No Panic
Fears of Flying, Spiders and other Catastrophies
Iris stands before the entrance to Münster Cathedral, looking distinctly pale. Terror is written all over her face. “It's happening already,† says the 47 year-old woman, “I feel cold, my hands are sweating, I’m gripped by fear.† She takes a few more steps. After climbing just a few stairs, she is visibly suffering hellish torment. “Okay, that's enough, I'm going back down.† She cannot look out of a window that is higher than 5 m above ground level. She descends the stairs quickly and seats herself on a bench. She breathes rapidly: “Small wonder! At home, I have a problem just climbing up onto a ladder†, she explains. “I can't go on like this. I just can't. I’ve been like this for too long already.† For years now, Iris has suffered a fear of heights. Annika, a 45 year-old woman from Hamburg, is also in need of help. She has just spent a few marvellous days with her husband in Lisbon. Now, her face is a picture of pure anxiety. In order to return home, she must board a plane. Their taxi arrives late, the check-in line moves too slowly, the transfer bus is delayed. All of which is enough to reduce this normally lively woman to a nervous wreck. She becomes nervous, begins talking to herself, her stomach doing flip-flops. Annika has suffered from fear of flying for years. During the flight, she clutches her husband hands tightly, her eyes closed, or holds her face in her hands. Nothing helps. She rejects alcohol and pills, explaining that “you never know how you're going to react. When I fly, I feel as though I need to write my will, vulnerable, deprived of control. And tormented by a thousand questions: what happens if the pilot partied too much yesterday? Why is the man in front of me listening to music? What are those strange noises?† Annika would like to master her fears.
Finally, a third situation. Here, it is a question of a short ride on the commuter rail. Yet Birgit is incapable of mastering the situation unaided. Today, she is travelling with her therapist. For Birgit, the short trip is comparable to several hours of strenuous athletic activity. “Here we go, there's no turning back. Now I'm inside†, says the 42-year-old woman as she boards the train. “How are you doing?†, asks her therapist. She continues to speak softly to her patient, both standing together in the aisle. Birgit holds onto a handrail tightly and tries to take a deep breath. “I feel just awful. My heart is beating quickly, I hope I don't have a heart attack.† Her therapist reassures her: “Do you realize we've already passed two stops? Did you notice?† “Yes†, comes the whispered reply. “It's incredible, I'm on the commuter train. It's my first time in 4 years.† She manages to hold on for two more stations. Then she's had enough. An hour later, this sufferer of phobia realizes what she has actually accomplished: “I'm sort of euphoric. I'm totally exhausted, but I think at some point I'll be able to use the commuter rail without fear.† Three individuals, each suffering from unfathomable anxiety. Each of them feels misunderstood, and all want to change. More than one in four residents of Germany have experienced such irrational fears, and more than 15% are afraid of flying. Many have sought professional help. And none are facing the challenge alone.
