Anxiety when flying

Fear of Flying: It’s Not Always What You Think

Experiencing anxiety when flying is incredibly common — about 1 in 6 people feel it. But here’s what might surprise you: it’s not always due to a fear of crashing.

In fact, people with flying anxiety often fall into one (or both) of these categories:

Scared of a plane crash
Worried about a trigger being activated

When you ask someone how they’d feel during a plane crash, the reaction is universally horrified. But that doesn’t mean this is the actual reason they avoid flying.

Common but Overlooked Causes of Flight Anxiety

Here are some of the lesser-known triggers that contribute to flight anxiety:

Social Anxiety – Airports and planes are crowded. You’re in close proximity to strangers, with little personal space.
Claustrophobia – You’re in a tight, enclosed space with no ability to leave.
Fear of public toilets – Whether due to hygiene or fear of queues, this can be very distressing.
Loss of control – A panic attack mid-flight can lead to fear of recurrence.
Fear of embarrassment – Crying, shouting, or trying to exit the plane mid-flight are common intrusive thoughts.
Fear of crashing – Yes, this is still common, but it’s often not the only issue.
Separation anxiety – Being far from loved ones or from a place of safety can be triggering.
Lack of control – You’re not the one flying the plane — the pilot is.

It’s Not Always Obvious

This is why telling someone “Flying is the safest form of transport” doesn’t help — because crashing isn’t the trigger they’re trying to avoid. So statistics, no matter how reassuring, often fall on deaf ears.

Some of the above triggers exist with other forms of transport too, but flying is uniquely restrictive:

You can’t easily move around like on a train or bus.
The time between stops is longer.
You can’t just get off when you’re overwhelmed.

Some people can’t even identify the exact cause — they just know they aren’t getting on that plane. That’s when a skilled therapist comes in to help uncover the true trigger and resolve it.

And What About Those Who Are Scared of Crashing?

This group is more direct. We know the trigger — it’s the crash scenario. Treatment can go one of two ways:

BWRT (BrainWorking Recursive Therapy) – Often resolves this fear in just 1–2 sessions.
Education – Sometimes, simply explaining how planes work is enough to bring relief.

Example:
A woman I worked with was terrified someone would open the door mid-flight. She stayed hypervigilant every time someone walked past her. Once she learned that opening a plane door mid-flight is physically impossible due to cabin pressure, her anxiety eased.

But here’s the challenge:
Even when educated, many people still ask the ultimate anxiety question…

“What if?”

What if the engine fails?
What if two engines fail?
What if all of them fail?
What if we can’t reach an airport?
What if…

The “What if” cycle is infinite. It’s the anxious brain’s way of avoiding uncertainty. Unfortunately, when someone is stuck in this mindset, no amount of logic, data, or reassurance helps. It’s not a conversation you can win with facts — because the brain demands a 100% guarantee of safety. The only time they get that is after the plane has safely landed.

Is it a Fear or a Phobia?

This matters — because the treatment approach can change based on the answer.

Here’s how to tell:

Ask:
“How much money would I have to pay you to fly?”

If they give a number (any number), it’s likely a fear — unpleasant but potentially manageable.
If they say, “No amount of money would get me on that plane,” you’re likely dealing with a phobia — which may require deeper, more focused treatment.

So What Works?

BWRT is highly effective for both fears and phobias, often providing rapid results.
Hypnotherapy and suggestion therapy can also help — but with a caveat. Their results may vary, and some people experience a return of symptoms (known as recidivism).

Example:
One person flew successfully after hypnotherapy… but couldn’t bring themselves to fly back because the effects had worn off.

Final Thought

Fear of flying is more nuanced than many people realise. Crashing is just one piece of the puzzle — often, it’s not even the main one. Identifying the real trigger, whether it’s loss of control, claustrophobia, or the dreaded “what if,” is the key to choosing the right treatment.

Once that’s clear, the path to helping someone fly with confidence becomes much easier.

BWRT – excellent results usually in one or two sessions depending on original trigger.

Hypnoanalysis – a longer therapy to undertake and it really needs to be a phobia and not a strong fear to be effective.

Contact me here to overcome your fear of flying today.