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.

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The Benefits of Couples Counseling

Navigating relationship challenges can be difficult and sometimes seeking outside help becomes essential. This is where couples counseling comes into play, offering a structured approach to address underlying issues and improve communication and dynamics between partners. Couples counseling incorporates various styles tailored to specific needs, from addressing communication breakdowns to...

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Rewire Your Stress Response with Polyvagal Theory

What Is Polyvagal Theory?

Polyvagal theory is a model that explains the role of the vagus nerve in regulating emotion, social connection, and fear response. Polyvagal theory provides valuable insights into how our bodies respond to stress and trauma. This theory helps explain why people react differently to similar stressful situations and highlights the importance of understanding these responses in therapy.

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Your QRH for Understanding Anxiety, Burnout, and Depression

In the world of mental health, distinguishing between anxiety, depression, and burnout can feel like trying to navigate through turbulent skies without a clear flight plan. Despite being distinct conditions, they often share commonalities, such as fatigue and loss of interest. Understanding their subtle differences is crucial for finding the right support and making positive changes. This article explores the nuances that set these mental-health conditions apart, offering insight into their unique traits and potential impact on your overall well-being.

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FAA Improves Certification Process for Pilots

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recently implemented progressive changes regarding the medical certification of pilots with mental health conditions. Pilots can now receive immediate certification from an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) even if they have up to two specific mental health diagnoses, provided they meet certain criteria.

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Understanding and Coping with Panic Attacks

Panic attacks are not just bouts of heightened anxiety; they are visceral experiences that can make you feel as though you're facing imminent danger or even death. These episodes typically arise suddenly and reach their peak within minutes, leaving you with lasting feelings of fear and distress.

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Challenges and Resources for LGBTQ+ Pilots

As a pilot who identifies as LGBTQ+, you may face challenges that can impact your personal and professional life. Understanding and addressing these challenges and having resources at hand is crucial for your well-being and career advancement. Here's a look at some of the key issues and which resources can help you navigate them.

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A Pilot’s Guide to Improving Sleep Without Medications

As pilots, achieving restorative sleep is not just essential; it's imperative for ensuring optimal performance and overall safety. However, the demanding nature of the profession, irregular schedules, and time-zone changes often lead to sleep difficulties. While medications are commonly used to manage insomnia symptoms, it does not address the underlying causes of sleep disturbances…

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First Aid for Checkride Anxiety 

Whether you are a student pilot working towards your private-pilot certificate or a 4.000-hour ATP going for a captain upgrade, you are expected to be evaluated for your performances in a practical test environment, and you are likely to experience a fear of…

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Saying No – Why It Is Important and How to Do It

How do you say no without hurting anyone's feelings? Why is saying no so tricky? Why do you say ′′Fine,” when you feel that you do not have the time, energy, or inclination to do what is asked of you? Many people are raised with the value that you must be nice and accommodate others. However, it turns out that saying no is not as difficult as it might seem. This step-by-step plan helps…

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7 Ways to Reduce Anxiety without Medications

Anxiety affects nearly 30% of adults at some point in their lives. While occasional anxiety is a normal response to stress, persistent anxiety can disrupt daily life and overall well-being. While medication is often prescribed for severe symptoms, many individuals prefer natural methods to manage anxiety without the potential side effects that medications may bring.

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Start Today: Improve Your Self-Confidence 

A lack of self-confidence is common. Low self-esteem can affect your motivation and can be damaging to your overall mental well-being and quality of life. But what is self-confidence, what causes a lack of self-confidence…

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How to Respond to Hurtful Comments  

Unsolicited advice, prejudices, toxic positivity, or ‘funny' comments are among the many ways in which family, friends, coworkers, or even strangers can verbally hurt us. Even if it was not…

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How Understanding Your Attachment Style Helps Improve Relationships

Some people enter a serious relationship easily, while others have a more turbulent love life. The different types of attachment styles may help explain why certain patterns occur. Understanding your attachment style can significantly improve various relationships in your life. Read about the different attachment styles, discover the style with which you identify. Further, you may explore how to develop a more effective attachment style.

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Improve Communication About Sex - 5 Tips

It is one of the essentials of a good relationship: great sex. Unfortunately, it usually does not happen automatically. Communicating effectively as sex partners leads to more intimate and fulfilling sex. However, many people find it challenging to discuss their sexual preferences; we are often afraid to hurt our partner's feelings or are afraid to be vulnerable. We are also not taught…

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Preventing Burnout for Aviation Professionals

Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion and is a reaction to prolonged stress. The risk of burnout increases after months or even years of continuous stress and not being able to recover from the stress. Burnout often is related to work stress, but this is not always the cause. Burnout can be triggered by…

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What is Coping?

Everyone around has their automatic responses to problems. Everyone handles stressful situations, such as work pressures, physical discomforts, relationships, or financial concerns differently. In psychology, these are called…

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How to Tame Your Impatience

Being impatient is one of the hallmarks of our time. Daily, we receive mixed messages on the subject. The idea that we should adopt a calmer attitude is often widely promoted, while as a society, we value anything that helps us do things faster. The facts are clear: research shows…

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Overcoming Feeling Like an Imposter

You have a good education, a job people look up to, and everyone praises you. However, is there this voice in the back of your mind saying, “What if they find out I cannot do it,” making you feel like a fraud? Is it often difficult for you to be proud of yourself?

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