Fear of helicopters

welshbookworm

I have developed a fear of helicopters. If one goes within hearing distance of me I start shaking and very very upset. There was one circling around near my flat yesterday for over an hour, which left a shaking wreck.
I spoke to my GP and he kept going on about a fear of flying! Its not that. Its remembering why the helicopters were flying round and round the day that started the fear.
I feel awkward going to local help because too many people suffered and I feel like I'm being a snowflake.
So my question is where can I get help for a fear of helicopters , not a fear of flying (I'll never fly so that is not a problem).
Many thanks

BorisThomson

Look at cognitive behavioural therapy, either with a therapist or online.

welshbookworm

Many thanks

happyandcontented

welshbookworm wrote: »

I have developed a fear of helicopters. If one goes within hearing distance of me I start shaking and very very upset. There was one circling around near my flat yesterday for over an hour, which left a shaking wreck.
I spoke to my GP and he kept going on about a fear of flying! Its not that. Its remembering why the helicopters were flying round and round the day that started the fear.
I feel awkward going to local help because too many people suffered and I feel like I'm being a snowflake.
So my question is where can I get help for a fear of helicopters , not a fear of flying (I'll never fly so that is not a problem).
Many thanks

Was this a traumatic incident? If so CBT will help.

welshbookworm

Yes it was very traumatic.
I will look into CBT
many thanks.

keithdc

welshbookworm wrote: »

I have developed a fear of helicopters. If one goes within hearing distance of me I start shaking and very very upset. There was one circling around near my flat yesterday for over an hour, which left a shaking wreck.
I spoke to my GP and he kept going on about a fear of flying! Its not that. Its remembering why the helicopters were flying round and round the day that started the fear.
I feel awkward going to local help because too many people suffered and I feel like I'm being a snowflake.
So my question is where can I get help for a fear of helicopters , not a fear of flying (I'll never fly so that is not a problem).
Many thanks

Get rid of the cannabis grow and the police helicopter will go away.

FBaby

There's no miracle cure for phobia but finding it within yourself. It almost inevitably involve exposure so getting better is not a pleasant experience. You can get help professionally or you can find self help on line.

The question is, is it all worth it? You can't be exposed to helicopters flying over your head very often let alone for an hour.

unforeseen

FBaby wrote: »

The question is, is it all worth it? You can't be exposed to helicopters flying over your head very often let alone for an hour.

All depends on the area and how active the police helicopter/local crims are.

We live in a rural area and get the police helicopter pottering around at least once per fortnight. Plus we get choppers from the helicopter flying school about 15 miles away buzzing around

welshbookworm

FBaby wrote: »

The question is, is it all worth it? You can't be exposed to helicopters flying over your head very often let alone for an hour.

I live in Central London, so they are flying every day, though not always for an hour at a time.

Pollycat

I sometimes catch these 2 on This Morning (The Speakmans):
https://www.yours.co.uk/health-and-wellbeing/health/articles/you-can-be-free-of-phobias-say-the-speakmans

How do they do it? “Most therapy starts by looking at the symptoms such as panic attacks and fear but we’re not really interested in those aspects,” says Eva. “What we want to know is what started the fear so we can change or update the belief that you made in the moment you developed the phobia.”

That’s why Nik and Eva dedicate the first part of their therapy to teasing out when the phobia first took hold, going back in time often, until the last time the sufferer can remember feeling great. “No one has an anxiety for no reason. There’s always a trigger and a belief behind it,” Eva explains. “It’s often a protection mechanism that you created when you were in a position of danger. You felt embarrassed or something horrendous happened. And in that moment of being very emotional you made a belief and, from then on, started protecting yourself against certain situations.

Basically, it wasn't the helicopter - it was whatever happened on that day.
So how likely is it that the same thing will happen again?

TensandUnits

We have helicopters flying over several times a day here. Sometimes it's the Police, sometimes the coastguard, other times it's the army or privately owned ones.

I would recommend you look on amazon for the Overcoming.. series of books. They may not do one specifically for helicopters (!) but they'll certainly have one for phobias.