People see these stories all the time: A flight returns to the airport because of an issue (generally more out of precaution than a full emergency), or flights diverting to a different 
airport for any variety of reasons (much more common than people realize), an unruly passenger on a plane causing problems, a go-around during landing, strong turbulence, and many more airplane stories in the media. It almost seems like anything that isn’t a perfectly smooth flight can generate a scary flying story for people to click on.
How often, though, do these planes actually land safely and everything is really okay?
Normalization and “Reverse Normalization”
If you haven’t read about my approach to helping people throughout the world overcome fear of flying, one of the elements I discuss involves the concept of normalization. Essentially, normalization is the idea of helping your mind and body be able to internalize and really experience flying as a normal and routine process — similarly to how you may feel when driving your car. In your car, you may know there’s risk (much more so than flying), but you likely feel calm and safe when approaching driving because your mind and body has internalized that sense of normalization.
On the flip side, the concept of “reverse normalization” is something I’ve addressed in a number of writings and interviews. Reverse normalization is what I call it when people internalize the sense of the danger of flying. Generally, this can happen when someone comes into contact with more negatives and dangers with flying than the safety of flying. In these moments, even if flying is still a safe mode of transportation, reverse normalization can make you feel like flying is actually more dangerous than safe — and lead to the feeling of just “getting lucky” when your plane lands safely at its destination.
The Media’s Relationship to Fear of Flying
In recent months, there have been a couple of incidents with flying which, of course, nobody likes or wants to see. When something bad happens, especially with flying, it often creates more anxiety. However, when you hear of a tragic car accident, you likely still get into your car and drive anyway afterward without second thought. When you’ve normalized something, hearing of a catastrophic and sad incident usually won’t rattle the sense of general safety.
What becomes complicated and problematic for many people though is not only the media’s response to a flying incident, but also the general presentation of flying throughout entertainment, such as TV and movies.
People often click on articles and videos about flying incidents, especially when they experience fear of flying. When feeling anxious about something, it can be instinctive to either seek to validate the fear, and/or seek proof of safety (and it can be both at once that people look for in these moments). This can cause people to click on any new reports of incidents that show up in the media.
What people may not realize, however, is the nature of many of these flying stories often aren’t really newsworthy at all. And after something bad does happen, the number of stories covering benign incidents increases significantly.
When reading stories like these, the focus becomes about what could have gone wrong, rather than the fact that things turned out okay. These stories stoke people’s fears and tends to heighten reverse normalization. We start to take in more and more negative incidents about flying, and that leads someone with flying anxiety to experience an increase in fear of flying rather than safety around flying.
Movies and TV Exacerbate Fear of Flying
Believe it or not, movies and TV shows contribute to flying phobia as well. There are so many movies and shows that incorporate something dangerous about flying. Simply viewing these scenes allows your brain to grasp another encounter of negative flying information. Not only does this add to reverse normalization, it actually often gives unrealistically simplistic information that can increase fear, as well.
Pilots will likely tell you that on the very rare occasion that something has gone wrong, it generally takes a lot going wrong all at once.
In movies and TV, writers and directors can create scenarios that makes catastrophic events out of issues that in real life likely wouldn’t happen the way it happens in the movies. I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen depictions of planes just falling out of the sky for no real reason in movies and TV. The ease with which things seem to go wrong in planes in the entertainment world actually adds to internalizing the concept that flying really is dangerous — not only just taking in the negatives, but also taking in the idea that catastrophe is always just about to happen for any reason at all.
Ways to Manage What You Take In
Of course, as we’ve seen recently, sometimes (even if rarely) scary and upsetting things can happen. Overcoming fear of flying isn’t about making guarantees or convincing people that there is zero risk, similar to driving. It’s more about how to help you align your mind and body to the reality of flying. And for each person this process is a bit different (which is why I personalize my approach). When the alignment of realistic safety and perceived danger is thrown off, people develop or increase anxiety and fear.
It’s okay if you occasionally are drawn into an airplane story or video. It’s important to be mindful of it, though:
- If the story involves a plane where everyone is safe and the plane landed, try to pay more attention to this part of the story.
- Don’t watch turbulence videos. These often increase fears of turbulence more so than helping. Even if at times they can be helpful, it really depends on your own fear of flying and where you are in your emotional process if these will help or hurt.
- If you see a plane issue in a show or movie, allow yourself to question how much is a written story you’re watching rather than a real incident.
- General aviation (people flying private planes), and commercial aviation (airlines) are very different. The media is constantly reporting general aviation incidents as national news. General aviation incidents happen much more often because there are far less restrictions and rules about airplane maintenance, as well as who is qualified to fly a private plane, versus who can pilot an airline with passengers. When you see private plane incidents, try to keep in mind that they are quite different and almost apples to oranges with the world of airline flying.
Overcoming Fear of Flying
The takeaway is really to try to not automatically buy into the fear with what you see in the media and entertainment. I see people regularly for flying anxiety in my practice and while there are other elements to overcoming fear of flying in my approach not discussed here, being able to manage and undo reverse normalization is one part that most people need help with as they work through their flying anxiety. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re been struggling with fear of flying. People do overcome this issue, even when it feels impossible.
