Fear of flying; a common phobia!

My sister Arezo has got a mild flight phobia. Before writing this piece I asked for her permission to share her story with my readers. I believe when we are open about our personal stories it surely becomes much closer, which I am hoping will increase a sense of openness and acceptance among us all.

We might all know people who don’t think much of flying. There are different degrees of how much people let their lives be controlled by these phobias. Arezo never used to have a phobia of flying until few years ago when she flew back to London from San Francisco. The flight trip was very long and turbulent. Every time she is going to fly we have a calming session going on, either on the phone or in person if we are with her. The times I have flown with her I have truly seen her fear and the anxiety occupying her mind. Arezo needs to talk and hold my hand ('squeezing my hand' :). What is important to her is that I keep on talking in order to keep her mind off the flight. I have to admit that I am not always up for a hand squeeze, so as soon as we find our seats I pretend like I am sleeping :)

Every time Arezo is flying the whole family call her to wish her good luck and be strong; “nothing will happen”, “you will be alright”, “if something was going to happen no one would ever fly”, “we will pray for you”. When Arezo’s flight lands the first thing she does is send us all text message saying “she is still alive”.

Let's be honest, most people are on some level afraid to fly. There is something unnatural about a flying object made out of several tons of steel and aluminum. Whether you just pay strict attention to the takeoffs and landings or grip the arm rests until your veins bulge, the fear has to be overcome. For 99.9% of flyers there is only one legitimate fear: turbulence. Planes can handle turbulence without batting an eyelash, but humans in the cabin have problems when they don't have control over the situation or a way out.

The way our bodies react to fear is the same weather the matter we fear are real or not. This is why the body having flight phobia will become highly stressed. Many use alcohol or medication in order to calm down their feelings, but that is surely not a good long time solution to the phobia.
I am glad my sister has not let her fear of flying control her ways of travelling. During the last four years she has been living in London, Arezo has been flying back and forth several times a year.

To do list;
· Educate yourself
· Replace anxious thoughts with pleasant thoughts
· Schedule a worry time
· Get to the airport in good time
· Breathe deeply
· Inform people you travel with or the cabin crew about your fear

Fear will never kill us. The worst thing is that we might show feelings and thought that are not the ‘normal’ acceptable manner of behavior in a society, but who cares, if you think flying will reveal certain emotions in you – fly and don’t let your fear rule over you!

Mark Twain once said that courage wasn't the absence of fear, it is mastery over it.