A Fear of Flying

This patient was an adult female with a fear of flying. This fear was particularly around experiencing turbulence when flying. If she has to fly, in the run up to the flight she experiences extreme anxiety and can think of little else. She is also worried that she will pass on this fear of flying to her children. The phobia had been experienced for approximately 3 years.  

The patient attended four sessions in the VR where we replicated all the aspects of flying, from waiting in the lounge to the boarding procedures and the takeoff and landing. We were also able to gradually introduce levels of turbulence with seatbelt alert sounds and associated announcements.  

During the sessions the patient said she particularly feared travelling during the night, so we were able to add a night function to the scene where the lights went dim on the plane. The patient was able to work through these scenes over the four sessions and gradually tolerate more turbulence.  The patient completed the post-treatment assessment forms approximately six weeks after treatment. She described her outcome as a definite improvement. She had been able to take a flight.  

During the trip she remembered and practiced the breathing and relaxation techniques she had been taught in the VR studio. Her family were able to support her with this. She has booked a longer flight for the family for next summer and has described herself as looking forward to it whereas in the past she wouldn’t have been able to discuss it as a possibility.