Aerophobia is an extreme fear of flying in an airplane. People with aerophobia may be scared about different aspects of flying, such as take-off, landing, or getting locked in the plane. You might know that your fear is irrational — statistics show that air travel has the lowest death rates among other forms of transportation — but you can’t reason your way out of the anxiety. Another name for this condition is aviophobia. Most people with aerophobia aren’t afraid of the plane crashing. The anticipation of flying, or thinking about flying, is often as troubling as being on the flight itself.
Symptoms and Causes
Who is at risk for aerophobia?
Aerophobia is most common in people between the ages of 17 and 34. This is a time in life when significant changes occur. People may be scared that flying jeopardizes their lives at such a critical time. Someone can fly without anxiety for years, and then develop aerophobia.
What causes aerophobia?
Aerophobia usually doesn’t have a specific cause. It’s rare for aerophobia to stem from a traumatic experience on a flight. Specific triggers might include:
● News stories about terrorism, crashes, or violence on airplanes.
● Take-off and landing.
● Thoughts about fire or illness spreading through the plane.
● Turbulence
Other phobias can also make aerophobia worse:
● Acrophobia (fear of heights).
● Agoraphobia (fear of leaving the house or not being able to escape from a place if something goes wrong).
● Anthropophobia (fear of people).
● Claustrophobia (fear of confined spaces)
● Mysophobia (germaphobia, or fear of germs).
What are the symptoms of aerophobia?
If you have aerophobia, you might avoid flying at all costs. This could mean missing family vacations or refusing to travel for work. If you have aerophobia, you might also prevent movies, books, or news stories related to air travel. You may also become obsessed with learning about security measures at airports and on planes. It’s also possible for people with aerophobia to have panic attacks before or during a flight. Symptoms may include:
● Chills
● lightheadedness.
● Excessive sweating
● Nausea
● Shortness of breath
● Trembling or shaking.
How is aerophobia diagnosed?
There isn’t a specific diagnostic test for aerophobia. Aerophobia can range from mild (you’ll fly if you have to, but it makes you anxious) to severe (you’ve refused to fly for more than five years). A specialist may diagnose you with a specific phobic disorder, such as aerophobia if you:
● Experience your fear for six months or longer.
● Go out of your way to avoid the object or situation you fear.
● Fear makes you have difficulty functioning at home, at work, or in social situations.
How is aerophobia managed or treated?
Many people can work on overcoming their fear of flying with psychotherapy.
● Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on helping you change your thoughts about flying. It might include learning about how planes work or reviewing safety statistics for air travel versus other forms of travel. Your therapist can also teach you techniques to manage specific triggers. For example, deep breathing or meditation during take-off, landing, or turbulence can reduce anxiety symptoms. You can also learn to “talk back” to negative thoughts about flying when they arise.
● Exposure therapy: This therapy gradually exposes you to places, thoughts, or situations related to air travel. You may visit an airport and watch planes arrive and depart. Virtual reality tools, such as computer simulations of flights, can also help you overcome your fear of flying.
If you have to fly and worry about having a panic attack, your doctor will recommend selected medications or other coping mechanisms as needed.