Fear of Flying: Just the Facts

In today's world, having a fear of flying is not only inconvenient, it's debilitating. It can cause you to lose a business deal, a job, a friend, or precious time that is wasted driving on interstates. If you'd like to visit other countries and see the world, having a fear of flying will bring your plans to a halt.



If you enter "fear of flying" into Google, you'll find more than 1,490,000 results on the subject, including countless articles in USA Today, The New York Times and other respected publications. These articles include the opinions of doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, and even some people who run "fear of flying" workshops.



I've been practicing hypnotherapy since 2003, and I have worked with people who had been suffering from a fear of flying for 10, 20 or 30 years (see testimonials below). I can honestly say that every single one of them has since shed that fear completely, in a very brief amount of time.

The fact is, when it comes to fears and phobias, hypnosis works. It works quickly and painlessly, and it works better than anything else out there.

There's no obligation to buy a plane ticket and no need to rationalize your way out of your fear. When you leave my office, you'll be thinking differently about flying. We'll change your automatic thoughts about flying, and change your automatic response. It's that simple.

If you suffer from a fear of flying, you know that you can experience the feelings of anxiety just by thinking about flying. Most people I've met even feel the anxiety while packing for a trip, or while driving to the airport.

When you leave my office, you'll know your fear is gone, because thinking or talking about flying will no longer trigger those feelings. Additionally, each of my clients walks away with a hypnosis CD they can listen to for reinforcement... before a flight, on the plane, in bed at night... anytime.

Sure, I'd love to park a 747 outside my office and watch you board it with a big bright smile on your face and all the confidence in the world... but it's really not necessary. After all, the fear doesn't take place on an airplane, it takes place in your mind.

Remember, hypnosis is relaxation... the exact opposite of stress, anxiety and fear. You can't feel stressed and relaxed at the same time.

Here's what my clients are saying:

[This client came to me one day before her flight, and she was absolutely terrified beforehand.]
"I had been dealing with this paralyzing phobia for 25 years. At the end of the session, one hour later, my mind was relaxed and at ease. [Sean] told me that the more I flew the more fun I would have each trip. He was right." -Whitney (Atlanta, GA)

[This man had been dealing with his fear for more than 20 years.]
"I didn't really believe it until I took that flight, but I can honestly say that I really enjoyed it more than I ever thought I would. It's unbelievable to realize that it's really gone for good, but I can't even make the fear come back if I try, which is kinda weird, but good!" -Juan (Atlanta, GA)

[Since this client was from out of state, I simply made her a custom CD and sent it to her.]
"Your CD was very soothing and reassuring and I really believe that it made a difference. At this time, I would not hesitate to go on another flight again in the near future." -Kathy (Brighton, MI)

Panic Attacks

When people have panic attacks, they don't come from out of nowhere. There is a specific process by which people take themselves from one state to another. That process has to do with what they're thinking about, and how, specifically, they are thinking about it.

For example, in order to go from a state of complete comfort and relaxation to a state of panic, something has to happen. For most people, it's something they actually see or experience that tells them "Hey! Get ready to fight! Something bad is about to happen!" A wonderful example of this would be witnessing an elephant running through your living room.

Real or Imagined? What's the Difference?

What's different in people who experience panic attacks is that they can go from relaxation to panic without any external stimuli whatsoever. The change is a result of a progression of thoughts, which can be just as powerful as the "real thing."

The subconscious mind can't distinguish between "real" and imagined sounds and images, which is why you can simply imagine a frightening situation and actually feel the fear response in your body. If you disagree, just recall a time when you heard a noise late at night and wondered if someone was breaking into your home. Now ask yourself, was that fear "real?"

From Calm to Panic - One Man's Journey

Here's an example of how a person might experience a panic attack:

Let's say a man is spending a nice, quiet evening at home while his wife is out with a friend. She said she'd be home by 11:00, and it's now 11:30. The man says to himself: "My wife is never late... not unless she calls. She has a cell phone, so why wouldn't she call?" Then he creates an image of his wife stranded by the side of the road, or perhaps in an accident. If he's really good at having panic attacks, he might even create a vivid image of his wife - injured, unconscious, thrown from her vehicle.

For him, these images have the same power and impact as if they had actually happened. The longer he waits, and the more he thinks about it, the feelings become stronger. He replays those graphic images over and over again in his mind until he can barely breathe. Eventually, his experience is the same as if the imagined events had actually occurred. As for his wife... well, she was out having fun and simply lost track of the time. It happens.

Change the Path, Change the Experience

The way to deal with panic attacks is to interrupt or modify this internal thought process. There are several ways to do this. One way is by learning to manipulate those internal thoughts and images to lessen their impact.

To try this out for yourself, create a big bright image of something real or imagined which you find particularly frightening, and notice the how your body feels in response to that image. Now make the image black and white, and shrink it down so that you can barely see it in your mind. Now make it dark and blurry. Does that have any impact on the feeling in your body? For most people, the response is a fraction of what it used to be.

This is just one way you can use your mind and your imagination to your advantage. There are many others. With a little practice, you will learn to gain control of your experience and take it in a new direction.