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Let’s talk about one of the most common phobias your clients are too embarrassed to bring up: fear of flying.
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They say,
“I know it’s irrational, but I can’t stop panicking.”
“My chest gets tight, and I feel like I’m going to lose control.”
“It’s not just turbulence, it’s everything about the trip.”
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And here’s the truth:
They’re not afraid of flying.
They’re afraid of change, vulnerability, and a dysregulated nervous system.
Let’s break it down and show you how hypnotherapy can help.
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🧠 Why Flying Isn’t the Real Problem
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Fear of flying is rarely about airplanes.
It’s often about the life transition or emotional upheaval surrounding the trip.
Here’s what we see clinically:
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1️⃣ Big Trips = Big Emotions
Flights often mark major transitions: a funeral, a wedding, a breakup, a move, or a big life decision.
The client may misinterpret this inner shift as anxiety about the flight, when the real fear is about the change in identity, environment, or relationships.
Your job?
Help them realize they’re not scared of the plane.
They’re scared of what the trip represents.
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2️⃣ Physiology Gets Blamed for Psychology
Picture this:
They wake up early.
They skip breakfast.
They’re sleep-deprived and dehydrated.
They grab a donut and a double espresso.
Then they sit in a pressurized cabin at 36,000 feet… and crash.
This blood sugar rollercoaster can trigger a panic-like state (shakiness, sweating, racing heart) that gets misinterpreted as fear of flying.
“I don’t know what happened. I just lost it on the plane.”
You know what happened.
Their body was under-supported, and their brain filled in the story.
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🔁 How Hypnotherapy Can Help
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Hypnosis gives you a chance to reframe the meaning, regulate the body, and rewrite the story, both before and during the flight experience.
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Here are a few research-supported techniques to guide the process:
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🛠 Technique #1:
Explore the Symbolism of the Flight
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In trance, use guided imagery to explore what the flight represents:
“If this trip had a message for you, what would it be?”
“What transition is taking place in your life, and how can you meet it with steadiness?”
This helps externalize the subconscious association and target the real source of fear.
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🧘 Technique #2:
Somatic Anchoring Before Takeoff
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Help your client develop a pre-flight routine that includes:
- Anchored breathwork or progressive relaxation
- Visualizing calm takeoff, steady flight, and peaceful arrival
- A suggestion like: “You carry safety with you, no matter where you go.”
This counters the physiological spiral before it starts.
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🍳 Technique #3:
Address the Crash Before the Crash
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Coach your client to eat protein, hydrate, and skip stimulants before a flight.
Pair this with a hypnotic suggestion:
“As your body receives what it needs, your mind feels grounded, present, and calm.”
“You support your nervous system like you would a friend who needs care.”
The sugar crash is not anxiety. It’s biology.
Your session is a chance to help them prepare like an athlete, not just survive.
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✨ Technique #4:
Rehearsal Through Trance
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Use future pacing to walk the client through a full flight scenario:
- Getting through security calmly
- Sitting with confidence
- Responding to turbulence with grounded breathing
- Landing with ease
Research shows this mental rehearsal reduces anticipatory anxiety and activates the parasympathetic system when repeated regularly.
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🎓 Ready to Use These Tools in Session?
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If you’re a student or alum of the Trauma Focused Hypnotherapy course, we’ve got a whole section on reframing fear responses, somatic work, and anxiety regulation.
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Here’s To Helping Clients Feel Calm, Clear, And In Control, No Matter Where They’re Going,
Jesse & Zac
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Co-Founders of Trauma Focused Hypnotherapy
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PS: Want to talk with us live and get suggestions for your daily sessions? Join our TFH Discord Community! Click here to connect!
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