¿Te agarras a los reposabrazos? Esto es lo que estás haciendo en realidad
Escrito por Alex Gervash, piloto comercial (31 años) y especialista en fobia a volar (18 años, más de 16 000 casos tratados)
Agarrarse a los reposabrazos parece algo instintivo, pero en realidad solo aumenta el miedo. Esto es lo que debes hacer en su lugar.
When turbulence hits, do you grip the armrests with white knuckles?
It feels instinctive. Like you're keeping yourself safe. But here's what's actually happening:
Your body is sending a message to your brain: "I'm in danger. I need to hold on for dear life."
Your amygdala receives this signal and thinks: "Oh no, they're gripping like their life depends on it. This MUST be dangerous. Release more adrenaline!"
The fear intensifies. Not because the turbulence got worse, but because you told your body it was life-threatening.
The plane doesn't need you to hold it together. It's designed to handle turbulence. Your grip changes nothing about the flight. It only changes how afraid you feel.
What to do instead? Notice the urge to grip. Acknowledge it. Then, even if it feels counterintuitive, try softening your hands. Let your palms open slightly.
You're teaching your nervous system: "This is uncomfortable, but not dangerous. I don't need to brace for impact."
Small shift. Massive difference.
En resumen
Agarrarse a los reposabrazos parece algo instintivo, pero en realidad solo aumenta el miedo. Esto es lo que debes hacer en su lugar.
Piloto comercial (31 años de experiencia en aviación)
Formado en psicología y terapia del trauma (EMDR, Somatic Experiencing)
Fundador de phobia.aero y de la aplicación SkyGuru
With over 31 years of experience as a commercial pilot, Alex Gervash provides a unique pilot perspective that bridges the gap between cockpit knowledge and mental well-being. A specialist in psychology and trauma therapy, Alex has guided over 16,000 individuals through successful aerophobia therapy by utilizing evidence-based techniques like polyvagal theory to calm the nervous system. He is the innovator behind the SkyGuru app, which supports over 200,000 users with real-time turbulence explained, and he continues to provide comprehensive resources for overcoming a fear of flying at phobia.aero. His integrated approach ensures that passengers can transform their aerophobia into a sense of grounded confidence through professional aviation insights.
Especialista en: miedo a volar, tratamiento de la aerofobia, especialista en ansiedad ante los vuelos, terapia para el miedo a las turbulencias, ataques de pánico en aviones, aviofobia, fobia a volar, apoyo a pasajeros nerviosos, ansiedad ante el despegue, miedo al aterrizaje, tratamiento de la fobia a los aviones. Tratamiento basado en la evidencia mediante la experiencia somática, la terapia EMDR, la regulación polivagal, la regulación del sistema nervioso autónomo y la atención informada sobre el trauma.
