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Fear of flying 搭機恐懼症
Friday, Apr 14, 2006,Page 21
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A plane flies over Sydney, Australia.
一架飛機飛越澳洲雪梨上空。 (照片：法新社)
PHOTO: AFP
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People who are scared of flying can control their fear with the right breathing exercise. Just before takeoff, they should take a deep breath, immediately exhale, then hold their breath for six to 10 seconds.
That is the advice of the Professional Association of German Psychiatrists (which is abbreviated BVDP because of its German name), which said that the technique relaxed muscles and took one's mind off one's fears.
Christa Roth-Sackenheim of the BVDP said that people who are scared of flying should "refrain from alcohol and caffeinated drinks like coffee, black tea and cola so as not to heighten the body's state of agitation."
People who are afraid of flying can become nervous, have an unusually fast heartbeat, sweat heavily and start to feel sick.
People who repeatedly show these symptoms should see a doctor. "People should admit to themselves that they have a fear of flying, especially business people who have to fly a lot," said Roth- Sackenheim.
She added that fear was a serious symptom of a disorder, and not something that people should be embarrassed about.
She said that with practice and education, people can learn to control their fear without having to use unhealthy methods, such as drinking alcohol.
It is estimated that one-third of airline passengers are afraid of flying. According to a survey by the German Fear-of-Flying Center, most of these people fly very often. Many have experienced a scary situation during flight, while others suddenly become afraid of crashing for no particular reason. (DPA)
害怕搭飛機的人可以利用呼吸練習來控制恐懼。飛機快起飛前，他們應該深深吸一口氣，馬上吐氣，再住呼吸六到十秒。
這是德國精神病學家職業協會（德文縮寫為BVDP）的建議。協會表示，這個技巧會讓肌肉放鬆，驅離內心的恐懼。
此協會的克麗絲塔．羅絲薩肯漢表示，害怕搭機的人應該「避免酒精與含咖啡因的飲料，像是咖啡、紅茶與可樂等，才不會提高身體的焦慮狀態」。
害怕搭飛機的人可能會變得緊張，有不尋常的心跳加速，大量流汗，開始感到不適。
一再出現這些症狀的人們應該去看醫生。羅絲薩肯漢說：「人們應該承認自己有搭機恐懼症，尤其是時常搭飛機的商人。」
她也提到，恐懼是一種失調的嚴重症狀，人們不應該因此感到尷尬。
她說，運用練習與教育，人們可以學習控制自己的恐懼，避免借助飲酒等不健康的方式。
估計有三分之一的飛機乘客害怕搭飛機。根據德國搭機恐懼症中心的調查，這些人大多是飛機常客。許多人搭機時曾經歷到恐懼的狀態，而其他人則是無緣無故就開始害怕會墜機。 （德通社／翻譯：賴美君）
| Today's words 今日單字 |
1. exhale v.i.
吐氣 (tu3 qi4)
例： Breathing consists of inhaling and exhaling.
（呼吸包括吸氣與吐氣。 ）
2. refrain from v. phr.
抑制 (yi4 zhi4)
例：Please refrain from talking on your cellphone during the movie.
（看電影時請勿講手機。）
3. agitation n.
焦慮 (jiao1 lu4)；不安 (bu4 an1)
例：Daniel was mad that Mary was late picking him up at the airport, and the air conditioner breaking increased his agitation.
（丹尼爾氣瑪麗很晚才來機場接他，車內空調又壞了，更讓他感到煩躁。）
4. symptom n.
症狀 (zheng4 zhuang4)
例：Coughing and fever are symptoms of the flu.
（咳嗽和發燒是感冒的症狀。） |
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Reading Comprehension
閱讀測驗 |
1. When should people do the breathing exercise?
a. When getting on the plane.
b. Right before takeoff.
c. During takeoff.
2. What is NOT a symptom of fear of flying?
a. Sweating.
b. Fever.
c. Fast heartbeat.
3. What percentage of airline passengers are afraid of flying?
a. One-third.
b. One-fourth.
c. One-fifth.
4. Most people who are afraid of flying ...
a. never fly.
b. fly sometimes.
c. fly very often. |
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