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When airplane tragedies occur, like the recent crash in Brazil, it is devastating and heartbreaking for the families and friends of the victims.
High-profile airline disasters are also often triggering to those who are already afraid of flying. Just hearing about an airplane crash can make these fears feel even more real and justified.
If you are afraid of flying and get even more distressed about it whenever you hear about an airline tragedy, here are some things to keep in mind:
Even if a plane recently crashed, you are not at greater risk.
People naturally tend to focus on information that is meaningful and relevant to them. For those afraid of flying, a high-profile plane crash fits perfectly into their belief system that flying is dangerous. They can point to the crash as an example that their fears are justified.
However, one plane crash does not impact the chances that another plane might have a similar fate. It was an independent event, horrible and tragic, but unrelated to other flights.
If you tend to personalize plane crashes in this way, one thing you can say to yourself is, “That plane crash was horrific, but it doesn’t have any impact on me. If I fly, I will still be safe.”
Flying is still the safest form of transportation.
The chances of dying in a commercial plane crash are minuscule. Many people have heard that flying is safer than driving, but those with flying fears tend to brush that statistic off. Consider the number of passengers who fly each year: In 2019, there were 4.5 billion airline passengers worldwide. There are over 150,000 flights per day. It might be helpful to focus on the enormous number of passengers who fly safely all the time.
Just because you are not in control of the plane doesn’t mean it is dangerous.
A lot of fear of flying is related to misattributing a lack of control over the plane with danger. Even though driving is far riskier than flying, people often feel less scared because they have more control over the car. But it’s important to remember that just because you don’t have control over something doesn’t mean it is inherently dangerous. Plus, if you are not a trained airline pilot, it’s a good thing that you don’t have any control while flying!
Learning more about how planes function, what causes the various sounds, and what turbulence is can be helpful for some people. This knowledge can give more of a sense of control since you know what these things mean.
The more you avoid flying, the more you will fear it.
Avoidance is very effective for avoiding anxiety at the moment. When you avoid the thing that you are afraid of, you don’t have to experience the fear it causes.
However, avoidance is terrible for long-term anxiety management. When you do not learn how to confront and master your fears, it makes anxiety worse in the long-term. This issue does not apply just to fear of flying; it is true of all anxiety-related avoidance.
You cannot eliminate all risks in your life.
I recently made a video on social media about the Brazil flight and the fear of flying. I got some comments along the lines of “Tell that to the victims of the plane crash,” or “Why would I subject myself to that risk?”
Virtually everything we do in life carries some degree of risk. There is a good chance that you do things on a regular basis that are riskier than flying, but you don’t give them a second thought.
It is often helpful to ask yourself what is important to you. If you could benefit from flying somewhere, be it visiting friends or family, attending an important event, going on vacation, or flying for work, ask yourself what you value the most. Are you willing to fly somewhere, taking on those tiny risks, so that you can do something very important to you? Will you regret not doing something because you were afraid to fly?
There is help available for people who are afraid of flying.
Many resources are available if you fear flying but don’t feel you can conquer your fears alone. Therapists with an anxiety specialization, self-help books and videos, and fear of flying courses can all be helpful ways of tackling this issue. Your life does not need to be ruled by this fear.
To find a therapist, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.