It never ceases to amaze me what I learn from fearful flyers. And takeoff has been the source of many insights. I “get” it that many fearful flyers are rattled by the “rockin’ and rollin’” during the takeoff roll down the runway.
What surprises me is that for many, getting airborne provides no relief. Instead of feeling comforted by the acceleration and climb, many fearful flyers have a nagging dread from the thought that the airplane won’t be able to sustain its momentum and will “settle” back to Earth. Not likely!
In all my years of working with fearful flyers, I’ve heard a million questions and I love answering them. I’m always listening to what they tell me about what bothers them. And I always learn something new!
You see, we bring our own perceptions, our own “stories” to fear of flying and what we tell ourselves about what’s going on up there. I love it in our live Phoenix classes when someone asks a question and when they hear the answer, I can just see the relief my answer brought to them.
Sometimes just one piece of information–the right information!–is critical in overcoming fear of flying.
So learn all you can about takeoff. You can start with my informative article about takeoff. Get the facts and get clear on what’s going on during all that “rockin’ and rollin down the runway.”
My goal is for you to eventually be able to say to yourself, “So what’s the big deal about takeoff?”
My travel phobias are not limited to plane travel. I get anxiety attacks when travelling out of town by car as well. I can’t even walk a long distance from home without experiencing extreme anxiety. Some say I am an agoraphobic. I avoid travel and jobs that require travel. Unfortunately, in my chosen field, more “site work” is now required than ever before (they now want designers to do the construction management and commissioning as well). I am facing serious income problems if I don’t change careers or figure this out. My wife has not been on a vacation with me since 2005 and she is now making plans to travel alone. Medications I take for anxiety leave me in a stupor and exhausted and ineffective at my work or able to enjoy the “vacation” aspect. When I do “vacation” I come home exhausted, relieved to be at home at vowing never to travel again! People who love travelling really do not “get” me at all! I get no pleasure from being away from home or the familiar at all. I find it confusing, disorienting, and generally a horrible experience. I am now contemplating starting a business where I work from home – and clients that need me to do all sorts of travel can simply go elsewhere.