A desperate Indian expatriate living in Bahrain has been unable to return home for 25 years because of aerophobia – an extreme fear of flying.
Asha VP contacted the GDN in the hope that maybe an air travel professional might be able to help her to overcome her condition.
“Perhaps having guidance and support from an experienced pilot or senior cabin crew member could make a significant difference, allowing me to finally overcome this obstacle and travel with confidence,” the expatriate from Kerala told the GDN.
People with aerophobia often feel intense anxiety before or during a flight. This condition can interfere with the ability to travel for work or pleasure.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines phobias as irrational and uncontrollable fears triggered by a situation, object or activity. According to various studies, up to 40 per cent of people globally suffer from some form of flying anxiety.
Although having never been clinically diagnosed with the condition, she says that therapists have suggested that her fear could be ‘self-created’.
The 59-year-old remembers experiencing anxiety while boarding flights for family trips especially during take-off and landing, but was somehow able to manage her fear. However, in 1996, things took a turn for the worse when she learned about the Charkhi Dadri mid-air crash, in which Saudi Arabian Airlines and Kazakhstan Airlines flights collided over Charkhi Dadri city, around 100km west of the Indian capital city of New Delhi.
“Watching the tragic incident on the news aggravated my anxiety, leading to an unmanageable fear of flying,” she revealed. “At first, I tried to hide it from my family as I was so embarrassed. I would come up with excuses for not going on holiday, but my husband eventually realised it was much more serious,” she added.
As the years turned into decades, Ms Asha spiralled into despair at not being able to overcome her anxieties despite her best efforts and receiving constant reassurances from family members in Bahrain and India.
“My family has always been supportive,” she added. “My mother keeps travelling to stay with me despite being over 80 years old and having her own health limitations. My husband used to drive me to the airport everyday so I could watch the planes take off and land, in vain.
“There were two occasions when I reached the airport but backed out at the last minute and these failed attempts have greatly impacted my confidence. In fact, for some years now, even the thought of buying an airline ticket or a conversation about packing my bags sends chills down my spine,” she explained.
Her condition further deteriorated after her family moved to Bahrain from Saudi (travelling via road), according to her daughter Miraya V, who believes that her mother’s trauma has not just affected her but the entire family.
“This ordeal has taken a toll on our mental health and messed up the family dynamics,” the 32-year-old said. “It’s sad that she has missed out on so much – family events and milestones, even her dad’s funeral – she has not even seen her own brother for more than two decades.
“While I am deeply concerned for her, I also feel a sense of loss for myself as I am unable to pursue my dreams and career as I have to be in Bahrain to support my family and mum. I love Bahrain and it is my home but I am keen on getting my doctorate and chasing my dreams to be a musician and actor in Canada.
“We have done everything we can to support her including some therapy sessions. I hope my mum can find the right help as she will need it before even considering stepping on a plane,” the concerned daughter, who moved back to Bahrain at the end of 2022, added.
The family has reached out to support groups based in the US and the UK that help individuals who are scared to fly. While they offer online sessions, they require the individual to be physically present at some point during the course, which has proved impossible.
“They suggested that I check for similar initiatives in Bahrain but I couldn’t find any,” her mum added, which led her to making a public plea. “My dream for this Diwali (Indian festival of lights) is to visit my family in India. As someone who dearly misses her country, I long to reconnect with my roots and also to improve my overall heath, which has taken a hit over the years due to this stressful situation,” she added.
- If you can help, please contact the GDN reporter via the email address below.
melissa@gdnmedia.bh
Grounded with anxiety
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