Virtual Reality Therapy - A Breakthrough in Phobia Treatment

You've boarded the plane, and you're all buckled in. Already you can feel the tightening in your chest, the beads of sweat on your brow, your heart beating like it's going to pop out of your chest at any moment.

You hear the captain's voice over the loudspeaker reminding you to please keep your seatbelt buckled as the plane begins to taxi down the runway. As your fingers dig into the arms of your seat, you feel the plane begin to move forward. The engines start to rev louder as the plane gains speed. You see the buildings and people outside start to be left behind at a faster and faster pace. You know the nose will be lifting at any minute, and the plane will no longer be touching the ground. Your stomach churns, your eyes dart wildly about as you look for a flight attendant. You need to get off this plane. You need to get off now.

As you begin to unbuckle your seatbelt and rise from your seat in a panic, you hear a soothing voice coming from the seat next to you. "Remember to use your breathing. In, out, slowly, feel the tension being released with every outtake of your breath. Start with your fingers and relax each part of your body in turn". You try the deep breaths. You concentrate on your fingers and hands and try to open them up and stop gripping your armrests. The nose of the plane begins to leave the ground. Panic takes over and you begin to rise from your seat again.

"Okay, that's good for a start. Let's review your relaxation exercises and then we'll try taxiing down the runway again".

Everything freezes. Your glasses are removed, your headphones are removed. The airport disappears, the plane disappears, the flight attendants are no longer walking by and the captain is no longer announcing the plane's progress over the loudspeaker. You are sitting in a comfortable chair inside your therapist's office.

You are almost finished with your first Virtual Reality Therapy treatment for Aviatophobia, or fear of flying.