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Ask HN: How to overcome fear of flying?

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Re: Ask HN: How to overcome fear of flying?

#41

Post by jdminhbg »

burningion wrote: post #30

I also had a fear of flying, one that lasted 3 years. It came on because of 3 terrible flights in a row. It was bad to the point where I could not even think about stepping on a plane. I ended up missing weddings and job opportunities because the fear of flying was so intense. I now fly regularly, and without issue. It took a long time, but I've found a few things that worked for me: 1. No caffeine on a flight day. T…

> 1. No caffeine on a flight day. This helps for any anxiety that may start to build for me.

This was a big one for me. I'd also add a 1(b): no alcohol the night before. I'm ok having a glass of wine or something while on a flight, but drinking the night before definitely has the same anxiety-inducing affect that caffeine the morning of has for me.

Re: Ask HN: How to overcome fear of flying?

#42

Post by satsuma »

chrisa wrote: post #17

I don’t remember the official name for it, but one common technique to overcome all sorts of fears is to progressively visualize the experience. For your flying example, that might mean to sit and think about just packing for a trip. How does that make you feel? Then think about driving to the airport. How does that feel? Then think about boarding the airplane. Then think about flying calmly. Finally, think about rea…

big second on cognitive behavioral therapy. it helped me so much with overcoming similar phobias.

Re: Ask HN: How to overcome fear of flying?

#43

Post by nfadostv »

Due to my anxiety disorder I have been through a group based CBT course. Our group was heavily focused on systematic desensitization, one particular technique that was prescribed for patients whose fears could not be easily reproduced in vivo was to put a most detailed worst-case scenario in writing and then having it read every few days, until the level of anxiety caused by reliving it in fantasy decreases to manageable levels.

Re: Ask HN: How to overcome fear of flying?

#44

Post by Zelphyr »

I would highly recommend finding a therapist who specializes in Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) which is a form of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that has been shown to be particularly successful in treating anxiety disorders.

[Edit] "Disorder" isn't really the best word for it. You're just kinda stuck in a little loop. It's really not that bad and you shouldn't feel bad or get down on yourself for feeling it. But, on the same token, the avoidance behaviors aren't going to do you any favors.

Re: Ask HN: How to overcome fear of flying?

#45

Post by patch_cable »

soperj wrote: post #26
relix wrote: post #12

I had a fear of flying, which I overcame completely by accident: I started playing a realistic flight sim for a while. Because it was realistic, I had to learn the basics of how to actually fly a plane. It taught me two things: what some of the noises, the vibrations, and the movements were; and how hard it is to actually crash a plane. Once you made it in the air, you'll want to try crashing your plane in the game (…

what was the name of the simulator?

X-plane is an excellent choice. It has a pretty generous demo and also works on Linux.

Re: Ask HN: How to overcome fear of flying?

#46

Post by misiti3780 »

1) consider the statistics and understand that as long as you are on a major airline, the moments that you are in the air are literally the some of the safest moments of your life - much safer than when you are in a car or even walking around, probably even eating

2) get a prescription for klonopin, and take 1/2 or 1/4 a pill 30 minutes before boarding. (not im not a doctor)

Re: Ask HN: How to overcome fear of flying?

#47

Post by api_or_ipa »

If you can stomach it, take some flying lessons. You'll be less scared of processes you understand. Start with a bunch of ground school, so you understand how the aircraft works, meteorology and the effort that goes into aircraft maintenance. Then, take a discover flight on a small aircraft and discover the love of aviation!

Re: Ask HN: How to overcome fear of flying?

#48

Post by rrggrr »

Here's some advice I've given to people over the years and hopefully it will work for you.

A day before or the day of the flight purchase a lottery ticket. You'll bring this ticket with you on your flight.

Before you board have a look at the ticket and verbatim tell yourself this: as lucky as you would have to be to win with that lottery ticket, you would have to be even luckier for your plan to crash. You are not that lucky.

Repeat as necessary but do not change the wording.

This works for most people I've counseled.

Re: Ask HN: How to overcome fear of flying?

#49

Post by Zelphyr »

relix wrote: post #12

I had a fear of flying, which I overcame completely by accident: I started playing a realistic flight sim for a while. Because it was realistic, I had to learn the basics of how to actually fly a plane. It taught me two things: what some of the noises, the vibrations, and the movements were; and how hard it is to actually crash a plane. Once you made it in the air, you'll want to try crashing your plane in the game (…

This is similar to my experiences with getting blood drawn. About two-weeks prior to the draw I would watch a couple of videos on YouTube of blood draws each night. By the time the day came, I was still anxious but fine.

I've been told that the anxiety was created by my nearly passing out when getting blood drawn but the mechanism for nearly passing out is different from panic or anxiety. Still, my "exposure therapy" worked. The last time I had my blood drawn I watch a couple of videos the night before but probably didn't even need to.

Re: Ask HN: How to overcome fear of flying?

#50

Post by danpalmer »

DanBC wrote: post #5

Cognitive behaviour therapy has a good evidence base and reasonable efficiacy for this kind of fear. Some airlines will run a "get over your fear of flying" course. Here are two, but there are others: https://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/travel-assi... https://www.flyingwithoutfear.co.uk/

Came here to say this. It’s evidence based, very widely applicable for fears and anxieties, and easy to do self-guided. I used it to overcome a fear of needles. Still getting there but I’m now getting treatment I was turning down before.
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