Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
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     Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a complex set of distressing physical and psychological disturbances that follow an extreme encounter with a real or perceived life threatening event.  If this problem exists in your life, please read and study this section and the recommended treatment plan very carefully.

 

 

     We hear a lot about this problem in today's society.  When I teach a class of fearful flyers, I find that about one out of every eight individuals in the class carries a post traumatic reaction with them.  This has remained true for 14 years of classroom instruction and 18 years of clinical experience.

Scope:    The scope of this problem can be fully appreciated if we realize that based upon an estimate of one of eight fearful flyers nationally, there are between 2.5 and 4 million fearful flyers in this country suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - a very large number indeed!  If you are one of the individuals who has this problem, you most certainly have your work cut out for you - not because of who your are, but because this is just a tough challenge in life to overcome.  People without this problem do not realize that a PTSD sufferer must devote most of his/her non-working time to the effort of mastering the problems that evolved from the traumatic event(s).

Distinguishing Features:  The distinguishing features of PTSD have two main categories.  The first category relates specifically to the categories of the traumatic event itself itself.  The second category relates to the effects (both long and short term) that this event has had on the day to day life of the victim.  Summaries of these categories are given below.  For your convenience, I have made these descriptions into a checklist.  Make a check next to each event that applies to you.  If you do check a number of events, you might wish to print this list and use it for a focus of discussion with a therapist - should you decide to seek help for this problem.

     If any one item in the checklist applies to you, chances are you are suffering from some degree of PTSD.  If you check two or more items, there is little doubt of the presence of PTSD.  After you complete the list, we'll look at the relationship between PTSD and your fear of flying.

 

Note items that apply to you

Post Traumatic Stress Checklist

Features of the Traumatic Event
  1. yes   no
  2. yes   no

  3. yes   no

  4. yes   no

  5. yes   no

  6. yes   no

  7. yes   no

 

 

 

  1. yes   no

  2. yes   no

  3. yes   no

  4. yes   no

  5. yes   no

  6. yes   no

  7. yes   no

 

  1. The event produced the reaction of terror.

  2. The memory or memories of the traumatic event has connected to many negative and painful emotions.

  3. There was little or no preparation for coping with the event.  In other words, the event came as a surprise.  You might also say, "you never saw it coming".

  4. The event produced psychological harm.

  5. The event produced physical injury.

  6. The event had a shattering effect upon your life.

  7. You recall the event daily - even after many years.

Characteristics of Life After the Event

  1. Distressing psychological symptoms such as depression, nightmares, insomnia, sexual dysfunction, eating problems appeared after the traumatic event.

  2. Other of life's problems that you were previously coping with successfully became worse after the trauma.

  3. Life itself changed after the trauma (e.g. marital breakup, residence, relationships, religious beliefs, etc.)

  4. "Startle" reactions became commonplace.

  5. Your sense of humor and ability to play and have fun seem severely damaged or almost non-existent.

  6. There is a constant feeling of "walking on eggshells" - that something bad could happen at any time.

  7. Indecisiveness and uncertainty feel like constant companions.

The Relationship between PTSD and the Fear of Flying

     If you had a residual, but tolerable fear of flying before the traumatic event, the trauma has made your fears worse. The reason for this is that the trauma heightened the total amount of "learned anxiety" with which you must cope, and it does so in the following manner.

     Flying is a very stimulating activity that includes many "unknown" and "unfamiliar" events. In PTSD, unknown and unfamiliar events are signals of danger. Unknown and unfamiliar events can create the feeling of confusion. For those who suffered a near life – ending trauma, the sense of confusion can feel like a death blow — a feeling to be avoided at all cost!

    In addition to feelings of strangeness and confusion, flying is a drain on the mental energies of the PTSD sufferer whose energies are already pushed to the absolute limit. Part of the anxiety, therefore, being sent to the PTSD sufferer is a warning against activity the would further drain the victim’s energy. In other words "don’t do that (fly), you don’t have the energy to cope with it right now". Listed below are questions presented to me by PTSD sufferers. My answers represent the best that more than 15 years of clinical experience has to offer.

 ?     Can I overcome my fear of flying if I suffer from Post – Traumatic Stress Disorder?

     Yes, but you must keep the purpose of your activities in perspective. It is generally true that anything you do to improve the PTSD will help you with your fear of flying and anything that will help the fear of flying will improve the PTSD problem. Life will make a lot more sense if you see the two problems as working together. You will then also see your efforts at recovery as aimed at a singular problem. Such an approach will conserve your energy as you attend to the PTSD without having to feel that you must always include flying in the recovery process.

  ?  My family and friends tell me to stop thinking about my problem and get on with my life. I haven’t been able to do this. Is there something wrong with me?

     Your mind is a lot wiser than your family and friends are. You continue to think about this problem because you have to think about it. Your ability to think is your strength, not your weakness. In fact, trying to not think will make you worse instead of better.

Let’s back up for a minute and repaint the picture of your situation. Because of the trauma you suffered, your mind has inherited the task of finding a real solution to the problem. The trauma was so massive that a large amount of energy must be used for its solution. The most important singular activity in finding a solution to your PTSD is thinking. Without thinking you cannot lead yourself in the direction necessary for relief. The more insight and understanding to gain, the more you will be able to move in the direction of a solution. Thinking will also tell you if you are moving down a path away from the solution to your problem. PTSD sufferers often self medicate through alcohol or other drugs (no medications have been shown to help PTSD). Relationships that were important sources of support are often strained through destructive arguments or withdrawal. Other problems of the type reviewed in this lesson get worse. Thinking will be your first warning that such things are happening.

     Many years of experience in the treatment of PTSD sufferers have taught me that therapy for PTSD must contain a heavy dose of insight and understanding. Without this important ingredient, little or no progress can be expected. Even with insight, progress will be slow because of the complexity of the problem.

   ? Is there a treatment plan that you recommend for PTSD sufferers?

     I have included the details of a recommended treatment plan for PTSD sufferers in file linked to this text. Implementation of a proper treatment plan is quite time consuming and potentially expensive. The good news is it works. These recommendations can also be used as a good reference source if you should decide on professional help. Use the plan as a guide. If the professional you are working with departs significantly from the plan question him/her carefully. If you are not satisfied and different recommendations don’t make sense, find another professional.

 ?    If I begin an ambitious treatment program like the one you recommend, how can I fit flying into this?

In many respects, improvement in the fear of flying will parallel improvement in PTSD. In fact, you will probably fly long before you are finished with therapy. Make sure that you study and master each lesson in this book very thoroughly. When you feel drained, leave the material alone. Be careful to not skip any of the lessons, even if you feel they don’t apply to you or if you "don’t care" about some of the material provided in a particular lesson. Your mind will tell you when you are closer to comfortable flying. You will find it easier to learn and retain the facts of aviation and airplanes than when you began the course. You will begin to see more clearly the manner in which your mind displaced confusion and anxiety from the original trauma to aviation and airplanes. When you feel ready, buy a round trip ticket to some near by destination. Take your therapist or an especially insightful friend with you for the trip. Keep a log after the trip to help spot the hidden events that may be triggers for your anxiety. Make sure you practice good muscle tension and breathing control while you do the work of self understanding. Let your friend or therapist coach you on this task.   Progress may seem slow for a while, but remember, as long as you are learning you will eventually fly. Keep your focus on your learning and Practice, Practice, Practice!

Take me to the PTSD treatment plan