Fear Of Flying ???

[CruznTom]

Is there anyone left with a "Fear Of Flying"??????

My Husband booked us on a perfect cruise of the Capitals of Europe. I am so looking forward to expieriencing that with him.

I truly have a fear of flying. I spent $39.00 on a "Fear Of Flying Video" that was usless. I certainly won't be afraid of turbulance but that won't get me thru the rest of the flight.

I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gotten over the "Fear of Flying". Thank You. Brigitte

[Alexis]

Is there anyone left with a "Fear Of Flying"??????

 

My Husband booked us on a perfect cruise of the Capitals of Europe. I am so looking forward to expieriencing that with him.

 

I truly have a fear of flying. I spent $39.00 on a "Fear Of Flying Video" that was usless. I certainly won't be afraid of turbulance but that won't get me thru the rest of the flight.

 

I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gotten over the "Fear of Flying". Thank You. Brigitte

 

I vowed I would never step foot on a plane for a million dollars. Fear was not a strong enough word for what panic I felt. I am also petrified of height. :rolleyes:

Then our 25 anniversary was coming up and we wanted to do something different. St Maarten. I could not drive there so I had to tell myself I was going to fly. :eek: Heaven knows how my husband talked me in to that.

Day of the flight, we boarded and when we took off, I almost ripped my husbands arm off. OK. now we land and our week was fabulous, but I keep thinking all week I have to get back on that plane again. Now I have to fly home. Well, I did. I decided to look out the window landing and I loved what I saw. It looked like the old matchbox city cars and streets my kids played with. (you have to be old to remember that)

I could not even begin to count the times I have flown since then. We have done 23 cruises, flown to Disney, Aruba, Freeport, Bahamas, Nassau, Bahamas, Jamaica, back and forth across the country so many times I lost track long ago. Multiple times for most of these. All this since 1982.

I am safer up there than down here on the roads. ;)

PS,

I always take along a book to pass the time.

Many passengers have their laptops on the whole flight.

Take along a head set and listen to music.

Depending on the flights and airline, there are movies.

Get an aisle seat so you can get up and go to the rest room if you want to move around. (do not book a middle seat or a window seat for that reason if the plane has 3 seats on each side and an aisle in the middle)

If you live near an airport, see if they have the "Fear of Flying Classes". Not a video.

[nellydean]

Is there anyone left with a "Fear Of Flying"??????

My Husband booked us on a perfect cruise of the Capitals of Europe. I am so looking forward to expieriencing that with him.

I truly have a fear of flying. I spent $39.00 on a "Fear Of Flying Video" that was usless. I certainly won't be afraid of turbulance but that won't get me thru the rest of the flight.

I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gotten over the "Fear of Flying". Thank You. Brigitte

 

Very few people with a fear of flying ever truly get over it, they just learn to manage it so that it does not control them. I am one of them.

 

I first flew from Ireland back to my home town of Liverpool when I was 21 and was petrified. However, the flight was less than 30 minutes long and I just about had time to down a drink before we were on the ground. I thought, this is not so bad after all. Then, I was due to fly across the pond on a DC10, and we were doing about 80 on the runway when a passenger spotted something on the wing, and we stopped and went back. This really scared me, because it was at a time when DC10s were falling out of the sky, so when we took off an hour or two later I was petrified and kept listening for noises the whole way across, of which there were plenty. I have never really recovered from that, even though it was only a perceived danger.

 

I have flown many times since, and will board another transatlantic flight in a couple of weeks to fly to Miami so we can cruise of the LOS. I will be fine until the day before and then I will start to worry a bit, then, on the morning, I will be feeling slightly anxious (I never enjoy my holidays until I have arrived and my feet are on the ground), but once we have taken off I will wait for the seatbelt belt sign to go off, watch the stewards go about their busiess and then breathe a bit easier, while never truly relaxing.

