Scared? Uncertain? Frightened? How to Reduce "The Holloween Syndrome!"

Controlling "uncertainty" in flight....

Night-time flying can lead to a sense of uncertainty, especially if comforting visual clues are not forthcoming. You may unconsciously turn up the volume to the headset or speaker for communications. Fix? Turn the volume down to normal levels.

Finger tapping for no apparent reason. Fix? Stop the tapping.

Increasing the brightness of instrument illumination. Fix? Turn down the illumination.

You feel unusual tension developing in your face and body.
Fix? 

• Try to relax and practice procedures you know that relax you. One possibility use the ADF radio station that broadcasts 'elevator music' that is relaxing. 
• Stretching is another. 
• Shoulder shrugs. 
• Think good thoughts. 

You feel lost, in the geographical sense.

• Fix? Use instrumentation to locate your position. 
• Tune in to a major 50,000 watt radio station. 

Crying?
Fix? Self-evident.

Procrastination?Fix? 

• Use a handy checklist to set up a recognizable sequence to follow. That will, in many cases, provide the self help to get out of trouble.

Use the IFR Center in your area. If your plane is transponder equipped and you know your Center frequency, they can find you and they are trained in techniques to calm you down. Once calmed, you will be astonished as to what you now remember to aid yourself. Additional informatiion that tension may be rising is the "familiar becomes unfamiliar" and vice-versa.

In controlled airspace having fear arise, recognized and brought under control is vital. We all have our moments.   Recognize, in a simplified way, those signs of fear and deal with them quickly for your safety.