How to Overcome Fear of Flying

Have you ever wanted to take that dream trip to a tropical
island in the Caribbean to soak up the sun and atmosphere, but
had that dream taken away from you because of your fear of
flying? It doesn't have to be this way! You need to identify
exactly why it is you harbour these, and other, fears, and
discover ways to overcome fear of flying and other limitations.

What is fear of flying?

An unwillingness to even think about getting onboard a plane is
a sure fire sign of fear of flying, but these are some other
common symptoms:

- Worrying, and becoming overstressed about a flight for days,
weeks, even months in advance - Having feelings of anxiety
before boarding the plane - Feeling you need a strong drink or
sedatives to calm down before a flight - Feeling uncomfortable
when the door closes, when the plane takes off, and when you
hear certain noises - Feeling elated and overcome with relief
when you finally get off the plane

Why do you fear flying?

In order to overcome fear of flying we need to understand why
the fear exists. There are two types of things in our lives;
things we can control, and things we cannot control. Things we
can control include our thoughts, our actions, and our reactions
to certain situations. However, we cannot control things such as
the behaviour of others (legally anyway), the thoughts of
others, and the weather, among other things.

Fears emanate from our irrational assumptions that the things we
cannot control will turn out to be bad experiences. For example,
with flying we have absolutely no control; everything is in the
hands of the captain. And even if we wanted to, we can't just
stop the plane and get off. Where do these assumptions come from
though? We certainly aren't born with these fears; they are
learned through our experiences and through the experiences of
others. Try to think of a time that triggered your fear of
flying, it could be a personal experience of a turbulent flight
you had, the fearful stories of others, or the frightening
images seen on television. It's likely that your imagination
takes these experiences and heightens them into a worse case
scenario that accentuates your fear. You need to use your
imagination to overcome fear of flying, rather than allow it to
feed the fear.

Seldom do people realise that flying is significantly safer than
travelling in a car or a train. Think about that for a second;
it is more dangerous to hop into a car and drive down a freeway
than it is to fly, yet people do it every single day without
even thinking twice. When you hop into a car or a train what are
you thinking? Really, the next time you get into a car or train,
take note of what goes through your mind. Most likely you're not
even thinking about whether or not it's safe to do so, you just
do it. Yet when a plane is involved we allow our imagination to
overwhelm us due to the uncertainty, because after all how can
an object that big possibly fly?

Overcome fear of flying

There are a number of ways to feel more comfortable about
flying, and to use your imagination in your favour.

- Prior to the flight have a full, nutritious meal as it will
help you relax during the flight. - Ensure you pack books to
read, or music to listen to, or anything else that will distract
you, while you are waiting for the flight, and during the actual
flight - Arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare so
you can check-in and get your luggage through without too much
hassle - Avoid sugary foods, or caffeine prior to the flight as
this may increase stress levels

Other than these practical tips, a very effective way to
overcome fear of flying is to visualise the flight. Before your
flight try to visualise every aspect of the journey; from the
time you arrive at the airport imagine everything going smoothly
during the check-in, see yourself walking calmly, even laughing,
as you go through the gates and onto the plane. Imagine yourself
sitting in your seat, being absorbed in your book, then seeing
the magnificent view out the window. Visualise the smooth
landing, and how thankful you are to the crew for such an
enjoyable flight. Now that wasn't so bad was it?

Visualisation is a powerful technique not just to help overcome
fear of flying, but also to overcome any other fear you have.

About the author:
Simon Lim is the proud owner of http://www.rubama.com, where you
can overcome all of your mental barriers, and live the life you
desire. While you are there, grab your free copy of the '501
Greatest Quotes of All Time' to inspire and motivate you to
achieve your dreams