P484ORACLE 484 Mon30 Dec C4 1732:58
1/5
by Carol Oliver
TACKLING THE FEAR OF FLYING
According to the Guys hospital doctgr,
the key to get on and be bored by
flying like everyone else is to learn
how to relax.
You must also find out what bothers
you about flying specifically and then
deal with the problem - it is not a
general problem as you may think.
Some people, for instance, are afraid
because they don't understand how jets
fly. They can often be helped by
getting information on this from their
local library or even from the Civil
Aviation Authority. more follows >
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P484ORACLE 484 Mon30 Dec C4 1731:28
2/5
by Carol Oliver
TACKLING THE FEAR OF FLYING
Some people have phobias which are
not connected to flying, but encompass
it - like claustrophobia.
These are the people who dislike lifts
and tubes - and in this case, they must
learn how to be comfortable in these
environments first.
The Guys Hospital doctor says that
people with extreme problems should go
to their GP who will send them to a
local psychologist. On the following
pages is his advice if the problem is
less severe.
more follows >
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P484ORACLE 484 Mon30 Dec C4 9733:43
3/5
by Carol Oliver
TACKLING THE FEAR OF FLYING
If you are mildly afraid of flying,
then this is how to deal with it.
(1) Don't gloss over the fear - try to
decide what bothers you specifically,
and then deal with it.
(2) Actively relax with diaphram
breathing (the type used in pregnanc9)
There are plenty of texts on this.
(3) Don't take pills or alcghol. It
dampens your responses but doesn't
change what's in youq thoughts.
(4) Avoid smoking. It changes your body
chemistry which doesn't help
more follows >
P484ORACLE 484 Mon30 Dec C4 9742:18
4/5
by Carol Oliver
TACKLING THE FEAR OF FLYING
(continuing if you are mildly afraid
of flying).
(5) Do walk around the plane once in
the air - some are afraid of upsetting
300 tons of jumbo jet. (This is
impossible - I was recently on a flight
in which most of the passengeru were
on one side of the jet for a while, and
we flew levelly and safely).
(6) Avoid carbonated drinks and all
alcohol. You can have tea and coffee
in moderation, but as much water and
fruit juice as you like (the more the
better, because you dehydrate slightly
in flight).
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P484ORACLE 484 Mon30 Dec C4 9740:51
5/5
by Carol Oliver
TACKLING THE FEAR OF FLYING
(Continuing coping with a mild fear of
flying).
(7) Realise that engine noise changes
are as essential to flying safely as
they are to the changes in engine
noise of a car.
(8) Turbulence, while uncomfortable,
is no problem to a plane. Just close
your eyes and imagine riding in a car
over cobbled stones, or a field.
(9) If you have any specific wgrries,
ask the cabin staff. Tell the person
next to you that you are afraid - this
stops you 'bottling up' the problem. >
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