 

While I worry about big planes crashing I have not really been concerned about smaller aircraft, as they seem much more manouvreable, however, one trip was terrible - we took a flight from Vegas to Grand Canyon and onto Lake Powell and Monument Valley, and apart from the first segment to Grand Canyon the rest was a nightmare, as the turbulence was awful, then, on the way back, we had to fly through a storm over the canyon with lighting hitting our 12-seater and the pilot screaming in delight like a lunatic! We were so small and the canyon was so big, and when we got back to Vegas and got off the plane we could have kissed the ground like the Pope! Sadly, 6 people died in a helicopter crash over the canyon just a few weeks later.

 

The best anyone with a phobia can do is try to keep it to a level where it does not impact too much, which I have done, although I still believe that if we were meant to fly God would have given us wings :)

[operafan]

Is there anyone left with a "Fear Of Flying"??????

My Husband booked us on a perfect cruise of the Capitals of Europe. I am so looking forward to expieriencing that with him.

I truly have a fear of flying. I spent $39.00 on a "Fear Of Flying Video" that was usless. I certainly won't be afraid of turbulance but that won't get me thru the rest of the flight.

I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gotten over the "Fear of Flying". Thank You. Brigitte

 

Brigitte, I've never had that kind of a fear of flying but that doesn't mean I like it. I hate it. More like massive apprehension. We did a Med cruise in 2002, first time to Europe for us and tbh thought about nothing but that cruise and making the flights. Of course our flight out of DFW left 2 hours late and we had 15 minutes to make our connection to Barcelona, but after the initial panic and running like he!! through the Atlanta airport we were relieved to actually get on the plane. I never thought I'd be happy to get on a plane! Keep your thoughts on the cruise, not the flight. A Europe cruise is the most amazing vacation. You're going to sleep through most of the flight anyway and when you wake up you'll be in an amazing city. We've done the Europe flights twice since and are going again in November. Bring a book, bring an ipod, bring something to munch on.....Keep yourself busy for the first hour or so. You'll find that the time goes by VERY quickly.

[KKeeganS]

I had a panic attack on a flight when I was in my early 20s. Basically, there is an FAA rule that says you cannot land a plane when there are surface winds of greater than 50 mph. So what the pilot did was wait until the winds dropped to, say, 48 mph and tried to land. After about an hour of this, he said he was going to try to fly back east to Philadelphia and land there, but then came on to say he didn't have enough fuel to make it so we were going to land in Dayton. Fabulous. I was a college student with no money and not old enough to rent a car, so I had to get back on the plane to fly to Columbus and I was NOT a happy girl.

 

I have had a real fear of flying ever since - panic attacks when I pick my seat on a flight, literally months of sleepless nights if I know I have to fly, and yes, vacation somewhat marred by the knowledge I have to get on a plane at the end of the week.

 

My brother basically refuses to fly, and I refuse to be someone who can't go to Europe or the Caribbean or friends' weddings. I make sure I have distractions - MP3 player, books, an aisle seat so I can pretend I'm on a train, paying more for direct flights. These things keep it manageable for me and I haven't had to rely on Xanax or anything to get on a plane. However, if the tapes didn't work for you, you should google to see if there are any fear of flying support groups or specialists in your area, or perhaps ask your doctor for an Rx to take some of the edge off for your trip. You're definitely not alone in your fear.

 

Good luck!

[whyrlygig]

My first flight was when I was 10 years old. Cried the whole way to Texas..... I even get dizzy from cartoon heights! I didn't get on another plane for 25 years until I won my first cruise. I was terrified about the flying and went to see my doctor for something to calm me during the flights. It took the edge off but I din't want to feel like that was the only way I could fly so I never took them again. Since then, we have flown twice a year and I have even sat in the window seat a few times. No I have not learned to like flying but I refuse to let fear dictate my life. I just do some deep breathing and take something to distract me. Before I know it, we're landing.

[Trainman-2]

Perhaps a humorous story would help...

 

In 1984 I was part of a military exercise building roads in rural Panama along the Pacific coast. There were hundreds of small villages that were not connected by roads. The only way in or out was by air or by sea.

