fear of flying

the patient has a history of panic attacks during flight. his symptoms are loss of control, severe agitation, sweating, nausea, confusion. this can be attributed to a mass production of seratonin in reaction to an overwhelming loss of balance.

imagine a radical change in perspective so that the reference points necessary to 'know which end is up' are confused. the body is shocked and startled. the system is alarmed and fighting to 'right' itself.

what is called for calm and patience. what the individual sees instead is risk. congnative therapy confronts a wall of the patient's balancing small percentages of something happening yet if something was to happen it would be fatal.

the panic-er can't reach past that wall to make the decision to take the risk. they stay on the fence, balancing between the two opposing forces, causing their systems to react in a panic. if they were to make a decision to go or stay would allieviate that panic once they commited to it.

try that for yourself. get into a situation where you feel yourself at the very edge of your balance and then extend your weight.