Not every fear rises to the level of a phobia.
Fear is a normal and healthy part of life.
It does not take over our lives or cause us to become irrational.
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A mental health professional can help determine if your symptoms meet thecriteria for diagnosing a phobia.
Normal Response to Fear
It is easy to become afraid of almost anything.
Whatever the object of fear, you may become distressed or uncomfortable when you confront that object.
You may prefer to travel by car or train but will fly when it is necessary or practical.
You will likely be miserable during the entire flight, as every bit of turbulence renews your panic.
If your phobia is more severe, you will simply be unable to board a flight at all.
You may be unable to even visit an airport to drop off or pick up a friend.
You may even become anxious when planes fly overhead.
If you have a simple fear, you will not spend much time thinking about that fear.
It will only affect you when you are forced to confront it, such as actually boarding a plane.
You may start to change your daily routine in an effort to avoid any possible triggers.
You may have trouble sleeping or focusing on important tasks, particularly as the day of confrontation draws closer.
Getting Help
Phobias are highly individualized in symptoms and severity and cannot be self-diagnosed.
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