Hi
This is the 3rd and final part of Chris’s experience on Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Without Fear course. If you have missed parts One and Two please follow these links to go back and read them now.
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After lunch we were introduced to the Psychotherapist David Landau. He is the regular psychotherapist for these courses and also runs a private practice in West London.
He gave a talk about fear, negative thoughts, and the like. He also said that we weren’t phobic, just scared. He said:
“If you’re willing to fly but simply scared then you do not have a phobia. You wouldn’t be here if you did.”
I beg to differ, the course info on their web site says:
“We have helped people with all levels of fears from mild anxiety to full-blown panic attacks and vomiting at the mere mention of aircraft.”
If that doesn’t describe phobic people I’m a Dutchman. This left a slightly unpleasant taste in my mouth. I felt like the website blurb had somewhat misled me.
He took us through a series of physical relaxation exercises which were accompanied by a free CD. And also a visualization exercise which had some similarities to NLP in it. This was all relevant stuff, and I think most people got pretty relaxed. I didn’t, all I could do was fidget and worry, no matter how I tried.
All in all I guess I had been waiting for the psychologist to be my salvation, I had dreamt that after that session I would be able to get onto the plane.
The Flight
I didn’t make it onto the flight. I went through customs and as soon as I had passed security and knew that there was no going back I felt completely panicked. We walked a long way to a distant gate and I decided enough was enough. The team tried to persuade me to go on, but I didn’t. I refused, and eventually a security man led me back through to the arrivals lounge.
Conclusion
I was the only person not to go on the plane (with the exception of those, even worse than me, who left the course earlier in the day). Other people really felt like turning back but managed to press on. I think a lot of fearful fliers got a great deal from the course. I think people who can already go on a plane, albeit with gritted teeth, will get a great deal from the course. But I think real phobics, people who fear an anxiety or panic reaction, would do best to consider all their options before departing with their money.
That DOES NOT mean I am suggesting you don’t go on a fear of flying course. I just mean you need to be ready to go through that fear barrier, don’t go pretending it will disappear and everything will be easy.
When you are ready to take the step, a course like this can be a very supportive atmosphere in which to get into the air.
I’d just like to say a big thank you to Chris for sharing that with us.
