally rational to me. Until I hadn’t slept several nights because I sat up shaking and sweating, and I thought I should see a doc. Even then, when I knew I wasn’t reacting normally, I was still convinced I was going to die on the plane. Brains are weird, I guess. Sorry you had the crazies too on the mefloquine. It sucks when you can’t trust your own mind. Have you tried any other malaria meds since? I’m thinking that as I had the mildest type the others will be no good for me. So I’ll just have to be careful around mozzies and hope for the best if I’m in malaria territory. Thanks for the sympathy 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Corcaigh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Corcaigh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corcaigh)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-ridiculous-fear-of-flying/617797/26 "2012-04-05T13:54:42Z")
> [@gracer](#): > > I read it’s more dangerous to put your pants on in the morning, because your foot might go in the crotch bit and you might fall over and hit your head and die. Which is why I sit down when I’m getting dressed!! ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-ridiculous-fear-of-flying/617797/27 "2012-04-05T16:40:42Z")
_minor spoilers for Deep Impact, the movie_ One time I was flying back from Chicago to LA, and the inflight movie was Deep Impact, the asteroid movie with Morgan Freeman. Well in the movie, there’s this part where the asteroid or a piece of it lands in the Atlantic and the tsunamis are destroying the East Coast. At the same time, the plane hit turbulence for like 30 freaking minutes. The whole plane just shook and shook and felt like it was going to break apart. Never watched that movie again… ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-ridiculous-fear-of-flying/617797/28 "2012-04-05T16:45:52Z")
_Makes a note to never travel to places with malaria._ ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-ridiculous-fear-of-flying/617797/29 "2012-04-05T17:12:50Z")
I used to be afraid of flying, and now I can fly pretty well. Here’s the trick that did it for me: I did play-acting. I pretended that I was an important lady executive who flew everywhere all the time on business. I played that my carry-on was a fancy briefcase full of important papers and that I was wearing a business suit. I made up a long history of air travel to look back on. For some reason, this helped me a lot, even if I’m still not a perfect flyer. I white-knuckle the takeoffs and clutch the armrests during turbulence, but I do pretty well. It helped that I really, really love travel and didn’t want to succumb to phobias, like my mom. ---
**Author:** ![LynnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@LynnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LynnM)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2012, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-ridiculous-fear-of-flying/617797/30 "2012-04-05T21:32:29Z")
Don’t mean to be contrary, but could it be possible that you _should_ be afraid of flying? And might you be over-emoting just a bit? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-ridiculous-fear-of-flying/617797/31 "2012-04-06T00:55:53Z")
:raises hand: I also have flown around the planet many times and have found my fear \*increasing \*the more I’ve flown. I fly to Korea Saturday(14 hours, I think). Ugh. I just deal with it…by freaking out a bit and just doing it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-ridiculous-fear-of-flying/617797/32 "2012-04-06T15:07:42Z")
> [@LynnM](#): > > Don’t mean to be contrary, but could it be possible that you _should_ be afraid of flying? > > And might you be over-emoting just a bit? Sorry, I’m not really sure I understand what you mean? “Should be afraid” as in, it makes sense to be afraid because it is likely that the scenario you imagine will actually happen? And do you mean “over-emoting” as in “showing emotion excessive to the situation”, because, well, that is a bit of a problem, and sort of what the thread is about. I wish I could be less afraid, because that would be more appropriate to the not-so-dangerous situation of flying. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-stupid-ridiculous-fear-of-flying/617797.md?page=1)