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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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….

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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?

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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…

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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…

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Happy New You!

With a little luck, this is the predominant feeling after the holidays. After all, the advertisements for various 21-day challenges make it look so easy. This seems to be the perfect time to finally get started with dormant plans to improve your life..

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Five Ways to Deal with Depression without Medication

The change of seasons, crossing time zones and missing home take their toll. Whatever personal reasons might be causing depressed feelings, do not ignore your emotions and try to take good care of yourself. When suffering from depression, it is important to remember that you are not the first nor are you alone..

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How to Kickstart a New Life Abroad

Today’s aviation industry offers countless rewarding yet challenging opportunities to move abroad. Pilots looking to land their first job below 1,500 hours can choose to fly in Indonesia, or later in their careers, relocate to Germany or..

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How To Be Happier At Work

Despite having the best view of the world from your “office window,” varied travel destinations year-round, and the ability to conquer the elements on a daily basis, you (and almost 50 percent of U.S. employees) may not feel satisfied with your job.1 Although “being satisfied” is not the same as “being happy”..

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Five Essential Tips to Maintain (maybe enhance) Your Relationship While on Trips

Working in the aviation industry and frequently traveling for work, could eventually cause conflicting feelings. While you are proud of your career and excited about the adventures on the road, being away from home for a prolonged period can put stress on you and your love life. However, when you are sharing your life with the right person..

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How To Stay Sane In Turbulent Times

The aviation industry is probably the only field in which high cholesterol is more dangerous than speeding along at Mach 0.8, which is why it is crucial to develop good habits for your well-being. This is widely accepted and promoted in the aviation industry, but this concept applies to both physical and mental well-being..

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