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Advice for Fear of FlyingHypnotherapist Bruce Eimer Shares How His Client Overcame Her Phobia
Bruce Eimer is a psychologist who specializes in Hypnosis & Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Here, he reveals how one of his clients overcame her fear of flying.
Advice for Fear of Flying: Donna’s StoryDonna was a 42-year-old teacher who won a trip to Hawaii. Exciting, right? Not so much. Eimer says, “When she learned the news, she became panicky because she was afraid of flying. In her mind, flying was associated with planes blowing up in the air and crashing on take-off and landing. Donna also felt trapped and out of control whenever she thought about getting on a plane.” Evaluating the Risks of Flying Versus DrivingIn her sessions with Eimer, Donna realized that she overestimated the risks associated with flying – and she mistakenly assumed that driving is much safer. “This assumption allowed her to drive daily with little fear of having a serious car accident, but it prevented her from getting on an airplane,” says Eimer. He points out that the probability of getting into a fatal car accident is greater than dying in a plane crash. How Donna Overcame Her Fear of Flying“Through therapy, Donna learned that her fear of flying was related to her confusion about the concepts of possibility and probability. She learned to recognize that even though there is a possibility that the plane she would be traveling on could crash, the probability of this happening was very low,” says Eimer. Whether you’re struggling with a fear of flying or a fear of heights, it’s important to “clarify the difference between possibility and probability.” How likely is it that the plane will crash, or you’ll suddenly fall off the balcony or cliff? Once you realize how remote the chance of a disaster is, you may feel better quite quickly. Advice for Fear of Flying: Guided ImageryEimer also taught Donna how to use guided imagery to overcome her fear of flying. She imagined flying to Hawaii safely; she also ran through different scenarios in her head. First, Eimer helped her use guided imagery effectively; then, she practiced it on her own until she felt more comfortable with the thought of getting on the plane. Eimer’s advice for fear of flying enabled Donna to fly to Hawaii and enjoy her vacation. Eimer's Advice on the Fear of Flying - or Other Phobias“We are often more frightened than circumstances warrant. Our troubles spring more often from what we imagine and fantasize than from external reality,” says Eimer. “It is most adaptive to face your fears armed with knowledge. Many of the events you are afraid of, and consequently avoid, are possible but extremely improbable. That means that the odds or probability of their happening are extremely low. Knowing that these are the facts of a particular fear can give you the confidence to face that fear and do what you have been afraid of doing.” About Bruce EimerBruce Eimer’s new book is called Hypnotize Yourself Out Of Pain Now! A Powerful, User Friendly Program for Anyone Searching for Immediate Pain Relief. For more information about his work in Hypnosis and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for stress, weight loss, smoking cessation and chronic pain management, visit the Hypnosis Help Center. If you found Advice for Fear of Flying helpful, you might try:
The copyright of the article Advice for Fear of Flying in Hypnotherapy is owned by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen. Permission to republish Advice for Fear of Flying in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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