Using hynotherapy to cure flight sickness

Taking advantage of the August 'lull' and spurred on by the generally gloomy news and weather, we've just grabbed a quick week away in sunny Sardinia - and very lovely it was too. The highlight of my week though was undoubtedly the flights - no, not because I'm completely barmy and love the sheer lack of comfort and service provided by what we have come to know as 'low cost' airlines but - because this was quite literally the first flight in 7 years I have taken with my middle son where he has NOT been sick.

Hard to say what started it, but basically from the age of 9, Sam has not been able to go near a plane without puking. And for the son of a travel writing parent, that's quite unfortunate. I don't just mean feeling rough - we are talking gut wrenching, consistent vomiting - terrible for him and everyone around him. The problem has got worse as he's got older - for a strapping 6'3" teenager its bad enough being shoehorned into a cramped seat but when you know you are going to be ill as well its bordering on the unbearable.

We knew it wasn't motion sickness - over the years we've tried everything on the market from wristbands to standard travel sickness pills through to prescribed heavy anti nausea drugs. We also knew it wasn't a fear of flying as such but the issue was certainly more psychogical than physical. I guess because of the escalating severity of the problem, it has become more of a fear by association i.e. flying equals nausea

But...a breakthough, we finally decided to try hypnotherapy. Researching the possibilities on the internet I came across http://www.hypnotherapy-online.co.uk/ Run by professional hypnotherapist Paul Hughes, the site offers an opportunity to create a personalised CD to target specific problems. You complete an online form which gives some basic information about the problem, its negative impact as well as positive influences in your life and Paul records a 35 minute CD using the information.

In our case the results were immediate - we received the CD a week before our scheduled holiday and Sam listened to it 3 or 4 times, reporting a positive effect and increased confidence that he could 'crack it'. And crack it he did!! On the outbound flight we were not 100% convinced - he wasn't sick but certainly felt rough. But on the return flight, he was his normal self and able to sit up, look out the window and, if not actually enjoy the flight, at least tolerate it.

I can't tell you what a relief it is for him and us - we need to get a few more flying miles under our belts to be certain he is 'cured' but there is no doubt at all that the hypnotherapy gave him the confidence to face the problem and deal with it. Its certainly the best £30 I've ever spent!
If you suffer from a similar problem I strongly recommend giving it a try.