Overcoming Aerophobia, the Fear of Flying

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsRelated ConditionsCausesTreatmentLiving With a Fear of Flying

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Symptoms

Related Conditions

Causes

Treatment

Living With a Fear of Flying

So while many people are afraid of flying to some degree, only a much smaller proportion actually meet the criteria for a phobia diagnosis. Whether or not your fear of flying has developed into a phobia, it can have serious effects on your quality of life.

Some people with a fear of flying are reasonably comfortable at the airport, but begin to experience symptoms just before boarding the plane. Others have difficulties that begin as soon as they reach the airport.

Anticipatory anxiety, in which you start experiencing the fear of flying long before a scheduled flight, is very common.

The fear of flying may be caused or worsened if you have certain other phobias and anxiety disorders. Some of these include:

In many cases, addressing these underlying fears can help relieve symptoms of aerophobia. The treatments for these related fears are often the same as the treatments for other types of phobias.

Some physical disorders can contribute to a fear of flying, including:

Talk to your doctor about any physical conditions prior to your flight to develop a plan of action to minimize risk and discomfort.

Some of these factors may include:

Research also suggests that triggers such as bad weather, take-off, and turbulence tend to be the most anxiety-inducing aspects of flying. Travel delays, common when flying at popular times, may make the fear of flying worse.

Fortunately, the fear of flying is a treatable condition, even without knowing the underlying cause. Some common treatments include:

Psychotherapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT) is usually the first-line treatment for phobias including the fear of flying. CBT is an approach that focuses on changing thenegative thoughtsthat contribute to fearful behaviors. Many specific treatments for phobias are based on CBT, but other treatment options are sometimes used as well. Some of the most frequently used approaches include:

Group Classes

During classes, you may meet pilots, talk about airline safety, and even get a chance to board a real plane. Sometimes just becoming more familiar with the process and environment can help you feel more comfortable.

Medication

Medications may sometimes be prescribed to help alleviate certain symptoms associated with the fear of flying, such as nausea or anxiety. For example, your doctor might recommend that you take a medication designed to reduce motion sickness before your flight. They might also prescribe an anti-anxiety medication such asXanax(alprazolam) or Valium (diazepam).

While medications can be helpful, they are usually a short-term solution. They may be used in combination with psychotherapy.

In addition to getting treatment for your phobia, there are also things that you can do on your own to help cope with the fear of flying:

If you are experiencing a fear of flying that is negatively affecting your life, it’s best to make an appointment with a qualified mental health professional. They can diagnose the phobia, determine whether you have any concurrent disorders, and develop an individualizedtreatment plan.

The fear of flying can have a major impact on your quality of life. With proper treatment, however, you can learn to manage and even overcome this common phobia.

4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Savage I.Comparing the fatality risks in the United States transportation across modes and over time.Research in Transportation Economics. 2013;43(1):9-22. doi:10.1016/j.retrec.2012.12.011Clark GI, Rock AJ.Processes contributing to the maintenance of flying phobia: A narrative review.Front Psychol. 2016;7:754. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00754Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XCampos D, Bretón-López J, Botella C, et al.Efficacy of an internet-based exposure treatment for flying phobia (NO-FEAR Airlines) with and without therapist guidance: A randomized controlled trial.BMC Psychiatry. 2019;19(1):86. doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2060-4Additional ReadingSeif MN.How Can I Overcome My Fear of Flying?Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA).

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Savage I.Comparing the fatality risks in the United States transportation across modes and over time.Research in Transportation Economics. 2013;43(1):9-22. doi:10.1016/j.retrec.2012.12.011Clark GI, Rock AJ.Processes contributing to the maintenance of flying phobia: A narrative review.Front Psychol. 2016;7:754. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00754Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XCampos D, Bretón-López J, Botella C, et al.Efficacy of an internet-based exposure treatment for flying phobia (NO-FEAR Airlines) with and without therapist guidance: A randomized controlled trial.BMC Psychiatry. 2019;19(1):86. doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2060-4Additional ReadingSeif MN.How Can I Overcome My Fear of Flying?Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA).

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Savage I.Comparing the fatality risks in the United States transportation across modes and over time.Research in Transportation Economics. 2013;43(1):9-22. doi:10.1016/j.retrec.2012.12.011Clark GI, Rock AJ.Processes contributing to the maintenance of flying phobia: A narrative review.Front Psychol. 2016;7:754. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00754Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-XCampos D, Bretón-López J, Botella C, et al.Efficacy of an internet-based exposure treatment for flying phobia (NO-FEAR Airlines) with and without therapist guidance: A randomized controlled trial.BMC Psychiatry. 2019;19(1):86. doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2060-4

Savage I.Comparing the fatality risks in the United States transportation across modes and over time.Research in Transportation Economics. 2013;43(1):9-22. doi:10.1016/j.retrec.2012.12.011

Clark GI, Rock AJ.Processes contributing to the maintenance of flying phobia: A narrative review.Front Psychol. 2016;7:754. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00754

Eaton WW, Bienvenu OJ, Miloyan B.Specific phobias.Lancet Psychiatry. 2018;5(8):678-686. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30169-X

Campos D, Bretón-López J, Botella C, et al.Efficacy of an internet-based exposure treatment for flying phobia (NO-FEAR Airlines) with and without therapist guidance: A randomized controlled trial.BMC Psychiatry. 2019;19(1):86. doi:10.1186/s12888-019-2060-4

Seif MN.How Can I Overcome My Fear of Flying?Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA).

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?