CLEAR FOR TAKE OFF: HOW TO OVERCOME FLIGHT ANXIETY
Nigel Jones
Life Coach | Hypnotherapist | Positive Psychology Coach | NLP Practitioner | Author | Speaker | Founder 9KM BY 9AM | Brand, Marketing, Sponsorship & PR Expert | Fellow RSA | Marketing Agency Owner
For many, the mere thought of flying provokes anxiety. This is hardly surprising, considering the language associated with air travel: You arrive at the ‘terminal’; You wait in the ‘departure’ lounge; You’re enroute to your ‘final’ destination.
Then, as you board, you’re immediately briefed on emergency procedures—oxygen masks, flotation devices, and how to exit a submerged aircraft without inflating a life vest prematurely. It’s not exactly reassuring!
It’s little surprise that according to Anxiety UK, 10% of the population is affected by the fear of flying, known as aviophobia.
As the holiday booking season approaches, the anticipation of upcoming travel exacerbates flight-related anxieties, prompting individuals to seek therapeutic interventions. Hypnotherapy has emerged as one of the most popular treatment methods for addressing this fear, offering the potential to help individuals overcome their phobia and embark on their journeys with confidence.
UNDERSTANDING THE FEAR
Fear of flying manifests for various reasons, including:
Loss of Control: Unlike driving a car, passengers in an aircraft relinquish all control, which can be unsettling.
Sensory Triggers: Turbulence, engine noises, and the sensation of take-off can activate the body's fight-or-flight response.
Negative Associations: A distressing flight experience or hearing about air disasters can reinforce fear.
General Anxiety: Those with pre-existing anxiety or panic disorders may find flying exacerbates their symptoms.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
The key to overcoming this fear is reprogramming the mind to associate flying with safety and personal empowerment. Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and hypnotherapy offer effective tools to achieve this shift.
NLP INTERVENTIONS FOR FEAR OF FLYING
NLP techniques focus on altering thought patterns and emotional responses, making flying a less daunting experience. These include:
Reframing Perceptions - Many people associate flying with danger or loss of control. NLP reframes these perceptions. For example, turbulence can be likened to a car traveling over bumps—an expected and harmless occurrence rather than a sign of impending doom.
Anchoring Calmness & Confidence - Through anchoring, individuals create a strong mental link between a physical action (such as pressing thumb and forefinger together) and a state of deep relaxation. This can be activated before or during a flight to maintain calm.
Swish Pattern for Fearful Visualisations - If someone persistently imagines worst-case flying scenarios, the swish pattern helps replace these images with positive, confident alternatives—such as visualising a smooth, uneventful landing.
Dissociation Through Sub Modalities - If past flight experiences trigger anxiety, NLP helps individuals detach from these memories. By mentally altering the memory—such as watching it in black and white, reducing its size, or shifting it further away—it loses emotional intensity.
HYPNOTHERAPY INTERVENTIONS FOR FEAR OF FLYING
Hypnotherapy works by accessing the subconscious mind and reshaping deep-seated fears. Techniques include:
Regression to the Root Cause - Fear of flying is often linked to an earlier experience—whether related to flying or not. Hypnotherapy can uncover and reframe these foundational fears, resolving them at their source.
Post-Hypnotic Suggestions - While in a trance state, the subconscious is more receptive to positive suggestions, such as: “You feel calm and in control when flying” and “Flying is a routine and safe experience.” These affirmations help rewire automatic fear responses.
Guided Visualisation for Safe Flights - Through guided imagery, clients mentally rehearse a smooth, stress-free flight. This creates a positive neurological blueprint, making actual flights feel more familiar and comfortable.
Stein’s Clenched Fist Technique - This technique serves as a confidence anchor. By associating a clenched fist with a past moment of empowerment, individuals can activate this feeling whenever they fly.
WORKING WITH A PROFESSIONAL
Through NLP and hypnotherapy the fear of flying can be significantly reduced or eliminated entirely.
For those who dream of stress-free travel, these methods provide an effective path to freedom. The ability to fly without fear is not just about reaching a destination—it’s about reclaiming control over one’s own mind. Happy holidays everybody!
?HAVE A GREAT DAY…
Your Life Coach
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