Fear of flying

A Boeing 747 airplane

Fear of flying is a fear of being on an airplane, or other flying vehicle, such as a helicopter, while in flight. It is also referred to as flying anxiety, flying phobia, flight phobia, aviophobia, aerophobia, or pteromerhanophobia (although aerophobia also means a fear of drafts or of fresh air).[1]

Acute anxiety caused by flying can be treated with anti-anxiety medication.[2] The condition can be treated with exposure therapy, which works better when combined with cognitive behavioral therapy.[3][4]

  1. ^ "aerophobia". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
  2. ^ "Anxiety Disorders". National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  3. ^ Mulcahy, RA; Blue, RS; Vardiman, JL; Castleberry, TL; Vanderploeg, JM (2016). "Screening and Mitigation of Layperson Anxiety in Aerospace Environments". Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance. 87 (10): 882–889. doi:10.3357/AMHP.4536.2016. PMID 27662351.
  4. ^ Oakes, M; Bor, R (November 2010). "The psychology of fear of flying (part II): a critical evaluation of current perspectives on approaches to treatment". Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease. 8 (6): 339–63. doi:10.1016/j.tmaid.2010.10.002. PMID 21071281.