How to overcome aerophobia and become a pilot of a light aircraft

Editor's note: This material is written by our reader Katherine Shtarevoy, creator of "happiness store"Which got rid of the severe aerophobia. Fasting is a logical continuation of the article "How to learn how to fly a plane in Russia».

My story - a story aerophobia with 15 years of experience, which not only managed to cope with his incredible flight of fear, but also, among other things, to find the main hobby of life: flying at light planes.

How? With the help of an immense desire to do it and, of course, the efforts of the will. This happened for about 3 years, for which many methods have been tried: the usual help of a psychologist, a psychologist help of highly specialized, constant work on themselves, to take their fears under control and, finally... it's hard to believe, but it came to me: teaching operation of the aircraft.

So what I? In addition, nothing is impossible in this life. Everything is real, and if you really want and take himself in hand, things that frighten us more than anything else, can become the most loved and important. I'll tell you how it was.

Aerophobia - this is the most common type of phobia in the world, in Russia there are tens of millions of aerophobia. In the flight time every fourth passenger feels a sense of fear and anxiety, and every second that feeling is very strong and, as a rule, come again a few days before the upcoming flight. Some refuse to flights of all (about 6%). But, despite the fact that all aerophobia find your own unique and very complicated case, 98% of people are able to get rid of this phobia.

I'll start with the most "sore" - flights to the vacation. You know the difference between a vacation from the vacation aerophobia an ordinary person? First of all, the fact that the average person vacation is divided into two nice parts: the anticipation itself leave and vacation aerophobia - three: foretaste of torturous flight and farewell to life, flying in a panic tantrum, then he leave in suspense that "more is fly back. " And then in a circle. And this is not a joke: I personally, for example, said goodbye to life somewhere three days before departure, and each time regretted that the will I have not had time to write, much sadness, that happens to me irreparable, and I did not see how to grow my little daughter

As I determined that I have a phobia?

I knew it was not just fear or anxiety. It was the present system, and each flight for me was unbearable drudgery. Now I will describe features that are sure to get to know each aerophobia, although, to be honest, we all feel that our fear is unique, very-very difficult, and nothing in the world we will not save him. All of us, aerophobia, identical in general.

So. At firstI could not shake the thought that during the flight all be controlled from the flight attendants to individual expression engine sounds. And as the plane "Hold" in the air resting his hands all vperedistoyaschego chair and spread her legs wide for balance, as they say, it was all my direct responsibility! Pose imagine, right? You're funny, but I was not at all amused.

SecondlyI have "it" did not take place, no matter how much the flight lasted: can someone worried a little when taking off, and all the way to sleep, but not aerophobia. During takeoff the nose pulled up higher than necessary, the air pocket was caught, and in me an infinite treacherous thought that now everything will collapse, the wings will fly away, the engine turns: in the general real picture apocalypse. But the landing, like all aerophobia makes me attack the incredible ecstasy. Driven by a false idea that the (by the way! Zhutchayshy myth), we are closer to the ground, the safer I watched every meter decline, anticipating landing - a happy time of his salvation from this deadly capsules! Aerophobia, I bet now smile. Your case, right?

ThirdlyOn the face were all physical signs: heart palpitations, sweaty palms, rapid breathing, tension around body... Sometimes, when a long flight, the constant presence gave me a real natural in this state flour.

So what to do?

By the way you know that 13th of each month, you can buy tickets cheaper than the regular price?

And then, poor Haggard aerophobia, flying at an altitude of 10 thousand. meters, that's for 8 hours, came up with a brilliant idea! The only way to ease the suffering, it's... yes, yes, alcohol. Frankly speaking, on vacation, I flew only in half-drunken delirium, and for a moment it seemed to me that this output. Perhaps at that very moment, it's a little easier torment (the muscles relax, the brain is fogged up). But the main problem is that alcohol does not get rid of the fear. After all, finally landing at the destination, sobered up and realized what had happened, aerophobia again "covers" the idea of ​​the return flight. And yes, all in a circle! And health is a pity, to be honest.

Also, among other things, it is worth noting the incredible ability aerophobia "prowl" in search of different signs that "just make it clear "that flying is not necessary: ​​the ticket numbers, departure time, arrival time, departure date, etc. - basically anything that anything. Here in the course are black cats, looking in the mirror for good luck, etc. You know, I came to the fact that if the day before the flight was shining bright, bright sun, it seemed to me it was a sign. A sign that my life will end tomorrow for sure, and now nature gives me one last chance to enjoy its beauty. I am writing this now and she does not believe it. But it's true! By the way you know that 13th of each month, you can buy tickets cheaper than the regular price? Guess - why!

