The first thing that comes to mind is because takeoff and landing are considered to be the riskier stages of flight. But is that really the reason?
Takeoff can lead to sensory overload - as a lot of scenes, noises, and sensations occur quickly and change even faster. The mind cannot process this and activates the anxiety system. If you have good self-calming skills - it’s not a problem, you will quickly calm down. But if not - anxiety can escalate into a panic attack.
Another reason for the fear of takeoff is the inability to escape. Some people simply cannot afford not to be in control. If this illusion is shattered, they need to have the possibility to escape. Takeoff is the moment that physically separates a fearful flyer from the opportunity to flee.
The ground feels like something stable and reliable. Losing this familiar support during takeoff may be perceived by our brain as a threat.
Additionally, the noise of the engines during takeoff produces very high and low frequencies that are associated with danger in our psyche. If the passenger’s nervous system is imbalanced, these frequencies can be another indicator of “danger” and therefore lead to the activation of fear and, as a result, the fight or flight response.
Clouds increase disorientation. When visual contact with the ground dissapears, the brain loses its external point of support, which increases disorientation and anxiety.
And lastly, but no less important, takeoff activates neural connections with psychological trauma. It can be associated with different fragments of traumatic events stored in fragmented memory, such as isolation, instability and abandonment from our childhood.
Anxiety during takeoff is not related to measurable facts or logic. It is the nevous system’s natural response - unpleasant, but normal.
The good news: this can be changed. The nervous system can be trained to react in a different way. And one day, taking off will no longer be the most difficult moment, but will simply be the beginning of a new journey.
