speaking). A study by the Boeing Commercial Airplane Co. found that about 25 million
American adults are afraid of flying. Some of these people have never flown, some flew but
got frightened and stopped, and about 40% continue to fly but do it with much discomfort. On
any particular flight about 12% of the people on board would rather not be.
Many famous people are afraid of flying: British actress Glenda Jackson is “terrified” of
airplanes; Ronald Reagan had to overcome his fear of flying before he could run for governor
of California; singer Aretha Franklin canceled a concert tour that was half finished because of
a sudden phobia of flying; Loretta Lynn flies but does it only when unavoidable; sportscaster
John Madden is well known as a person who refuses to fly. Mohammed Ali, Cher, Billy Bob
Thornton; the list goes on and on.
Fearful flyers fall into two categories: those who are afraid that the airplane will crash and
those who have a “claustrophobic” response to being unable to get off an airplane once it is in
the air. Both types are related to the same roots - a tendency to imagine the worst.
Seeking treatment for a fear of flying is a big step for most people. Friends and relatives tell
them “You don’t need to see a ‘shrink’ for that. Just get on that plane and do it. Its easy.” Its
easy for them. For some people, seeking treatment is a must. Their jobs may be on the line.
Research psychologist Dr. SrulIy Blotnick states “...approximately 30% of all the business
people I have monitored over the years are sufficiently anxious about the possibility of dying in
an airplane crash that they have refused at least once (and usually dozens of times) to take a
plane trip that they knew would have been useful to them professionally.” Many people I have
treated have been people whose jobs depended on their ability to travel by air. Some have
had to refuse lucrative promotions. A good many were flight attendants.
Part of people’s reluctance to seek treatment is their feeling that they are not “ill” and
therefore do not need psychotherapy. They are exactly right about one thing - they are not ill.
Phobias are not mental deficiencies or illnesses. They are problems that result from bad
thinking habits combined with a conditioned response. These habits are usually learned and of
long duration even though their fear may be quite recent. Habits can be broken. New thinking
can be learned. It is not that difficult to do. You can “recondition” your responses. You do not
have to be in therapy for years. Even phobias that are much more involved than fear of flying
seldom take over 10 sessions. Overcoming a fear of flying usually takes between 6 and 10
sessions. Many health insurance policies will cover a percentage of the cost.
Our experience has been that everyone who has completed our sessions have been able to fly
their next flight with much less anxiety than they have had in previous flights, many with almost
complete comfort.
- Flying is not dangerous; crashing is dangerous.
- Flying is the second greatest thrill known to man. Landing is the first!
- Everyone knows a "good" landing is one from which you can walk
away, but a "great" landing is one after which you can use the
airplane again.