And, of course, a huge part of this mass madness took my while, superpowers to monitor all the press on the subject of air crashes and other specific incidents. Such news as find me: eyes and ears only for it and were imprisoned: to look for, where it fell, where he refused, and so on. It became a daily habit, and yet who are looking for, will always find! My already tired and frightened mind, even more "pumped" thoughts that plane crashes are very common and deadly form of transportation. This samonakrutkoy I worked regularly - this is such an emotional masochism, I swear!

So it was the lion's share of my adult life, until I decided that it was impossible to live, and it is necessary to deal with it.

How I did it?

1. Help therapist

Aerophobia, it must be said, people are very distrustful. In this regard, to convince them to find a professional profile, in principle, very difficult. We are all waiting for the problem go away by itself (most importantly, to do nothing is needed, especially to look into the eyes of your fears). Better yet, someone to "reason" hands over our heads and we are healed. But it does not happen in my life!

By experience I can say that to find the profile of the psychologist - not a trivial task, they are simply very, very little. So I started with the fact that with the problem addressed by one of ordinary skill. The process of "treatment" of a therapist about this: first, the doctor should bring people "to clean water," get open, asking difficult, sometimes provocative and very personal questions. The patient is shocked, surprised, not ready, doubts mumbles something unintelligible in reply. And so it can continue for a very long time (more than one session), while the patient is not "break" does not begin to open, trusting and frank answer questions. And here begins the real productive dialogue. This technique makes it possible to psychology as to "open" the brain of the patient, to dig into it, as in the broken car engine, and find the "breakage". Overall, I realized that this is a common scheme of work of the psychologist.

As the experience of the "dig in itself" - priceless! As part of the same aerophobia such help and advice personally, I have given nothing. After all, when there is a specialized database, it sounds more like persuasion and appeal to common sense, in whose aerophobia, on the part of the aircraft, "zero"!

I sum up: As a personal interesting experience - yes. It gave more insight into yourself. Cope with aerophobia - definitely not. You need a "heavy artillery".

2. Highly specialized care (the same heavy artillery)

In Russia, perhaps, on everyone's lips one name - Alex Gervash. His way to cure aerophobia, in my opinion - is something akin to "lightweight way to quit smoking": works just works, although it is hard to believe at first. But it is the fact in 98% of cases. My course, for example, lasted exactly one day. Only one day and, yes, it was very hard: Come one man, and the output is quite another.

I had a private lesson with Alex personally (I begged, because my case, remember, unique, very-very strong fear him need a special approach).

The course began in the early morning: Gervash told everyone what aerophobia not believe: that the aircraft is safe, as the plane is flying, what aerodynamics and how it keeps the plane in the air, the higher - the safer (yeah, remember, my fears above?), examples, etc. It is also very interesting to tell about the physiology of fear and explained, as it can be controlled by certain physiological level techniques.

Next was the practice in the 3D-room, where I "flew" in the 3D glasses in a passenger ship and shared their emotional experiences. All this time, I accumulated knowledge of Alexis, which then I had to use in practice.

After that, we got into the car and headed for the Boeing simulator (everything is exactly as in the cockpit (cockpit) of the Boeing!). Here I flew in the cockpit copilot. Given that Alex is not only a psychologist, but also for the commercial pilot safely perevezshy for his life a great number of people, this experience is priceless! We did everything, as do pilots have been negotiating in English, consult checklists in all phases of flight. This "attraction" is very convincing evidence, as in the airplane everything is thought out and safe. Then take into account every detail, incredible! And we have been played a few scenarios: a simple landing, roll, fly in the face of fierce turbulence, landing without engines. At this stage, the brain begins to creep aerophobia question: "Or maybe really all that safe" ?!

And on that note, happy and fighting when aerophobia head starts to think properly and believe facts, not emotions, Alex "takes" we have "cushy"!

We go to the airport! No kidding! We are waiting for a flight, regular flight Moscow - St. Petersburg, a conventional passenger liner. Next to me personally Alexey. During the entire flight deal actively use all the techniques that he taught me everything pronounces together to fight these fears that had followed for many years been in the habit. And yes, not everything is so simple! His head because there is a toggle switch that you can just switch! But to my surprise, I realized that I was flying, a passenger, no alcohol, it is not fatal, but even more interesting and calm, completely.

