Chat Wednesday 9 PM - 11 PM Eastern Time
Free Group Phone Counseling With Capt Tom Wednesday 10 PM - 11 PM Eastern Time
- dial (712) 432-3900
-
when asked, enter the conference ID 9352101 followed by the # sign
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Fear Of Storms
As the weather gets warmer - which it does each year starting around now - a possibility of thunderstorms is included in the forecast almost every day. This routine forecast can lead a person with a certain predisposition of thinking to panic.
The predisposition of thought I am pointing to is expecting the plane to plunge. When you get on a plane expecting it to plunge, any unexpected movement can seem to be the beginning of the end.
This predisposition starts with false premise that flying is dangerous and thunderstorms make the danger of crashing a near certainty - not for everyone, of course, but for your flight. Flying is 99.9998% safe. The idea that that kind of reliability is dangerous needs to be addressed.
The problem is not that flying is dangerous. The problem is this: anything you don't control is regarded as dangerous. That is a very scary way to live. Not only that, but that view of living is really unhealthy. It means you live in an ocean of stress hormones which wreck your immune system!
Please consider getting some solid help for this. See: www.fearofflying.com/rellief/
Pilots have no problem with thunderstorms. We have radar which shows us where storms are most intense; that lets us avoid those areas. But here is the important thing: even if we flew through the worst part of the storm the plane would deal with it with no problem at all.
According
to a recent survey done for the American Association Of Endodontists,
fifty-four percent of us are afraid of a root canal. A spokesperson for
the association figures endodontists are misunderstood by the public. Endodontists know that having a root canal is safe. They also know that the procedure can be painless. If the survey had been done of dentists, the percentage fearing root canal would be close to zero.
to a recent survey done for the American Association Of Endodontists,
fifty-four percent of us are afraid of a root canal. A spokesperson for
the association figures endodontists are misunderstood by the public. Endodontists know that having a root canal is safe. They also know that the procedure can be painless. If the survey had been done of dentists, the percentage fearing root canal would be close to zero.
The same survey showed fifty-seven percent of the public are afraid to fly in an airplane in a storm. But if the
survey had been done only with airline pilots, the percentage afraid to
fly in an airplane in a storm would be zero.
survey had been done only with airline pilots, the percentage afraid to
fly in an airplane in a storm would be zero.
Root canal or flight, you are safe. I don't know if I can help you feel better about a root canal or not. But I can help you feel - and know - you are safe when flying.
If you would like to talk it over, please call me at 877 332-7359.
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Bringing Change To The FAA
Former Airline Pilots Association president Randy Babbitt has been named to head of the FAA. See the article at this link.
The FAA has historically been a political organization to help the airlines prosper, not primarily a safety organization, as it claims to be. Let's hope this means real change.
Babbitt is quoted as saying, the FAA is "too subject to politics...there needs to be a more balanced, neutral approach." He says the fatigue problem, which has been studied for years and years (to the point of fatigue, no doubt) needs to be resolved. Maintenance oversight needs, he says, to be increased. See additional story at this link.
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American And Pilots Agree To Safety Program
Under pressure by the FAA, American Airlines and their pilots' union reached an agreement on reinstating a safety program which allows safety issues to be reported with immunity. However, a panel will be established which can remove immunity in case of an intentional violation of safety procedures.
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USA Article On Flight Anxiety
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A Client In Buffalo
Tom,
First of all I wanted to thank you for your prompt and caring phone call to me in Buffalo, New York a couple months ago.
It is clear you have the highest professionalism and concern for your clients and people who suffer from fear of flying. The mere fact you took the time to contact me personally helped relieve my anxiety significantly.
Since we talked, my city (Buffalo, New York) experienced the worst plane disaster in its history with Flight 3407. Initially, the crash so close to home jarred my confidence in my ability to overcome fear of flying (especially since I could see the smoke rising from the crash site the next day from my office window).
However, with repeated application of your course materials and continued reapplication of the strengthening exercise (which you helped explain to me) I believe I have overcome the jarring from this incident and I am back on course to recovery.
After all, I thought, would I not get into my car because my neighbor's car got into a crash (which is what I effectively was initially thinking in response to the Buffalo crash---feeling that there must be something not safe about planes because one I was not on either malfunctioned or crashed for whatever reason).
Then I began to realize that there is no relationship whatsoever because Flight 3407 and any plane I have ever flown on. The circumstances surrounding Flight 3407 are unique and have nothing to do with any other flight I've flown on. In fact, I've never even flown on the model that crashed, I've flown repeatedly in those icy conditions (hard not to in Buffalo) without harm, and in almost 100 years of air travel Buffalo, New York, has never had any similar crash fatality (or any since Flight 3407).
