"Person's anxious apprehension about flight caused them to believe imminent disaster"
Sara Shine, a software sales manager from Hertfordshire, has successfully overcome her fear of flying, thanks to the help of Dr Bonita Rayner-Jones, a registered hypnotherapist based on Harley Street.
Sara's fear of flying developed over time and was exacerbated by bad flight experiences. The National Health Service (NHS) estimates that 10 million people in the UK have a fear of flying, making it the most common type of anxiety disorder.
Dr Rayner-Jones recorded a tailored 40-minute hypnotherapy session for Sara, designed to access and rewire subconscious triggers, allowing Sara to feel calm and in control during flights. Hypnotherapy works by reframing deep-seated fears, such as loss of control or past turbulence experiences, by changing how the brain processes anxiety related to flying.
Combining hypnotherapy with methods like Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)—which involves tapping meridian points to release fear—and breathwork enhances effectiveness by reducing the intensity of anxiety.
Sara's fear of flying significantly decreased after the hypnotherapy session. Dr Rayner-Jones guided Sara to think of a colour that represented calm and a relaxing scene, setting it up as a risk-free space in her head. The hypnotherapy session put Sara into a deep state of hypnosis and introduced thoughts and techniques to reframe her fears.
The changes made by the hypnotherapy have enabled Sara to flip fear into positive scenarios during flights. Sara is now planning a long-haul trip with her boyfriend at the end of the year, feeling excited about the prospect of travel again.
Other effective approaches to overcoming a fear of flying include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), fear-of-flying courses and exposure therapy, talk therapy, breathing techniques, and mindset reframing. A combined approach—hypnotherapy along with CBT, exposure, and coping skills like breathwork—tends to be most effective in overcoming aviophobia.
Consulting professionals or enrolling in specialized fear-of-flying programs can provide structured support tailored to individual needs. Dr Jo Stuart, another expert in the field, believes the key to dealing with any phobia is to show the brain it does not have to worry by facing the thing feared.
Sara's fear of flying became so severe that she stopped traveling and made excuses to avoid plans with her stepsisters who lived in New York. But now, she still listens to the recording from Dr Rayner-Jones before and during flights, feeling a sense of calm and control as she embarks on her travels once more.
- Sara, who had developed a fear of flying over time, was amazed by the effectiveness of hypnotherapy, a health-and-wellness technique used by Dr Bonita Rayner-Jones.
- The hypnotherapy session, which rewired Sara's subconscious triggers, was combined with methods like Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) and breathwork, enhancing its effectiveness in reducing the intensity of her anxiety.
- Sara's family, including her stepsisters who lived in New York, were thrilled to see her regain her love for traveling, something she had been avoiding due to her fear of flying.
- Dr Jo Stuart, another expert in the field, stresses the importance of facing one's fears as the key to dealing with any phobia, such as aviophobia, the fear of flying.
- To continue to maintain her calm and control during flights, Sara still listens to the recording from Dr Rayner-Jones, a testament to the long-term benefits of the hypnotherapy session and the combined approach to overcoming her fear of flying.