We arrive in St. Petersburg. No concessions, to change to the flight and fly back!!! To his surprise, you know, that return flight provides even easier. Now it's like to sit in the bus. I was amazed! I quietly flew, talking with Lesha (already on abstract themes! God, it's just a fairy tale), I thought about what I will do tomorrow, the day after tomorrow and in the coming week. No downs, terrible deaths and wills in my head was gone. I reinvented!

But the main thing is not delude ourselves: in this work does not end. As time passed, the fear again made itself felt. And this is normal, so people arranged, in advance Alex warned. We have, as I have already written, there is no toggle switches and buttons, which can be switched on or off. We only have a brain that can be taught to think correctly, but in order to do this, it is necessary to work on a very hard to keep myself in this matter on the "short leash ", not to abandon the flight to travel and holidays, to practice the art of control fear, to use all taught in the course of time, and fly, fly, to fly. And the main thing is not to give up, because then the ability to think rationally will become a habit and fear go away forever! A higher measure of reward for all the work will be the pleasure of the flight process - like me now. However, this comes with time, and we must remember that this is a great-great individual work!

Techniques to combat the fear many, ranging from "breathing", continuing various "psychological games", so it is called, and even thoughtful conversations with them with a view to set yourself up for a rational way and start to "think correctly". Gervash all this has taught me, and told me many interesting things, such as how to distinguish the real fear of the "far-fetched" in which a person is actually in no danger. This is about emotional groundless hysteria that usually experiences aerophobia. And it turns out that having a store of knowledge, supported by practical exercises and constant practice of its own, you can learn to control themselves and their physiology, think very differently adequately aware of things and facts, and to cope with their aerophobia.

That's how I recovered from aerophobia and I think that day is rightly beginning of her new life.

And now a little of what you should not "repeat at home."

My exotic way to consolidate the results of combating aerophobia

All normal people who have completed treatment aerophobia, just fly on a vacation, on a business trip and enjoy what life has become much easier. In the same way I, the concept brought to extreme, way of life turned upside down, and, of course, I have acted differently. I would call it "French lessons". I must say that it is not for everyone, but only for the most daring, perhaps. And yes, do not try to immediately (without going over the specials. using in advance) so treat aerophobia - it will end in failure, believe me!

I began to study piloting in the suburbs, in one of the clubs on Vatulino airport. In the same way: by occupation - I own a small but very beautiful and loved the business, I have my own store certificates for extreme adventures. Every day, I meet with the professionals, incredible people who are engaged in fine sports, unusual and fascinating: even a parachute jump at least on the rope, though the rally - everything anything. And of course, the pilots! Interesting cast his cause people with whom you can talk for hours! So, actually we met.

At first, in spite of my deliverance from aerophobia, this idea was more like an adventure. Judge for yourselves: it is one thing to fly on vacation, calm and pleasant, and another thing to pant and sweat to learn how to fly a plane, and even with such "baggage" fears in the past. And yes, it was incredibly difficult!

The training is the theoretical and practical parts. 150 hours of theory - a theoretical lectures, seminars, etc., that need to be heard and then pass them on tests and exams. The theory in written form looks like this:

Practice - it 42 hours flyingOf which: after 12-15 hours of flight with an instructor, student flies themselves. This is considered a turning point of learning and a real treat. And yet, it is believed that on this day there is a birth of a new pilot! Inexpressible feeling, I tell you! Then he / she had to swoop about 40 laps in the terminal area has its own. Further, securing it, cadet again starts to fly with an instructor, but now on the route and preparing for independent flight on the route. After the release of the cadet on route to another airport, and he does have several, different, independently, securing the skills and having passed all the standards, work out all the bugs and passing the exam, he receives a certificate private pilot. And all this set aside just 42 hours.

And now my ex-aerofobskaya practice: independent crash at 57 o'clock, the whole is now more than 90 hours of flight time, independent of the route until it was just starting to fly routes with an instructor (!). Hard for me gives this business! But I do not give up, because my flight quality and safety is the main thing!

In general, over the last three years of my life (from 27 to 30 years old) I'm out of ingrained aerophobia and generally a great coward managed to become almost private pilot (now complete the program and get the pilot's).

Yes, the rich were 3 years of life! And yes, guys, if I someone has inspired your story or someone wants to visit me in Vatulino, always happy. Aviation - is incredible, fantastic thing umneyshee human invention; sky - is a whole world, a beautiful and clean. Come, I'll show in a nutshell! And you can find me in Facebook.