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Flying After Thirteen Years
Dear Captain Tom,
After 13 years of refusing to fly due to intense fear, I did it! I was skeptical because I thought I was just too terrified and would never fly again.
My husband travels to really nice places for work related things and I've missed several good trips to nice resorts. Last year, while my husband was in Key West and I was at home, I decided I was not letting life pass me by anymore.
Last week, I DID IT! I flew to Ft. lauderdale, FL with my husband and it was wonderful. The strengthening exercise was the key for me. But learning about the importance of feeling connection has helped me tremendously...and not just for flying.
I felt some anticipatory anxiety. But on travel day, I felt very comfortable. On the return trip I was a little nervous but it did not escalate. I'm flying to LA in June.
After 13 years of refusing to fly due to intense fear, I did it! I was skeptical because I thought I was just too terrified and would never fly again.
I missed many trips. I live on the east coast. My parents were born and raised in Brazil. My mother died when I was a child, which I've learned had everything to do with my fear of flying. My mom's family lives in LA. I have not been able to visit them. My father really wanted me to go to Brazil with him and unfortunately he passed away and that opportunity passed me by.
My husband travels to really nice places for work related things and I've missed several good trips to nice resorts. Last year, while my husband was in Key West and I was at home, I decided I was not letting life pass me by anymore.
Last week, I DID IT! I flew to Ft. lauderdale, FL with my husband and it was wonderful. The strengthening exercise was the key for me. But learning about the importance of feeling connection has helped me tremendously...and not just for flying.
I felt some anticipatory anxiety. But on travel day, I felt very comfortable. On the return trip I was a little nervous but it did not escalate. I'm flying to LA in June.
Then I began to further realize that much (if not all) of my fear of flying was related to perceived or imagined circumstances and anticipatory anxiety. I was actually spending much of my time either worrying about some circumstance that had nothing to do with reality, was worrying I would worry, or felt that if I let my guard down and stopped worrying something bad would happen (as if my internal anxiety could affect the performance of any airplane or pilot on any flight I was on).
I will continue persisting in efforts toward recovery and, thanks to your help, I say "bring it on" for my next flight.
Thank you again.
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SOAR Will Work For You Too
SOAR was established in 1982 because no programs existed that could help people with moderate to severe difficulties. Even today, no other program offers help that is effective except for mild difficulties. No matter how difficult flying is for you, we can help.
- Call me at 877 332-7359 between 10 AM and 6 PM Eastern time or
- Set up a time online at http://soar.genbook.com
- No Charge. No Obligation. Just get the information you want.
Or Enroll Right Now And Get This Over With
You will feel better as soon as you make the decision.
You will feel better as soon as you make the decision.
- Accelerated courses give you the most help possible in the time you have available.
- A twenty-minute private session and unlimited group counseling sessions are included.
- What you pay is 100% transferable to the SOAR Video Course 11 DVDs.
Start viewing on your computer screen in two minutes.
- Get a compact version of the SOAR Course.
- Load it on your laptop, iPod or other media player. More info.
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Unsure Which To Choose
If you are unsure which is best for you, please call me at 877 332-7359 so we can talk it over. You will feel better as soon as you decide to act.
We are always here to help. As you go through the program, call or email whenever you have a question or a concern.
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Survey On The Strengthening Exercise
In the Strengthening Exercise, it has been my theory that the moment used in the exercise needs to have certain qualities. To better determine what qualities the moment needs to have, I've set up a survey. If you have completed the SOAR Video Course, Complete Relief, Rapid Relief or FastTrack and did not get an email inviting you to take part in the survey, email me and I'll send you information on how to take part in the survey.
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Discuss Or Schedule An Individual Session -- Call 877 332-7359
Call between 11 AM and 6 PM Eastern Time (same time zone as New York)
You'll reach me easily. The toll-free number rings my cell phone.
Call between 11 AM and 6 PM Eastern Time (same time zone as New York)
You'll reach me easily. The toll-free number rings my cell phone.
- find out how I can help you with flying
- discuss the possibility of a counseling session
- set up a time that fits your schedule
Outside the U.S. and Canada call 203 258-4803
- a twenty-minute session is $60.00 if not enrolled in a course.
- one twenty-minute session is free if enrolled in any course.
- additional twenty-minute sessions are $60.00.
- two one-hour sessions are included in the SOAR Guaranteed Program
Schedule An Individual Session Online
Note: Times Listed Are Eastern Time (same as New York)
