EMDR Therapy for the Fear of Flying

What Causes a Fear of Flying?

The fear of flying or aerophobia is a phobia commonly experienced by many modern-day travelers. Understandably, flying has many uncomfortable aspects to it including claustrophobic, turbulence, motion sickness etc. contributing to an increased likelihood for a specific phobia. For many, the fear of flying attaches itself to a specific traumatic experience involving flying. For others, it is unrelated can be attributed to the panic surrounding a loss of control or safety experienced when in the air. Regardless of the reason, EMDR can help clients identify the source and relieve the anxiety experienced.

The Therapeutic Process of EMDR for the Fear of Flying.

The process for treating the fear of flying with EMDR begins with preparation. The therapist will often start with several relaxation and grounding exercises. This allows for the client to have a safe and secure base to then explore the more difficult feelings that come up. Once preparation is complete, the client begins the work of identifying the feelings that are related to the fear of flying. The therapist then targets these feelings using bilateral stimulation (rapid eye movements) to process out the unconscious feelings associated with it. This bilateral stimulation serves two purposes. First, it allows clients to unconsciously connect the dots and go deeper to understand the anxiety at its source. Second, the bilateral stimulation acts as a desensitizer to the anxiety itself taking the edge off without the use of medication or substances.

So How Does EMDR and Bilateral Stimulation Work?

To answer this, we have to look at the neuroscience behind what happens to the brain during trauma. At the moment of a “traumatic experience” the brain becomes frozen and the overwhelming feelings that occur then are split into the emotional and logical sides of the brain. This is why no matter how much we reason with someone with trauma to not feel that way it doesn’t leave with logic alone. When we feel emotionally threatened our thinking side turns off and the only part that remains is the emotional side that does not differentiate between time, space, or logic. This causes us to react when there is no current danger as when inside an airplane even when we try to logically explain to ourselves that flying is safe.

Using EMDR and bilateral stimulation, we activate the parts of the brain used during this emotional fear response (the amygdala, hippocampus) and the other logical side (prefrontal cortex) and merge both sides of the brain together to provide healing. By connecting the logical side to the emotional side, we can tell the emotional side “It’s ok, we’re safe now.”

Conclusion

By using bilateral stimulation with EMDR, we can rework the client’s brain to find lasting healing. Clients find that after EMDR they no longer experience any anxiety surrounding flying. Clients also find that through EMDR they learn a lot more about themselves and creating more meaning in their life.

Mendel Toron is a psychotherapist trained in EMDR Therapy for the fear of flying. Use this link to set up a consultation and see if EMDR Therapy is right for you.