What's the best way to treat my fear of flying?

A Prescription: If your concern is the occasional plane trip, ask your doctor to prescribe a small dose of Alprazolam for you. Take that an hour before flying and you will be fine. This medication can be habit foming but only if you use it on a regular basis. Use it only on occasion when need for flying. If you are more concerned about a long term solution, try hypnosis, biofeedback and other therapy techniques.

CBT: Cognitive behavior therapy is a process in which a trained psychologist, through mental exercises, trains your brain to deal with "negative" processes. They use methods like visualization to progressively accomodate your brain to fearful things like flying, driving across bridges, even speaking in public. Of course you could also medicate....It covers up the issue but doesn't solve the problem.

Behaviorism: Agree with Alprazolam for short term. For long term treatment pt. Needs behaviorism therapy supervised by a trained therapist (psycologist). Exposure to the traumatic event (fly by plain )little by little over several days, weeks or months to dissipate the anxiety.

Fear of flight: I would suggest to see a psychiatrist , who could help you dveloping a treatment plan, which may include psychotherapy ( focused on coping mechanisms), to review possibly other fears, and recommend you appropriate medications. There are relaxation exercises, grounding techniques, which were found to be very helpful.

CBT Vs Medication: Fear of flight can be treated effectively: 1. Cognitive behavioral therapy - it consists of 10-15 sessions specifically focused on specific phobia. You need to find someone who knows how to do this. General talk therapy (i.e. Supportive psychotherapy) doesn't work. 2. Medications: most of the ssris are very effective, takes 2-6 weeks start working. Most benzodiazepine are effective immediately.

There is no best way: Treatment depends on severity of the fear and the availability and cost of treatment. There a number of organizations that provide support at little or no cost. Access to treatment is a factor as well.Desensitization treatment is well recognized as an effective intervention.Some treatment can't even get started without some medication.That combination eventually allows meds to gradually stop.

CBT first, meds 2nd: Probably cognitive behavioral therapy first, with meds as an adjunct. Many of my patients use a little Alprazolam (xanax), or Lorazepam (ativan), specifically for this. Downsides of meds: addiction risk, drowsiness, anterograde amnesia (ending up in your hotel room after flight without remembering details of how you got there).

CBT: Seek a cognitive-behavioral therapist who specializes in phobias. One method they use is systematic desensitization which slowly and incrementally brings the person closer and closer to the thing they are afraid of in slow, graduated steps that help make the anxiety more tolerable.