Yes, pilots can experience panic attacks, just like anyone else. Panic attacks are episodes of sudden intense fear and anxiety that reach a peak within minutes. The symptoms often include a racing heartbeat, sweating, shaking, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, nausea, dizziness, and a feeling of losing control or “going crazy.” While panic attacks can be frightening, they are not dangerous or harmful. Around 25% of people will experience a panic attack at some point in their lives. Pilots are not immune to these anxiety episodes. However, with treatment and coping strategies, panic attacks need not prevent someone from having a successful aviation career.
What causes panic attacks?
Panic attacks can be triggered by stressful situations or occur “out of the blue” without an obvious trigger. In some cases, they are related to an anxiety disorder or other mental health condition. Potential causes and risk factors for panic attacks include:
– Genetics – Panic disorder tends to run in families.
– Major life stressors – Events like a divorce, job loss, trauma, or financial problems can increase panic attack risk.
– Medical conditions – Conditions like thyroid problems, asthma, and mitral valve prolapse are linked to panic attacks.
– Medications – Some drugs like stimulants and corticosteroids may induce attacks.
– Substance abuse – Withdrawal from alcohol, benzodiazepines, and other substances can trigger panic attacks.
– Phobias – People with phobias like claustrophobia or aviophobia may panic when exposed to the feared situation.
– Hyperventilation – Rapid, shallow breathing can cause many of the physical symptoms of a panic attack.
So in summary, major stress, genetics, medical factors, mental health conditions, and fearful situations can all contribute to someone experiencing a panic attack. Pilots face many potential triggers from this list – air travel phobias, performance stress, time pressure, etc. They are just as susceptible as anyone else.
How do panic attacks affect pilots?
For pilots, panic attacks can be deeply concerning because they happen unexpectedly and mimic serious medical conditions. The physical sensations and dizziness can make a pilot feel unable to safely operate an aircraft. This creates a lot of anxiety over when another attack could occur and how it will affect their performance and passenger safety.
Specifically, some ways that panic attacks can impact pilots include:
– Impaired concentration and focus – Anxiety makes it hard to maintain situational awareness.
– Hyperventilation – Fast breathing reduces oxygen, causing lightheadedness.
– Tense muscles – Anxiety creates muscular tension, resulting in clenched jaws, neck pain, and shaking.
– Tunnel vision – Panic narrows focus, reducing peripheral vision.
– Inability to function – A pilot may feel too overwhelmed to make decisions.
– Fear of having an attack during flight – This anticipatory anxiety can be paralyzing.
– Avoidance – A pilot may turn down assignments or stop flying.
Repeated panic attacks take a psychological toll. They damage confidence to handle emergencies or stress. A pilot may start dreading going to work or flying certain routes. Their career satisfaction plummets.
So in many ways, untreated panic attacks can jeopardize a pilot’s ability to safely perform their duties. Getting help is critical for both physical and mental health.
Can pilots fly if they have panic attacks?
Having an occasional panic attack does not necessarily ground a pilot or end their career. Many continue flying safely with proper treatment and management strategies. However, recurrent uncontrolled panic attacks are concerning and require evaluation.
According to FAA medical regulations, a pilot cannot fly if they have a “mental disorder” that could render them unable to safely operate an aircraft. Acute anxiety from a recent major life stressor may temporarily disqualify a pilot until it is resolved and controlled. If a mental health professional diagnoses a pilot with panic disorder or agoraphobia (fear of being trapped), the FAA will require special evaluation before returning to the skies.
So a single or infrequent panic attack does not definitively ground someone. It is often the underlying mental health condition and degree of impairment that determines medical certification. With effective therapy and appropriate coping strategies tailored to flying, it is possible to manage anxiety and be cleared to fly. But uncontrolled, recurrent panic attacks are incompatible with flying duties, for the safety of the pilot and passengers.
How can pilots manage panic attacks?
Pilots have many options for getting panic attacks under control so they can fly safely again. Some key strategies include:
– Therapy – Cognitive behavioral therapy is highly effective for panic disorder. It helps identify and change thought patterns that fuel anxiety. Exposure therapy can treat flying phobias.
– Medication – Antidepressants like SSRIs and benzodiazepines like Xanax may be prescribed. They require special FAA clearance.
– Aeromedical counseling – Specialists help pilots develop coping strategies and safely return to the cockpit.
– Breathing exercises – Deep diaphragmatic breathing can reduce panic symptoms quickly.
– Mindfulness and meditation – Staying grounded in the present moment short-circuits cognitive distortions.
– Maintain physical health – Exercise, nutrition, adequate sleep, and avoiding alcohol/drugs is key.
– Change flight routines – Temporarily minimizing longer flights or difficult routes can help rebuild confidence.
– Utilize support systems – Confiding in supervisors, colleagues, and family is essential.
– Aeronautical decision making – ADM models teach pilots risk assessment, problem solving, and managing stress in the cockpit.
With professional treatment tailored to their situation, most pilots can get panic attacks under control, manage anxiety, and safely return to flying duties.
Are panic attacks a sign pilots should find a new career?
Not necessarily. Having panic attacks does not automatically mean someone must change careers. Many pilots learn to successfully manage anxiety and continue enjoying long, productive flying careers. With effective coping strategies, episodes may decrease or stop completely.
However, in some cases, recurrent panic attacks may be a sign that piloting is no longer right for someone. Factors that could indicate a career change include:
– Panic attacks that remain frequent and severe despite treatment
– Hospitalization or inability to control symptoms
– PTSD or trauma that causes overwhelming anxiety
– Developing a phobia of flying that does not improve
– Anxiety so severe that it significantly impairs quality of life
– Lack of improvement after working extensively with therapists and aeromedical specialists
– Failing to pass medical evaluations and certificates
Rather than struggle indefinitely with anxiety that jeopardizes their mental health and passenger safety, some pilots realize they need a change. While difficult, leaving a beloved career may ultimately be the right decision in these cases. Anxiety necessitating a career change affects only a small minority of pilots. Most can get panic attacks under control and enjoy long careers. But for those who cannot, it is not failure to acknowledge when piloting is no longer healthy. There are many other ways to work in aviation beyond flying.
Conclusion
Panic attacks are an unwelcome surprise for many pilots. But while frightening, they need not destroy flying careers. With compassionate understanding of anxiety, aeromedical counseling, therapy, lifestyle changes, and effective coping strategies tailored to the cockpit, most pilots get symptoms under control and regain the ability to fly safely. For those unable to manage symptoms, changing careers is a difficult but necessary decision for mental and physical wellbeing. Overall, panic attacks do not have to ground pilots permanently – with proper treatment, the friendly skies can open up once again.