can a phobia be delayed? - Help.com

It is normal. You’re brain usually takes a long time to absorb what has happened, especially if it was frightening and you hadn’t thought about it for a long time.

Not thinking about a phobia usually makes them worse over time, since your brain subconsciously categorizes the thing your phobia is made of and all of the instances of being afraid together. I have a odd fear of butterflies, and during the season they’re out I tend to get used to them and even begin to lose my phobia, only to regain it when they reappear the following year.

Try and associate flying with something else, like the food or the long time, rather than that one instance, otherwise its possible you could be like that every time you fly.

Sounds like it was very frightening, though! Very glad you are alright :)

Perfectly normal but try and turn it on it’s head…. you suffered a bad flight… quite an awful one by the sounds of it… but you landed and were safe and sound… now if you can go through all of that and come out the other side totally unhurt it proves that flying is pretty safe… when ever i board a plane i tell myself over and over that the crew… especially the pilots will do anything and everything to make sure that plane lands safely… because they have families they want to get home to.

^i see.

so you think it would help if i read up on plane flights within this week before i go? to get used to them like you did? rather than to avoid it completely?

yeah, i should’ve thought of the incident more right after what happened. i don’t know why i didn’t.

and yeah, i’ll try to think about my other experiences in flying. maybe that would help. but somehow, just thinking about flying - any instance whether good or bad - just makes me scared. after that scary flight a few months ago it isn’t the case. is it maybe because NOW there’s a reality that i actually have to fly? lolz.

thanks for the response. :)

Anonymous wrote:
Perfectly normal but try and turn it on it’s head…. you suffered a bad flight… quite an awful one by the sounds of it… but you landed and were safe and sound… now if you can go through all of that and come out the other side totally unhurt it proves that flying is pretty safe… when ever i board a plane i tell myself over and over that the crew… especially the pilots will do anything and everything to make sure that plane lands safely… because they have families they want to get home to.

that’s what i’ve been telling myself these past few days. i hope that convincing will make it in time. because now i’m still pretty much scared.

thanks. :) i guess i’ll have to think harder and convince myself more lolz.

Hey there is a much higher chance of you being involved in a car accident and you probably get into one every day of the week…. honestly it is so rare these days to have an accident on a plane… when it does happen it makes the news because it’s so rare… even with all the 9/11 stuff i think flying is still pretty much the safest form of transport.

^indeed that is very true. and comforting lolz.

thanks:)