Can pilots have social anxiety?

FAA policy on depression and other mental health conditions. To fly, pilots must have a medical certificate approved by an FAA aviation medical examiner (AME). Under the current guidelines, depression, anxiety, and similarly categorized psychological conditions don't lead to automatic disqualification.



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Like many professional people, pilots have to deal with complex information, make decisions and deal with people. Thus, they tend to be bright and capable of good social interaction when called for.

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3 ways to reduce flying with social anxiety:
  1. Avoid eye contact. I did this to stay sane. ...
  2. Accept help. If someone notices you're in distress, it's best to accept their support – especially if you're alone and unsure how to manage the situation. ...
  3. Show your emotions. Don't pretend everything is ok.


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Pilots get anxiety and depression just like many other people do, but they seem less likely to seek support and treatment.

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Practicing Mindfulness and Stress Management Can Help
They might listen to calming music or meditate in their private areas. Or they might just take the time to relax with friends and family after a busy flight. In short, although being a pilot is a stressful job, there are ways to deal with the stress.

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5 Challenges of Being an Airline Pilot
  • Cost of Pilot School. ...
  • Work Schedule. ...
  • Working with Different Crew Compositions. ...
  • Flying in Bad Weather Conditions. ...
  • Lifestyle Changes.


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Airline pilots work in conditions that lead to circadian dysrhythmia, mild hypoxia, and exposure to reduced atmospheric pressure, low humidity, noise, vibration, cosmic radiation, and magnetic fields. These occupational exposures may present physiological challenges to the long-term health of airline pilots.

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They must be able to deal with bad weather, mechanical problems, and other potential hazards. Pilots also have to be able to stay calm in stressful situations. The lifestyle of a pilot can be very demanding. Pilots often have to travel for long periods of time, which can be difficult for families.

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Pilot Career Cons
  • You need a deep bank account. While you will earn a lot of money as an airline pilot later down the years, the first few years might cost you up to $100 000. ...
  • A steep learning curve. ...
  • Missing out on holidays. ...
  • A lot of stress. ...
  • Losing your career in an instant because of medical reasons.


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Answer: I would not say they get bored, but it can become repetitive. Pilots flying the same route, such as the New York, Boston, Washington shuttle become very, very familiar with the route. That said, no two flights are the same.

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“The ups and downs are constant, and we fly at all different times of the day,” Deitz says. “It's a stress on your body.” Takeoff and landing are the trickiest parts of a given flight, requiring all of a pilot's attention and mental energy. Heart rate increases during those windows, studies show.

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Pilots are trained to handle all sorts of nerve-racking situations, but that doesn't mean that they don't get scared—especially in these real instances, told by the pilots who experienced them, of serious in-flight fear.

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Fern said he believes many pilots feel a similar sense of anxiety or nervousness from time to time, but they rarely speak of it because such fears are thought to be a shameful sign of weakness. In fact, he said, such fears can be confronted and defeated, as he managed to do with the help of a professional therapist.

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An airline pilot can be an extremely stressful job due to the workload, responsibilities and safety of the thousands of passengers they transport around the world. Chronic levels of stress can negatively impact one's health, job performance and cognitive functioning.

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