Aerophobia is one of the variants of the fear of death, in which a person who is to fly on an airplane draws pictures with a "sad end" in his head. From this riot of fantasies, it can become physically ill. Increased heartbeat, trembling in the body and even fainting. All these states are inherent in those who have not overcome the fear of flying.
When aerophobia has a lot of power over a person, it can cause changes in vacation plans, the cause of illness resulting from stress. In general, it is a mental disorder that fetters people, depriving them of their freedom of choice.
A person with fear of dying on an airplane will most likely prefer to cancel a vacation to distant lands or travel by land transport, which is associated with many inconveniences.
How can you help get rid of aerophobia or reduce its effect?
First, it is worth considering a common way of dealing with aerophobia - avoiding fears into alcoholic intoxication. Psychologists believe this is not an option. Of course, alcohol is relaxing and liberating. But when a person is "under a degree", fear still comes out, but already in an inadequate and uncontrollable state.
One of the most famous tricks to switch the brain's attention away from fears is to deprive the brain of oxygen, at least part of the required volume. For this, paper bags are used, into which a person, overwhelmed by fears, begins to breathe. The brain ceases to have enough oxygen, and it switches to what is more relevant to it at the moment. The lack of oxygen is no longer a far-fetched, but a real threat, and, therefore, the primary task that needs to be addressed.
Of course, in this way we make our body suffer, but this is an effective way to divert consciousness from aerophobia.
The next method that can help when panic begins is to wear an elastic band around your wrist. How does this method work? When a person becomes very scared, the elastic is pulled from the hand and returns to its place with a slap. Those. where the skin is very delicate and such "mockery" does not go unnoticed for the brain.
The principle here is the same as in the previous case, it is the distraction of consciousness from the contrived fear of death. Why contrived? Because this fear of death originates more from the influence of the media than from a real threat. Without even touching on the detailed statistics of deaths in disasters, it is clear that the probability of death on the ground is greater than in the air.
Another option for dealing with a phobia is to focus on something that interests you. Take an interesting book or game and try to immerse yourself in the process as much as possible.
If aerophobia has a strong effect on you and it is not so easy to get distracted, again consciously engage your brain. For example, pick a bright object, place it in front of your eyes, and direct your gaze to it. Then take about twenty centimeters from the nose and return to the eyes.
If a person suffers from aerophobia, then he should exclude viewing articles and reports on plane crashes.
Special rituals help to combat phobias on airplanes. A common option is prayer.
Try to focus not on the flight, but on what lies ahead. Imagine pictures of rest, make plans.
As for taking sedatives, they should not be abused. Their action is to "slow down" the body, the brain will not prevent it from continuing to gain fear.
One way or another, everyone chooses the method of struggle for himself. One person decides to give up flying altogether and will find alternative travel options. Others will not want to restrict the freedom of movement of themselves and their families and will fight their fears. In addition to the above methods of getting rid of aerophobia, there are others, for example, with the help of hypnosis.
