Surprisingly large numbers of people suffer a fear of flying .
In
the vast majority of cases this is something relatively minor which,
with a little help from family and friends, can be overcome to the
extent it can be tolerated for the duration. In other cases though, the
fear can be far more overpowering and put at risk that special holiday
trip.
Here are a few commonly asked questions on the subject.
How commonplace is a fear of flying?
It's impossible to give definitive figures, as different studies have yielded different results here.
It's
probably fairly safe to say that very significant numbers of people
have a fear of flying to the point that they feel uncomfortable in the
run up to boarding an aircraft and during the flight itself. However,
that doesn't necessarily stop them flying for business or holiday
purposes.
A serious phobia in this area is rather more unusual. In
such cases, it can cause the person concerned extreme discomfort to
such an extent that they are unable to board an aircraft.
Is this just a question of willpower?
No.
Certainly
in the case of a true phobia, it is often a deep-seated and complex
psychological condition. The causes are often unclear.
Having people around you simply telling you to "get a grip" is unlikely to help if you are in the serious flying phobia category.
I've heard there are various treatments available. Do they work?
There
are a number of such treatments available and through a variety of
different channels. Some treatments prove to be extremely efficacious in
either removing the fear altogether or at least allowing the sufferer
to gain a significant degree of control over their symptoms.
Space
doesn't permit a full discussion of all the options here but it is a
fact that some approaches work rather better with some individuals than
with others.
You can make contact with individual organisations
and people offering treatment but it would be advisable to exercise a
significant degree of caution.
There are many companies and
individuals claiming to offer various forms of what might be termed
'psychological' or 'behavioural' treatment for a wide range of
conditions including a fear of flying. Many of these are not medically
qualified and in some cases, the proposed treatment may be completely
useless, potentially harmful or little more than a scam.
If you
are considering treatment, your first port of call might be your doctor
who may be able to provide you with some recommendations and referrals.
Does medication help?
Sometimes.
In
some cases a very mild sedative or the equivalent may prove to be
beneficial to a percentage of travellers afflicted by this malaise.
However,
it is always a good idea to avoid self-diagnosis and treatment of what
should be recognized to be a very real and not imaginary condition. In
other words, don't start popping lots of over-the-counter pills that you
hope will do you some good.
Once again, speak to your doctor and
ask for their advice about the various forms of medication that might be
useful. They will do all they can to talk you through the options
available for medication which might help you to get aboard the aircraft
and to reach that luxury holiday accommodation!
Can this fear of flying reduce with familiarity?
Yes, it can do.
Sometimes
that can occur spontaneously or it is sometimes a form of cognitive
treatment adopted for 'desensitising' people in terms of their phobias.
Another example might include arachnophobia (a morbid fear of spiders)
being treated by a very slow, delicate and incremental approach to
handling those creatures.
In the case of aviation, that sort of
approach can be less practical but there are certain courses run by some
airlines themselves that can help.
Unfortunately, this isn't
always terribly effective for all individuals. Yet again, it's probably
useful to have an overall discussion and initial assessment by a
qualified medical professional before identifying what is likely to be
the most effective treatment for you.
Brenda Campbell is an author/owner of FNQ Apartments and loves to
share her traveling experience with others. FNQ Apartments provides
tour packages and luxury accommodation in Palm Cove, Cairns, Port
Douglas, Trinity Beach.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=B._Campbell
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