Even among professions, the cause of fear of flying is not well understood. All of us develop a specific amount of ability to regulate anxiety. Whatever amount we develop is developed very early in life. What matters later is how much life events challenge the amount of ability to regulate anxiety (and calm ourselves when dealing with uncertainty) we have.
Keep in mind, though, that on the ground we can employ three "security blankets" 1. control of situations, 2. reassurance about situations, and 3 a way to escape the situation.
Many of us can deal with anxiety on the ground because we have control, reassurance, and then have escape as a backup. But on a plane, we have no control, and unless sitting next to a pilot, no reassurance. Escape isn't possible either. That leaves a person, when flying, with ONLY the basic built-in ability to deal with anxiety.
Sure 9/11 or a bad flight can make it worse, but so can anything else. Everything that can cause anxiety adds up to produce the total amount.
Behavior therapy for fear of flying is not useful, nor is any other USUAL form of therapy. It took me ten years of graduate and post graduate study and work with thousands of clients to find something that does work.
If you would like more info, please see fearofflying.com/ where there is a video that explains this in detail.
Capt Tom Bunn LCSW |