Hypnotherapy for Fear of Flying

Fear of flying can affect people who fly regularly as well as those who have avoided flying for many years. For some, anxiety is associated with particular aspects of flying, while for others the anticipation of a flight can become difficult long before the journey begins.

Flight anxiety may affect holidays, visiting family and friends, or professional travel. It may involve anxious thoughts, physical symptoms, fear of panic, feeling trapped or concerns about not being in control.

Why Can Flying Trigger Anxiety?

People experiencing fear of flying may report concerns or symptoms such as:

• Fear of panic – worrying about becoming extremely anxious during the flight
• Claustrophobia – feeling uncomfortable or trapped in an enclosed environment
• Loss of control – finding it difficult to hand responsibility for the journey to someone else
• Physical sensations – becoming particularly aware of changes in breathing, heart rate, nausea or other sensations associated with anxiety
• Anticipatory anxiety – worrying about the flight in the days or weeks beforehand
• Fear associated with turbulence or other aspects of flying
• Previous experiences – anxiety associated with an earlier flight or other experience

For some people, anxiety is most noticeable at the airport or on the aircraft. For others, it begins when booking a flight or even thinking about future travel.

Working With Fear of Flying

My approach combines Solution Focused Therapy, clinical hypnotherapy, coaching and evidence-informed psychological approaches according to the individual and the particular aspects of flying they find difficult.

Our work may involve exploring anticipatory anxiety, fearful patterns of thinking, physical responses to anxiety and concerns about panic, uncertainty or lack of control.

Depending on your circumstances, sessions may incorporate therapeutic discussion, clinical hypnosis, cognitive reframing, guided relaxation, visualisation and practical strategies that can be used in preparation for and during travel.

Rather than following a standard fear-of-flying programme, sessions are tailored to the individual and the particular situations or aspects of flying associated with their anxiety.

Preparing for a Flight

Where appropriate, our work may include:

• Exploring thoughts and expectations associated with flying
• Understanding your individual anxiety response
• Working with anticipatory anxiety
• Mental rehearsal and visualisation of different stages of the journey
• Approaches to breathing and nervous-system regulation
• Practical strategies for responding to anxious thoughts and physical sensations
• Considering how you would like to respond if anxiety arises during the journey

The aim is not to promise that you will never feel nervous when flying, but to work with the anxiety and responses that can make flying particularly difficult.

The Next Step

If fear of flying is affecting your ability or willingness to travel, you are welcome to get in touch to explore whether my approach may be helpful.

Please contact hello@annettesloly.com to arrange an initial consultation.