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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    Strengthening Exercise 2.0

     

    An email was sent out about a small, but potentially important, change to the Strengthening Exercise used in the SOAR videos to help you establish automatic control of feelings when you fly. The original idea was start with a moment of empathic connection, then imagine an image of flight, and return, then the moment of connection. Some research suggests a more reliable link can be established if the image of flying is superimposed somehow onto the person who is empathic with you. You could imagine they have on a t-shirt with a photo of a flying situation, or an image of comic book character worried about something going wrong.


     

    I got a few emails back with questions.



    • I just tried the new suggestion myself,  ( ie the memory with my boyfriend and my cat, imagining my boyfriend wearing a tee shirt with a picture of the plane crashing ) and actually it kind of creeped me out, so I stopped doing it after a few seconds. 




    You need to avoid negative feelings when doing the exercise. How? Use a cartoon character. Have the cartoon character on a plane imagining the plane crashing (or, whatever it is you worry about). Use what cartoonists call a "balloon" (a white cloud-shaped or balloon-shaped area over the cartoon character's head) to show what the cartoon character is imagining. So, instead of putting a plane crashing on your boyfriend's t-shirt, use a cartoon of Snoopy on a plane imagining a plane crashing. That provides the necessary emotional insulation.


    • So are you saying that thinking about the empathic connection and (for me) turbulence at the same time would be how I should think of this in order to stop the feelings of panic? Then the feelings from the empathic connection take over so that the panic feelings go away?



    That's pretty close. Two things. 1. I would say, rather than "thinking" that you visualize images. 2. I don't want you to get the impression that we are thinking a certain way when flying. We are doing this exercise to establish links that will work automatically when flying.

     

    We are trying to do something similar to what Pavlov did. He experimented with dogs to link eating, salivating and a bell ringing so that finally, a bell would cause salivation even with no food present. We establish links between flying and an oxytocin-producing moment. We simultaneously imagine the oxytocin-producing moment in a way that is physically connected to the potentially fear-producing moment.

     

    After this behavioral conditioning, we expect an image of any flying situation - linked to a moment of empathic connection - to trigger oxytocin and to do that just as automatically as the bell made Pavlov's dogs salivate.


     

    Just as Pavlov's dogs didn't have to do any thinking to make this work, you don't need to do any thinking about this when you fly; the conditioned response works automatically and unconsciously.


     




    When looking for protection against panic, be sure to use cartoon characters: for example, an image of Homer Simpson sitting on a plane worried about a panic attack. Figure out a way to physically connect that image with the person as you relive the moment of empathic connection.

     

    Want to play Pavlov? This is a little game that teaches you the principles of conditioned response.








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    Don't Worry Yourself To Death

     

    New research at Purdue University shows that worry leads to early mortality. An article on the research is at this link.






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    "I Can't Believe I Want To Fly Again Instead Of Just Being Relieved I Am On The Ground"


     

    Dear Tom,

     

    I wanted to let you know I have just done a trip from Sydney to Melbourne and back.

     

    After watching the DVDs and practicing the Strengthening Exercise I chose to fly and did it without fear, drugs or alcohol.

     

     In the last 22 years I have flown over 50 times internationally in terror and sometimes cancelled at the last minute due to fear which made me turn to jelly. I must say it felt a bit strange not being on a plane and not terrified but now I know I can do it an enormous weight has been lifted of my shoulders.

     

    I am flying to L.A.on the 12th Nov. and instead of dreading it and not knowing whether I will even get on the plane, I am looking forward to it.

     

    I can't believe I WANT to fly again instead of just being relieved I am on the ground.

     


    This has made such a difference - THANKS!!!

     

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    "A Full Night's Sleep" 

     

    For many years, over a decade, I couldn't sleep for weeks before a flight. The night before the flight, I was struck by shear terror. I have never done anything I was more afraid of. But after a few sessions and a willingness to fly, once I was on the plane, it became boring. My last flight was the first flight where there and back, the night before I got a full night's sleep and actually found myself enjoying the flight.

     

    If you described this a few years ago, I would have also taken the odds that the Melts and the Jets had just had winning seasons. It took some time but now I fly (dare I say it) with ease.

     

    My mantra - listen to Tom and also meet the pilot (I've flown at least a dozen times since talking with him and each time, each way I met the pilot)

     

    Regards and happy flying






     

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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.





    • The full length SOAR Video Course on 11 DVDs provides the maximum help possible.

    • More info.



    Accelerated Courses

     

    Flying tomorrow or the day after? Be ready to fly in 90 minutes with Rapid Relief.


    Flying in three to ten days? Get comprehensive help with SOAR Complete Relief.



    • 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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    Patrick's Column This Week

     

    Patrick writes about how changes being considered by the FAA can improve air safety. Read it at this link. 

     

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    Exercise Your Brain As You Age

     

    You could buy a program, but simple activities can help, according to this article.


     





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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)



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    • find out how I can help you with flying

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