Fear of flying is the fear of being on a flying vehicle, such as an airplane or helicopter, while it is 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]
- ^ "aerophobia". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
- ^ "Anxiety Disorders". National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.