Publications
Reini Thijssen is a writer for Aero Crew News and writes articles about mental health, focusing on resources for pilots and aviation professionals.
These articles cover a wide variety of topics, including burnout, pilot mental health, life transitions, sexuality, stress management, and more.
Prioritize Each Other – Five Tips
Reality check: Take a minute to reflect on how much time was reserved exclusively for you and your partner over the past few weeks – sleeping, watching tv, or social encounters with friends or family not included. How much quality time did you have together? It is not uncommon for couples to…
Start Today, Not Tomorrow
Happy 2022 – the New Year in which all of our plans will come true! Or not? As it turns out, we are overly optimistic about the future and falsely believe that there is more time available tomorrow than there is today. However, the truth is that there is no ideal moment for those challenging tasks and those exciting new plans. Studies have shown…
Survival Skills for the Holidays
Last year, the holidays were celebrated differently by many. Now we are going back to a new normal, December is the month of spending time with family and friends. Christmas and New Year’s are meant to be pleasant and joyful, but often, people experience them as stressful and…
Food For a Better Mood
Being on the road and with the holidays around the corner, our diet is a continuous focus of our attention. What we consume daily directly affects our body, brain, and mood, and can be adversely impact our mental health, such as our stress levels. Stress is not only triggered by…
Healthy Coping with Frustration
Life would be so much easier if everything would go the way it was supposed to go. But unfortunately, the reality is different; people forget appointments, the internet is slow, pandemics happen, and traffic is heavy again. The result may be feeling…
The Importance of Body Language
A first impression is made even before a single word is said. Appearance and body language speak volumes which make it all the more important to understand non-verbal communication. Understanding non-verbal…
The Psychology of Rejection
Failed an interview? The expected promotion has passed you by? Almost everyone experiences rejection at least once in their career. Being rejected as a professional in this highly…
The Psychology of Applying to Your Dream Carrier
Many situations in life can cause tension and emotions such as nervousness. Speaking in public, a first solo flight, proficiency checks, applying and interviewing can cause severe nervous…
Handling Criticism
No one likes it, yet everyone has to deal with it from time to time – criticism. Criticizing others is easier than being on the receiving end. Research has showed that criticism triggers our stress system and our ancient survival mechanism of…
Dealing with Difficult People
Life is full of social interactions, from connecting with our loved ones to confrontations with challenging individuals whom we cannot stand to be around. Unfortunately from time to….
Coping with Unpleasant Emotions
Fear, sadness, jealousy, anger, guilt, grief – unpleasant emotions can significantly impact our day-to-day life. Especially at a time when things are continually going differently than expected, people cope with more painful emotions yet have fewer ways of handling their challenges. Ignoring them or taking your stresses out on others…
Understanding Loneliness
Loneliness is one of the most ubiquitous side effects of COVID-19 that can affect anyone. However, loneliness has been on the rise for decades becoming one of today’s most significant social problems worldwide. A third of American adults say they feel lonelier than ever…
Six Factors of a Successful Relationship
What makes a happy relationship? Is it humor, physical attraction, or merely enjoying things together? What makes a relationship work? Do opposites…
Self-Care: Put on Your Oxygen Mask First Before Assisting Others
A new year can be a new start. If 2020 taught us anything, it is that every year can be full of new surprises. What is a better way of starting 2021 than by taking care of ourselves? Self-care…
Eight Ways to Decrease Stress
Life is stressful, especially now. Stress is a normal, human response. The goal of our stress response is to have us choose between two responses, fight…
Overcoming a furlough
Over the past few months, the airline industry has gone from pilot and mechanic shortages to extreme overstaffing. This turnaround was sharp and dramatic. Pilots, flight attendants and A&Ps are facing a harsh…
Five Steps to Build Resilience
These are turbulent times, for everyone, worldwide. Anxiety, stress, loss and grief are recurring themes. We know that times are changing and new routes are planned – hope is on the horizon. However, an overall feeling of ambiguity…
Into Therapy Or Not?
Moodiness, stress, anxiety, marital tensions . . . These are all part of life that we face as crew, and sometimes we need someone to support us as we strive to get back on track. But, it can be difficult to determine whether your problems merit seeing a professional. When is it time for therapy?
Don’t Worry
We all worry. We may be worried about the economy, an upcoming job interview, or the uncertain impact of a pandemic. We wonder how we should act, why something has happened to us or what we could have done differently to impact events. Though worrying is human, it is a very unhealthy habit. Worrying can…
Twelve Phases of Burnout
Every year, reported numbers of stress and burnout rise. Because airline jobs rank among the most stressful jobs in the United States, there is value for us to recognize the signs. Stress, in itself, can be helpful – it sets one in motion, makes one smarter, more alert, faster, and it can help improve performance. However, too much and continuous stress is unhealthy and can lead to…