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[신문] 코리아해럴드: 비행공포증
by 운영자 | Date 2005-07-15 19:26:00 hit 2,060

본원과 연계 운영 중인 비행공포증 치료프로그램에 대한 보도자료입니다.
아래 내용은
코리안해럴드의 기자가 지난 15기 프로그램 참관 후 기고한 기사입니다.
2005년 6월 24일자


Yi Yun-se clenched his fists as soon as he found his airplane seat. He tried to calm down by taking a deep breath but his heartbeat raced and cold sweat dripped from his forehead.
That was back when. Nowadays, Yi, a successful businessman who frequently travels to Europe, may still have some anxious moments but at least he has confronted his demon, thanks to a two-day "Fear of Flying" clinic sponsored by Korean Air.

The air carrier, following in the footsteps of other airlines around the world considers the sponsorship part of its customer service. Naturally, reduced anxiety is not only good for the fearful traveler it helps cut the stress level of seatmates.

"I had to get my tranquilizers prescription ready before taking a flight, and as soon as I got on the plane I had several glasses of wine to sleep," said Yi, who is in his late 40s. "People don't understand how painful it was to keep myself from thinking of jumping out of the plane for 13 hours."



At his clinic session, a cognitive-behavorial group treatment, Yi was joined by four other sufferers, including former flight attendants. For all of them, taking a flight was the biggest obstacle in their lives.

Yang Yeon-ja who sat just in front of Yi, repeated what the doctor had mentioned for last two days during the therapy: "Fear is just what I have created, thus I am not going to die."

Yang, a 36- year-old housewife held her family photo in one hand and thought of how nice it would be to have family trip to Europe for this summer. Yang has not been on a plane since her honeymoon trip 13 years ago. She imagines that her plane might clash.

Fear of flying is a psychological disorder. Sufferers typically are scared of heights, afraid of a plane clash, and frightened of being locked up.

Psychologists say that 2 to 3 percent of all Koreans are scared of flying, compared to 10 percent in Western countries. Experts frequently associate it with the industrialization of society, saying mental disorder like claustrophobia, the fear of being in an enclosed space, never appeared in the Agricultural Age.

"Fear of flying is a newly-emergent anxiety disorder that obstructs the occupational and social functioning of a person," said Lee Sang-min, a psychologist who specializes in panic disorder.

But, says Lee, the fear of flying is treatable.

"This is a disease mostly generated from extreme stress thus can only be treated through the proper clinical therapy. We have proven this with last year's results - 96.1 percent of patients who participated in the group therapy were freed from the disease," he said.

Lee, a psychologist, started to provide clinic therapy for local patients in 2003. To facilitate the growing need to treat people who suffer anxiety about getting on a plane, he recently established the Institute of Fear of Flying, the nation's first clinical research institution for the disorder.

Lee said his therapy is based on the studies of VALK Foundation, an Amsterdam-based psychology institute that provides a fixed treatment.

During a clinic, patients first answer questions to determine the source of their fear. While many have been treated individually, group therapy is considered essential. Each group has a maximum of 8 people for the monthly clinic.

"Group treatment is an essential part of the therapy and is composed of education on flight and anxiety, relaxation technique and tape-recorded imaginary exposure."

However, Lee explained the core of the therapy is actually based on a patient's individual experience on the plane.

"Patients should have a chance to learn how safe the plane is. However, this is impossible without help from the industry."

The clinic began last year in conjunction with Korean Air, the nation's biggest air carrier.

Korean Air placed Ahn Young-tae, a professional pilot with 17 years of flight experience, in the clinic. He shows patients the cockpit of a passenger jet and explains the aerial dynamics of flying, which the airline says is safer than the nation's highways.

"Patients are anxious about flying because they create fear out of nothing, not knowing that car driving is much more dangerous. So I help people understand how the plane is technologically designed to secure safety, " said Ahn, now a professor at Hankuk Aviation University.

Fear of flying therapy was publicized nationwide recently when beloved entertainer Nam Hee-seok disclosed he had suffered from flight anxiety. Although he had flown more than several hundreds times, the fear of flying suddenly became too much for him.

Nam confessed he once stopped a plane just before takeoff and said he was horrified that he thought of killing himself at the very moment.

The entertainer decided to participate in the group therapy recently and recovered.

He has flown more than 30 times during the past three months and now encourages others, saying they are not alone.

"Unpleasant feelings during flying can occur to everyone, but we should remember that none of us will die by fearing," said Nam.

Lee says the increasing number of airline passengers means a corresponding increase in the number of people who fear flying.

He finds it difficult, however, to treat people afraid of social stigma if they acknowledge their fear.

"People who suffer from the disease hesitate to talk to others, even to their spouses. It is important to let them talk openly about their unbearable anxiety," Lee said.

On a flight, the final stage of the group therapy, five patients found themselves eventually relieved from their fear.

Yi proudly told other patients that he has already made a flight reservation for the next day.

Yang, who also has suffered from fear of flying, said tearfully, "It was so beautiful,. I saw the beautiful scene of the sunset from the plane for the first time in 13 years, I finally have done it. I am so proud of myself."

(christory@heraldm.com)


By Cho Chung-un


2005.06.24


이전글 : [신문] 해럴드경제: 비행공포증
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