Does hypnotherapy work for fear of flying?

I am past 60 and have never flown anywhere (except in my dreams!)
I am interested in finding out if hypnosis would help me get on a plane and also deal with the claustrophobia of being inside one for several hours. I don’t think I’m afraid of the actual process of flying; nor am I really afraid the plane will crash....in just anxious about the experience of lining up (being stuck in a long line you can’t leave) and then being stuck in a crowded space in the airplane.
Any ideas? Thanks!

Hello Mayr, I see this is your first post so welcome to PC! I hope you find your time here to be of benefit. Once you have 5 approved posts, you will be able to enter the chat room and talk to fellow members. There is almost always someone online to chat with.

I have no personal experience with hypnosis, but perhaps other members will have more input. Fear of flying, like lots of phobias, can be overcome with different methods. The methods that have worked best for me are exposure therapy and CBT. I hope you are able to find something that works for you.

hypnosis is something that works if you want it to and doesnt work if you dont want it to... theres no big mystery or miracle to it.... there are two ways to do it....

by your self.... you just relax yourself into a meditative state or similar to that feeling you get when you are falling asleep, that half awake half asleep feeling then make suggestions to yourself about what ever you want to over come. (this is called self hypnosis)

with a mental health treatment providers help..... the treatment provider guides you into a relaxed meditative state of mind then while you are relaxed talks with you about the problem you want to over come and you both agree on what you want to do about your problem. with this way usually the mental health treatment provider and person who wants to use hypnosis have a series of sessions together to get comfortable with each other and understand fully what is going to happen, what the therapy goals are for doing it.... messing with someones semi unconscious mind can be a dangerous thing so all persons involved must know what is expected and done on all sides. this kind of hypnosis is called guided hypnosis.

I have used both versions for many things and it works for me. my wife has tried both and has found by herself it works and with her treatment provider it does not. a friend of mine tried both versions and neither worked for her.

Get a window seat and look outside at the landscape while in a plane.

Wow! Thank you for such a detailed answer. I actually quit smoking using guided hypnosis almost 34 years ago so I know it works if the individual wants it to work.
Your post confirms my positive feelings! Thanks again.

There are ways to manage your fear...

Have with you some sort of object that is comforting.

Take some benedryl or gravol prior to the flight.

Just don't line up. The plane isn't going to leave without you. Wait until the line dwindles to the end before you approach the boarding gate.

Reserve an aisle seat preferably at the forward end of the cabin. Not seeing a sea of heads helps to ease the claustrophobia as does not being hemmed in by other passengers if you are sitting at a window.

Let the attendant crew know you are nervous. They can help you cope.

Chat up the person sitting beside you if you can.

Bring/purchase earphones and take advantage of the in-flight programming.

Think of what you will be doing after arrival.

While these things won't erase your worries they likely will help you cope. Good luck and bon voyage.

Four months later! Thanks for your response and welcome. I still haven’t flown and reject it when we discuss it. I haven’t really done anything to work on th3 anxiety either. However your suggestions are valid and I’ll keep trying. Thank you!

I always thought I had a fear of flying. (I have lost several family members in plane crashes.)

Yet, when I flew for the first time, I had a great time! I love being up in the air and looking down upon fields, cities, etc. I have enjoyed every flight since.

I do not mean to minimize your fear. At the same time, you might try it and find it's tolerable, even relaxing.

Hugs to you.

WC

I don’t know if hypnosis will work for you. However if it helped you in the past there’s a good chance it will work.

I don’t really enjoy flying but I do love to travel so I do it. I always fly Southwest Business select so I can get in the plane early pick a nice seat and settle in. Get out my kindle, put on my headphones and sail away in my own little universe.