Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Fear of Heights



The fear of flying due to heights is fairly common. Yet this fear should be non-existent. Flying in an airliner is not like looking out the window of a high-rise and seeing the ground below. You don't get the same sensation of heights due to objects looking smaller. Often, in an airliner, you could be flying in or around clouds, so you may not be able to see the ground at all. A friend I recently took up flying remarked this exact statement, in the terms that you just don't get a real height sensation in an airplane versus standing on the side of a cliff.

While most fears are mental, the symptoms of a fear of heights in flying are:
• Vomiting and nausea
• Panic attacks
• Severe anxiety
• A fear of airplanes that is so bad that it prevents the individual from taking part in any kind of air travel.

Anxiety is a fear that myself as a pilot has encountered in the past. I used to not be the greatest person when it came to heights, even though I flew an airplane. It was knowing that I had confidence in my ability (or in the case of an airliner, the pilots ability) to fly the aircraft and trust in the construction of the airplane's cabin. I think that most fears when it comes to flying stem from the fear that if something happens to the airplane, it will break apart and they will plummet towards the ground. This is not true. There has never been a case of an airplane just plummeting towards the ground. It has never happened, and never will, since airplanes have a glide ratio. This glide ration allows the pilot to glide the plane to a nearby airport or suitable landing environment in case the engine fails. The glide ratio is increased even more by the height the airplane is traveling at. If at high altitude, the airplane will be able to glide for a longer period of time, versus being a low altitude when the loss of altitude will happen in a shorter amount of time.

Many people will experience these symptoms before or during their flight, yet there are some things you can do to calm these nerves. Get a seat away from the window, so you won't have to look out. Other treatments such as hypnosis or medication have also helped some people. An even better choice in my opinion; take a nap, so you won't see anything at all. In the end, it comes down to you being able to get over your fear of heights, by knowing the truth behind flying and the fears you have.






1. Bouc, Jana. Giraffe Mountain. No date. Online Image. Flickr. 2 Nov. 2011.
<http://farm1.static.flickr.com/93/250088391_0036303c20_o.jpg>
My purpose in using this graphic was to provide a comic relief to relate to the fears of flying. The picture, showing a giraffe looking over a cliff, it's ironic since giraffes are already tall and should not have a fear of heights. Being a cartoon, it allows viewers of all ages to relate to the subject in the picture, regardless of age and understand the point.
The graphic that includes the giraffe allows me to prove a point about views on an airplane versus views from a mountain. It displays my point in looking over a cliff is different that riding on an airliner. This form of comic relief enhances the blog by allowing my viewers to see a graphic image, while also providing a comedic relief.

2. Fear of Flying.  21 January 2010. Online image. Everything in line with leisure.   2 Nov 2011.
This image that I included in my blog includes a lady in distress and an airplane. The image, like the giraffe, is also a comic relief due to the ladies facial expression showing a terrified sense, and the airplane flying in a clear blue sky without any problems that one who has a fear of flying may think about.
The image is able to relate to my blog posting by allowing me to show another person who may be scared of flying. Her face shows terror due to the airplane in the background and the fear that she has of flying on an airplane, more than likely due to the heights one could encounter.

3. "How to Overcome Fear of Flying." Healthadel.  No date. 2 Nov 2011.
The information provided by Healthadel in their article, "How to Overcome Fear of Flying" provided my with information on the symptoms of a fear of heights to include in my blog. A few of these symptoms include vomiting and nausea, panic attacks, and severe anxiety. These fears as I noted, are some that I have even experienced as a pilot who has been flying for several years.
Heathadel's article relates to my main point of the blog by allowing me to show the readers the symptoms of a fear of heights while flying, and let them decided if a fear of heights is a fear they have. I then am able to show how to overcome these fears later in my blog by providing things you can do to calm the symptoms. 

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