What happens when you stop letting fear decide where you can or can’t go?
Just before Christmas, my phone lit up with a WhatsApp text from a client, Ash (not her real name).
It was a photo of her standing in New York’s Times Square, beaming. Her husband beside her. The skyline behind them.
I remember stopping what I was doing and just smiling. Moments like this never get old.
At the time, it felt especially meaningful. Because just a few months earlier, flying felt completely out of reach for Ash.
We’ll come back to that…
The hidden impact of a fear of flying
Fear of flying doesn’t just show up at the airport.
For many people, the anxiety begins weeks or even months before. Sleepless nights. Racing thoughts. A constant sense of dread that hangs over everyday life. Holidays, work opportunities, family events… all overshadowed by the looming fear of getting on an airplane.
For some, the anxiety becomes so intense that they begin avoiding flying altogether. Over time, this can mean missing out on travel, career opportunities, relationships, and life experiences.
What is flying phobia
Fear of flying is sometimes called flying phobia, flight anxiety, or aviophobia (if you’re fancy). And it can be very frustrating. Many of my clients are highly capable, rational people who know that flying is statistically safer than driving to the airport.
And yet, the moment the plane doors close or the engines begin to roar, all of that knowledge disappears.
Here’s why.
Our “fear files” live in a part of the brain called the hippocampus, which stores memories and emotional experiences in an effort to protect us. When something scary happens (like a turbulent flight) the brain can sometimes store that memory as a “life-or-death” experience – even when it wasn’t.
Now, even thinking about flying can cause the “fear file” to get opened automatically. And the fight-or-flight response takes over. Heart racing. Shallow breathing. A surge of anxiety. A powerful urge to escape.
Once this system is activated, the rational part of the brain goes offline. So even though you know you’re safe, your nervous system doesn’t feel safe.
That disconnect can be incredibly frustrating and exhausting.
Ash’s story
Three months earlier, Ash came to see me at a crossroads.
She and her partner were due to relocate to the US for an incredible work opportunity with a company she’d dreamed of since she was a child.
But instead of feeling excited, Ash was sick with worry.
Years earlier, she’d experienced a very turbulent flight on holiday. Since then, flying had become something she avoided whenever possible. Now, the thought of long-haul travel filled her with dread.
I pride myself on being logical.
I just can’t understand why fear of flying is getting the better of me!
She was tearful at the idea of turning down this opportunity. Hypnotherapy was a last-ditch attempt to make it work.
How hypnotherapy helped
We began with a consultation where I explained exactly what was happening in her brain and how Solution Focused Hypnotherapy works with phobias. This understanding alone can be deeply empowering. It helps remove shame and self-blame.
We then worked across three sessions:
- Session one: Reducing her overall stress and anxiety, calming her nervous system.
- Session two: Gently removing the automatic fear response linked to flying.
- Session three: Creating a new, positive memory in trance. One where flying felt calm, manageable, and safe.
By the end of our work together, Ash felt something she hadn’t felt in years: confidence. Not that she’d suddenly love flying, but that she could cope with it.
And now? Ash is in New York 🥳
The flight wasn’t perfect. She didn’t enjoy every moment. But she got on the plane, stayed regulated, and arrived knowing she could handle it. Fear was no longer in charge.
Can hypnotherapy help with a fear of flying?
For many people, yes.
Hypnotherapy works directly with the subconscious mind, where phobias, fear responses, and emotional memories are stored. Rather than forcing logic onto an anxious brain, it helps update the emotional response itself. Learn more about hypnotherapy for phobias.
In many cases, fear of flying can be treated in as few as three sessions, provided there are no additional underlying anxiety conditions or complex trauma.
And even when there are, hypnotherapy gives us the opportunity to work with the whole system, not just the fear of airplanes. It’s not uncommon for clients who come for flight anxiety to leave with other unexpected benefits, such as reduced anxiety, higher confidence, or fewer negative thought patterns. A bit of a cherry on the cake.
Ready to travel without fear?
If fear of flying or flight anxiety is getting in the way of your life, you don’t have to push through it alone.
If you’d like to explore how hypnotherapy could help you feel calmer, more confident, and freer when it comes to flying and travel, you’re very welcome to get in touch or book a free consultation.
