Overcoming Fear of Flying with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VERT)
Overcoming Fear of Flying with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VERT)
Flying can be an exhilarating experience, offering the excitement of adventure and new horizons. However, for some individuals, the thought of boarding a plane can trigger intense fear and anxiety. This fear of flying, also known as aviophobia, can be distressing and limit individuals’ ability to travel. Luckily, a combination of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VERT) offers a path to conquer this fear and embrace the skies with confidence.
Understanding the Fear
The first step in overcoming this fear is to understand its root causes. For many people, fear of flying stems from a combination of factors such as fear of heights, fear of enclosed spaces (claustrophobia), fear of sounds induced by the plane’s systems as well as sudden aircraft moves also know as turbulence. By identifying these underlying factors, we can gain insight into the thoughts and beliefs that contribute to maintaining the fears.
Identifying and Challenging Negative Thoughts
CBT teaches individuals to recognize and challenge negative thoughts that contribute to their fear of flying. These thoughts often involve catastrophic predictions about the safety of flying or exaggerated beliefs about the likelihood of something going wrong. Through techniques such as changing the safety behaviors and cognitive restructuring, our patients learn to replace these thoughts with more balanced ones proportionate to the actual threat. For example, instead of thinking, "The plane will crash," they might reframe it as, "Planes are the safest modes of transportation, and millions of flights take off and land safely every day."
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VERT)
Exposure therapy is a key component of CBT. Unfortunately, when it comes to this specific fear, exposing patients to actual flying experience is not feasible. At our clinic, we use Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VERT) to recreate such environments that allow patients to experience a heightened sense of realism and feel a sense of presence in the virtual environment, like when in an actual flight. Virtual Exposure Therapy can be tailored to address the specific triggers and challenges unique to individual’s specific fears. For example, using our VERT headset and software, the scenarios can be customized to simulate takeoffs, landings, turbulence as well as flying in various meteorological conditions such as rain and storms.
Various studies, including the study conducted by Samantha Smith, Ph.D., of Walter Reed Army Hospital, enrolled participants with a fear of flying in different experimental conditions. Patients involved in VRE treatment experienced virtual reality by sitting in an airplane, takeoffs, landings and flying in both calm and stormy weather. After eight sessions the virtual flyers experienced a significant reduction in symptoms and in their apprehensions about flying. Six months after the treatment, 93 percent of the participants had flown in commercial flights without experiencing major anxiety triggering symptoms.
We Can Help
Seeking professional support from a therapist trained in CBT will provide personalized guidance and support tailored to the individual's specific fears and needs, helping them develop coping strategies and overcome their fear of flying effectively.
Fear of flying is a common but manageable anxiety disorder that can be effectively treated. For more information related to treating aviophobia or for a free consultation reach us using the contact information on this website. We can help you conquer your fear of flying and enjoy the freedom of travel with confidence.
References:
A Controlled Study of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for the Fear of Flying," Samantha Smith, PhD, Walter Reed Army Hospital, Barbara O. Rothbaum, PhD, Emory University School of Medicine, Larry Hodges, PhD, and Jeong Hwan Lee, Georgia Institute of Technology, Larry Price, PhD, The Psychological Corporation, San Antonio, TX, Session 1134, Friday, August 4, 11:00 a.m. - 12:50 p.m., Grand Hyatt Washington Hotel, Roosevelt and Wilson Rooms
testimonials
Cristian's kind and empathetic nature always made me find our sessions a safe and happy place. I gained a new perspective on so many things that had been causing me anxiety by learning about the CBT framework of anxiety”
I have referred many people to York Region CBT - Cristian over the last year and would support anyone any parent who's child is dealing with OCD to make that initial appointment and start working with Cristian.
Cristian is methodical and will take you through the CBT steps without any judgment and drama so soon you will find new ways of looking at things in a different light without changing your personality or things you believe in.
