Don’t let the fear of falling, keep you from flying. – Unknown
The Fear of Flying
The fear of flying is not to be taken lightly. I have encountered several people who have a crippling fear of aircrafts, from helicopters to military aircrafts. My personal views on this fear shifted after I spoke with a friend of mine who swore she couldn’t board a plane with me and the girls. It baffled me initially. I assumed her fear was piggybacking off of claustrophobia, but soon found that was not the case. The thought of stepping foot on a plane made her palms moisten, her stomach churned, and her eyes looked pleadingly at me. I was astounded. I hugged her and said I understood. That we would keep it local, but promised her that wasn’t the last time we would discuss it. To fear planes is to restrict yourself from the beauties of the world, and that saddens me. Genuinely.
Roughly 20% of the world’s population suffers from aerophobia. That is approximately 1.4 billion people, so know that if you are within that percentile you are not alone. So, relax your shoulders, take a deep breath, clear your mind, and let’s begin the healing process. It’s not instantaneous. It will take time and effort on your part, but I hope what you find in this post will be useful on your path to taking flight.
4 Things To Know About Flying
Flying in the Sky
The idea of soaring 30,000 feet in the air can be unsettling for someone who is unaware of how planes travel. They are seemingly weightless and nearly undisturbed in the sky with the exception of turbulence. Take a moment to think about how many fights go out in a single day (87,000 in the USA), a week (609,000), or a month (2.4 million). All of those people go on unharmed, living, breathing, and prepared to fly again. How is this so? Have you ever asked yourself the question: How do airplanes work? We often fear things we cannot understand. Fluid mechanics and Physics comes into play here. As an author and graphic designer you can rest assured this isn’t my strong point, so I’ll direct you to a place that can help you understand the history and expansion on the idea of planes, as well as how they are able to fly so high. Click to read on Fluid Mechanics & Physics.
Weather
Although it’s only drizzling, you are apprehensive as you watch your family head for bag check. You don’t understand why flights are able to go out. Your family thinks you’re being irrational, but you just can’t grasp who, nor why, it has been deemed safe to travel. This is of great concern even to those who are not afraid to fly, but afraid of the other side of that issue which I will not express in words. So, how do they know it’s safe when man can no longer predict the weather? To put things simply, planes have come a very long way. They are certified to fly in hazardous weather, big or small. The main thing the pilots must know is simply where to land if anything were to happen, which is few and far in between.
USA Risks 1999-2003
Turbulence
Most of us have experienced what we assume a “may-day may-day” issue to be. That up-and-down air current that makes children sad and adults unsure if they are on a roller coaster or a bumpy road. Well, this scientific side of this occurrence is one fairly easy to be understood. The sun heats the air causing an imbalance that the plane has to rise above in order to get to the smooth air again. That is partly why we fly 30-35,000 feet in the air. It is literally like riding in a car and hitting cracked pavement. Yes, I know. “At least you’re on the ground when it’s pavement.” Keep this in mind, you’re safer on a highway in the air with no other planes in sight, than you are on ground. Turbulence does not mean bad things are happening, it just means the Earth is doing its thing!
Trustworthiness of Staff
I have witnessed people question the competence of pilots. Media coverage pinpoints a flaw in one man’s character and develops a thought pattern within us which will then apply to everyone. One man out of thousands makes a poor decision, and suddenly everyone is labeled as incompetent. No one wants an under-qualified, overworked pilot or crew, especially the airline that will get slandered for this happening under their watch. Nothing is perfect, and the world isn’t always safe, but trust in the simple fact that 2.4 million flights go out a month and the pilots that took those lives into their hands, took care of those people and got them to their destination safely. Don’t focus your anxiety on one bad person or one bad accident. Those photos you look at on Nation Geographic, the wallpapers you use, the family trips you’ve missed out on, you deserve to be a part of it all. Don’t let this fear keep you in one place, especially if you aren’t happy there.
Is This It For My Fear of Flying?
This is only the beginning. If in the near future you would like to travel with family, friends, or your significant other, ask them to help you through a breathing technique. If you’re one of the millions doing yoga and/or working out, consider that before a flight. I’ve even known people to take muscle relaxers or get “chocolate wasted”, but I really wouldn’t recommend temporary fixes. The goal is to allow your unimpaired self to realize you are actually safer in a plane than in a car or even on your bicycle.
You’re fear may not be entirely about life or death, small spaces (claustrophobia), or lack of aircraft technicals. Sometimes fears just…are. Some of you may believe fears can be pulled from past lives, we never know, and I would never argue that case because everyone has a right to their opinion. Some fears can be deemed so irrational that you have nothing else to claim than past lives. Planes are a justifiable fear. Work at this one. You can conquer anything, and you know this. Unfortunately, everything in life takes work, time, and effort. I believe in your ability to face your fear and rise above it.
Love Always,
Veronica ✌❤
