Fear is a natural psychophysiological reaction designed to help a person mobilize when faced with an unusual or dangerous situation. It is considered normal when this emotion arises in response to a specific threat or source of stress and increases when the importance of making the right choice becomes apparent. An anxiety-phobic disorder is an excessive, frequent, and unfounded level of anxiety experienced while anticipating or being in particular circumstances.
Among anxiety disorders, fear of flying is quite common. There are two types of fear associated with air travel: natural anxiety before flying, which is a manifestation of a healthy instinct for self-preservation, and pronounced pathological anxiety. When the intensity, frequency, and duration of fear exceed the conventional limits of what is considered normal and it becomes persistent, when a person is unable to control, adequately perceive, and logically assess what is happening, it may indicate the presence of a phobic disorder. With aerophobia, a person may not only refuse to travel by air and avoid approaching an airport runway, but may also experience physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety while anticipating a flight.
Aerophobia (fear of flying) is a fairly common disorder. According to surveys, 40% of the world’s population experience fear of flying to varying degrees. This fear can take different forms and may develop into a phobic disorder.