When you ask someone with Aviophobia “Can’t you just take a Xanax?”
For some the answer is no
Do you or someone you know, suffer from a severe case of Flight Anxiety or Aviophobia? If so, it’s helpful for you to understand what it is and the reality of what sufferers experience.
This article from Stratosjets explains Aviophobia well.
I’ve summarized some key points below:
Fear of flying (aviophobia) also known as flight anxiety, flight phobia, aerophobia – is classified as an anxiety disorder. The anxiety levels and severity of symptoms vary greatly between sufferers and are difficult to define. Aviophobia encompasses the emotional responses experienced in-flight but also the anxiety and dread that occurs with the mere anticipation of an upcoming trip. This can begin far in advance of a flight.
Between 33% and 40% of all people experience some form of anxiety when it comes to flying.
60% of sufferers experience generalized anxiety during the flight (and leading up to it) that they can easily manage on their own.
Between 2.5% and 5% of the population have crippling anxiety, a genuine fear of flying that is classified as a clinical phobia
Stratosjets.com
- People with generalized fear flying, uneasiness in-flight, anxiety during takeoff, landing, or turbulence, may consider Xanax or non-medication relaxation techniques as viable options.
- For the other 2.5 to 5% of us with crippling flight anxiety, it’s not just stress before and during the flight. Some begin to have have anxiety weeks or months in advance. In my case, it was months.
- The two times I flew, the anxiety started 3-6 months before the trip and included nightmares of plane crashes that would waken me drenched in sweat. During the day, merely thinking about the trip would immediately trigger anxiety, nausea, heart palpitations, sweating, and the feeling of a panic attack.
- Those of us with the most severe cases feel that if we get on the plane it is going to crash. When people said “Just take a Xanax” I’d ask them “Would you tell me to take a Xanax to jump in front of a bus”? If we really believe taking the flight will result in us being killed in a plane crash, you’re asking us to take Xanax so we can go to our death. I realize how ridiculous and extreme this sounds but it’s important to understand how serious this is for any of your family/friends suffering with an extreme case of this phobia.
After suffering for 20 years with debilitating Aviophobia, one day mine went away almost as quickly as it came on.
So, what changed? Why now?
Click here for the full story how my phobia first started and the events that triggered my brain to release me from it’s grasps. I don’t have a magic trick to share but I can tell my story and hope it give others insight into how their brain might work.
Peace, love, happiness, health, and travel!
Cindy