THE LIMIT.
NEARLY 90% OF AMERICANS HAVE FLOWN ON A COMMERCIAL FLIGHT.
NEAT STEPHEN SHANNON.
HE HAS NOT -- MEET STEPHEN SHANNON.
HE SUFFERS FROM THE FEAR OF FLYING.
THE THOUGHT OF BEING ON AN AIRPLANE CAUSES EXTREME STRESS.
>> MY STOMACH TIGHTENS UP.
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WALKING ONTO THE PLANE.
>> IS QUITE COMMON ACTUALLY.
SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY THEY ARE AFRAID TO FLY BECAUSE OF THE HEIGHT AND THE ASPECT OF BEING IN THE SKY.
OTHER PEOPLE WILL SAY, I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT IF I WANT TO.
SOME PEOPLE FEEL CLAUSTROPHOBIC AS WELL.
SHAYNA: IT FACTORS INTO HIS PHOBIA.
>> I DO NOT KNOW IF I WOULD CONSIDER MYSELF CLAUSTROPHOBIC AND THAT CASE.
SHAYNA: HE SAYS IT IS TOUGH TO PINPOINT HOW IT BEGAN AND IT IS COMPLEX AND DEEPLY ROOTED.
>> I AM NOT AFRAID THE PLANE WILL CRASH OR THE WINGS WILL FALL OFF.
SHAYNA: HE IS NERVOUS ABOUT TURBULENCE AND NOT BEING IN CONTROL.
>> ANY JUMP OR BUMP, ANYTHING AND I WILL BE NERVOUS.
SHAYNA: FOR THE 65-YEAR-OLD, THE LONG-DISTANCE DRIVES ARE TAKING THEIR TOLL.
>> I HAVE BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH FROM FLORIDA AND FOR 13 YEARS.
SHAYNA: SHANNON TRAVELED TO GET HELP AT BOSTON’S CENTER.
HE HOPES THROUGH EXPOSURE THERAPY HE WILL BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE HIS GOAL, FLYING TO FLORIDA IN JULY FOR A FAMILY TRIP WITH HIS GRANDCHILDREN.
>> I DID NOT WANT TO GET ON A PLANE WITH MY FAMILY AND SCARE THE HECK OUT OF MY GRANDCHILDREN.
SHAYNA: HE IS ALSO DOING THIS FOR HIS LATE WIFE.
>> WE MADE PLANS TO TRAVEL AND DO THINGS.
SHE WOULD BE VERY PROUD OF ME.
SHE WAS MY ROCK.
SHAYNA: THE DOCTOR IS GUIDING HIM THROUGH EXPOSURE THERAPY SESSIONS.
SHE SAYS IT IS HARD WORK BUT HE WILL BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH FLYING.
>> HE IS GOING TO HAVE ANXIETY AT THE BEGINNING AND PEOPLE FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE BUT IN THE END, HIS BODY WILL LEARN.
I WANT YOU TO BREATHE THROUGH THIS STRAW.
SHAYNA: TOGETHER, THEY WORK ON POSSIBLE SCENARIOS.
THIS WILL HELP HIM PREPARE FOR POSSIBLE PANICKED BREATHING.
>> A LOT OF THE PHYSICAL EXPERIENCE, YOU FEEL ANXIOUS.
HE PRACTICED IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN SO THAT YOUR BODY CAN TOLERATE THOSE FEELINGS.
SHAYNA: TWO WEEKS INTO THERAPY.
HE MEETS AT TH AIRCRAFT CLUB.
>> THIS IS THE CLOSEST I HAVE EVER BEEN TO AN AIRPLANE.
>> WE GOT OUT AND TOUCHED THE PLANE, GETTING HIM ACCESS TO THE CABIN, WHERE HE WOULD NOT IN A COMMERCIAL FLIGHT.
SHAYNA: THANKS TO EXPOSURE THERAPY, HE IS AT EASE APPROACHING THE SMALL PLANE.
>> WE ARE JUST MOVING IN THE WIND.
SHAYNA: SITTING IN THE COCKPIT AND LEARNING HOW IT FLIES.
>> IT WAS INFORMATIONAL FOR ME TO SEE PARTS OF THE PLANE MOVE.
SHAYNA: THE FINAL EXPOSURE THERAPY SESSION TAKING A COMMERCIAL FLIGHT TO PHILADELPHIA.
HE IS READY.
>> I AM EXCITED TO GO TO THE AIRPORT AND GET ON THAT PLANE TO GO FOR A RUN.
SHAYNA: BOARDING THE PLANE WAS NOT A PROBLEM.
HE IS PREPARED FOR TAKEOFF.
MIDFLIGHT, THE DOCTOR REINFORCES THE TECHNIQUES.
SHANNON LANDED WITHOUT ANY MAJOR ISSUES.
HIS RETURN FLIGHT, AN EVEN BIGGER SUCCESS.
PHOBIA FACED.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
WE ARE HAPPY TO REPORT STEVE RECENTLY WENT ON HIS SECOND FLIGHT AND IS GETTING READY FOR HIS THIRD.
HE FLEW TO MYRTLE BEACH IN JUNE AND IS OFF TO FLORIDA TO GO TO DISNEY WITH HIS FAMILY THIS MONTH.
STEVE SAID HIS FLIGHT LAST MONTH WAS GREAT, HE WAS NOT ANXIOUS OR NERVOUS.
HE SAYS HE FEELS FREE NOW AND THANKS DOCTOR HU FOR HELPING HIM GET OVER HIS PHOBIA.
STILL TO COME, SHE FEARED PUBLIC SPEAKING MORE THAN DEATH.
THEN