The psychologist gave advice on overcoming the fear of flying

Fear of flights and changing surroundings is a common problem that can seriously limit life. Clinical psychologist, expert on anxiety disorders at the Axon clinic Angelika Yeremenko told Izvestia on August 8 why this fear arises and how to deal with it.

"Fear of flying and discomfort when changing the situation are associated with loss of control, negative associations, fear of new things and physiological reactions," says Yeremenko.

At the same time, the expert emphasizes that the plane remains the safest mode of transport, unlike cars that people use on a daily basis.

For those who are experiencing difficulties, the psychologist offers simple but effective techniques. One of them is the replacement of anxious thoughts "What if?" with rational "What then?". The "Plan B" technique also helps — pre-planned actions in case of an alarm.

Yeremenko pays special attention to the "Lock" method, an express way to deal with panic.

"When you squeeze your hands into a "lock", a stream of signals rushes into the brain, temporarily blocking the anxiety center. This method can be combined with breathing exercises to enhance the effect. Fear is not an enemy, but a part of you that is mistakenly trying to help," explains the psychologist.

In 80% of cases, according to the expert, the fear of flying hides deeper feelings. A psychologist advises contacting a specialist if fear interferes with daily life or is accompanied by panic attacks.

Modern technologies allow for online therapy, which is especially important for those who have difficulty moving. The main thing is not to be left alone with your fears and remember that you can work with them successfully, the specialist concluded.

On May 4, Elena Prokhorova, head of the Sber Eaptek pharmacy, told Izvestia how many Russians are susceptible to jet lag. When changing time zones, the body does not have time to adapt to the new time, the biological clock gets lost, so symptoms such as malaise, drowsiness or lack of sleep, headaches of various etiologies, and fatigue may appear.

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