Many assume fear of flying is congenital. It's not. By birth, the baby's brain is only 12% formed—a blank slate with no room for existential fears. So why does it develop later?
Many people assume that fear of flying is a congenital disorder. Is it true? No. Let's figure it out together.
By the time of birth, the baby's brain is only 12% formed. It's a blank slate with no room for existential fears. Children don't think, "It's a danger! I can die!" Their maximum is to be afraid of Boogeyman and Baba Yaga. This is normal—such fears come and go.
But if a child from an early age is constantly and excessively worried about life and health, then this is an indicator of problems in the child-parent relationship. It is likely that the parents could not fill the child's need for security and filled a blank slate of the child's brain with distrust of life.
The average age of onset of fear of flying is 25 years. The mind ceases to cope, and all the pre-recorded predisposition to developing phobias, fears, and panic attacks develops into anxious and phobic disorders.
Good news: if you go to therapy, there will come a Day Y when your mind will start working correctly again!
In Short
Many assume fear of flying is congenital. It's not. By birth, the baby's brain is only 12% formed—a blank slate with no room for existential fears. So why does it develop later?
About this resource
phobia.aero Expert Team
Aviation & Psychology Specialists
Psychology and trauma therapy professionals
Commercial Aviation Professionals
Fear of Flying Treatment Specialists
The phobia.aero expert team combines decades of aviation expertise with evidence-based psychological treatment methods to help people overcome fear of flying. Our multidisciplinary approach addresses the root causes of aerophobia, flight anxiety, and panic attacks through proven techniques including Somatic Experiencing®, EMDR, and autonomic nervous system regulation. With a collective track record of treating 16,000+ cases, our specialists have developed trusted resources for nervous flyers worldwide.
