Overcoming Fear of Flying
How Hypnotherapy Helped a 12 Year Old Finally Get Home
When 12 year old Joe Thompson became paralysed with fear at the thought of boarding a flight home from Abu Dhabi, his family faced an unimaginable situation. What was meant to be a routine journey turned into a 16 month struggle, leaving Joe stranded thousands of miles from home. As reported by the BBC in Somerset boy Joe Thompson flies home from Abu Dhabi after hypnotherapy, only through hypnotherapy was Joe finally able to overcome his fear and board the plane that brought him safely back to the UK.
Joe’s story is a powerful reminder that fear of flying is not rare or irrational. It can affect anyone, at any age, and can be so intense that even the thought of a flight triggers panic. It also shows how, with the right help, deep fears can be transformed.
Understanding the Fear of Flying
Fear of flying, sometimes called aviophobia, is common. For some people the fear begins with turbulence or the sense of being trapped in a confined space. For others it is rooted in a deeper sense of losing control, fear of heights, or fear of panic itself. Even when you know that flying is statistically very safe, the body can still react as though danger is imminent.
This happens because the subconscious mind, which governs automatic responses, links flying with threat. The body then moves into fight or flight mode, producing racing heartbeats, sweating, dizziness, and nausea. Reassurance and rational explanation rarely override this reaction, because it is driven by emotion rather than logic.
Why Hypnotherapy Works With Fear of Flying
Hypnotherapy helps by addressing the fear where it truly lives, in the subconscious mind. In a calm, focused state, the mind becomes more receptive to positive suggestion. This allows the hypnotherapist to help you reframe your perception of flying so it no longer triggers the same alarm response.
Through visualisation and gentle desensitisation, the subconscious can begin to associate flying with calm, safety, and control. The goal is not to force bravery or suppress fear, it is to replace old patterns of reaction with new, more helpful ones. Over time, the mind and body learn to stay relaxed, even in situations that previously caused panic.
Many clients are surprised by how quickly change happens. Once the subconscious understands that flying is safe, the body stops reacting as though it is not. It becomes possible to imagine stepping onto a plane without tension, and to do so with growing confidence.
A Real World Example
Joe Thompson’s experience shows how powerful this approach can be. His family were living in the Gulf State while his father completed a work contract. When the time came to return home, Joe froze at the airport and could not board the plane. For over a year the family tried logical approaches, reassurance, reasoning, and even airport visits to desensitise him, yet the fear remained.
Only after working with a hypnotherapist did Joe’s anxiety begin to shift. By helping his subconscious reprogramme its response, hypnotherapy allowed him to regain control. In time he was able to fly home with his father, bringing an emotional end to a long separation. His story made headlines not because of its rarity, but because many people can relate to it.
Fear of Flying in Adults
Although Joe’s story involved a child, adults experience this fear just as strongly. Some avoid holidays abroad altogether, while others hide their anxiety with medication or alcohol before flights. Business travellers may turn down opportunities, or endure flights in distress, unable to relax until they land. These experiences are not signs of weakness, they are the result of the subconscious trying to protect you.
At AbsoluteU Clinical Hypnotherapy, many clients describe embarrassment about their fear, especially if they feel confident in other areas of life. Fear of flying is not a reflection of character, it is a learned response that can be unlearned. The good news is that hypnotherapy offers a natural, practical way to do this.
How AbsoluteU Helps
At AbsoluteU Clinical Hypnotherapy in Horsham, sessions are tailored to your unique experience. Nicole combines Hypnotherapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and Neuro Linguistic Programming to work on both the conscious and subconscious levels. Together these methods create a complete toolkit to resolve the fear of flying.
In the first session you describe what happens in your body and mind when you think about flying. From there the therapy helps calm the nervous system, rebuild confidence, and introduce techniques you can use before and during a flight. These may include steady breathing, visualisation of the flight process, and mental rehearsal of calm take offs and landings.
Over several sessions new associations are built, replacing fear with familiarity, and panic with composure. As confidence grows clients often report that the fear reduces significantly, and in many cases disappears. The result is a genuine sense of freedom.
Travel with Confidence
Flying can become an opportunity to explore, connect, and experience more of the world, rather than a source of dread. Hypnotherapy helps you restore trust in your body and your mind, so that travel begins to feel manageable and even enjoyable.
At AbsoluteU, hypnotherapy for fear of flying helps you feel calm, confident, and in control, so travel becomes something to look forward to. Whether your next journey is for business, family, or pleasure, you can learn to fly comfortably and confidently again.
Taking the Next Step
If fear of flying has been holding you back, now is a good time to address it. Hypnotherapy offers a gentle and effective way to change how you think and feel about flying. You can start your journey toward freedom today.
To find out more or read client testimonials, visit the page on hypnotherapy for flying at AbsoluteU Clinical Hypnotherapy in Horsham, West Sussex, or contact Nicole to book your free initial telephone consultation.