 

The Panamanian Air Force flew small, but powerful, shuttle aircraft from village to village and eventually to Santiago, Panama, the largest city in the area. For the Panamanians, the flights were free. All they had to do was be standing at the dirt landing strip when the flight arrived.

 

They were flying twin engine aircraft known as a CASA 212. Here is a photo of a modern (later version) of the aircraft in use 23 years ago.

 

 

There were canvas bench seats along each side of the aircraft where the adults sat and most of them buckled up their seat belts. There were no stewardesses and no food or bar service.

 

When the aircraft took off, all of the kids, chickens, and pigs slid to the rear along the floor and when it landed they all slid to the front.

 

I flew on these shuttles a number of times and each flight was an adventure!

[teacherkim]

My father has had a fear of flying for years, that the rest of us have had to help in manage in order to get him to go anywhere. For years the he would ONLY board a plane if it was going to Vegas (the right motivation is key:rolleyes: )

Like a PP said however he has learned to "manage" it. How- like others have said keeping busy with distractions. Laptop is a godsend, music, books, mags (my mom even lets him discreetly read Playboy to keep him busy:o ) Earphones are great because then you don't hear every little noise and wonder what it is or in one case of a rough descent into Dallas the woman in front of you describing how this was exactly like the descent of a plane that crashed, could of killed her, though we would never get him back on and we were en route to Hawaii!

For him a big key is watching the stewardesses and stewards. He figures as long as they are calmly going about their job, all is well. In fact if they look bored he is VERY happy!

Hope this helps.

[CruiseAwayWithMe]

I never had a fear of flying. But, I'm always scared to take off from the ground. I look on the watch and it takes the plane about 30 seconds to take off after it starts to accelerate really fast. Then, I can feel when we hit the air and are no longer on the ground. It's a feeling of you're falling when your going up. I hold onto the seats tightly until the plane stabilizes. I'm fine when the plane is going straight in the air. I love the landing part because getting lower allows you to see all of the little pools, cars, houses, and it's so beautiful in Miami. I even remember seeing the ocean where the cruise ships were docked. The ending part assures me of flying and makes me really excited to see the landscape of Miami. I think Miami is truly beautiful when you're landing in an airplane. About two years ago, we had a bumpy ride on the airplane. Turbulance was everywhere. I felt my stomach turn about 10 times when we were landing. Then, we got on the ground and everyone clapped. :)

 

I hope to have a nice time on my flight tommorow to Miami. :D It's only 24 hours away until I'm flying.

[lisiamc]

Is there anyone left with a "Fear Of Flying"??????

 

My Husband booked us on a perfect cruise of the Capitals of Europe. I am so looking forward to expieriencing that with him.

 

I truly have a fear of flying. I spent $39.00 on a "Fear Of Flying Video" that was usless. I certainly won't be afraid of turbulance but that won't get me thru the rest of the flight.

 

I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gotten over the "Fear of Flying". Thank You. Brigitte

 

Hi Brigitte,

 

I know someone who is an airline pilot, and occasionally he flies the plane for the "graduates" of the local fear of flying course. They start out in a classroom on the ground, and eventually they finish by taking a short flight. I'm not sure exactly what is covered on the course, or how long it takes, but most participants are successful in getting on the plane and staying calm while taking the flight. Maybe you could see whether anyone offers a course like that near you.

 

Good luck:)

 

Lisa

[iswimlikearock]

My dad has this crazy fear... he is terrified of flying. Last winter his aunt who lived in Florida was very ill, and he wanted to see her before she passed away. So he gets on the plane, flies to Florida no worries. He thinks he has gotten over his fear. Now on the way back, they get to the airport and there is a bomb scare!!! He was nuts... their flight ended up being delayed and he was in hysterics... I have never heard so many 4 letter words in my life! So he knows he has to get back to NY, so he gets on the plane and things are fine.

 

For our cruise in August, he was ready to cancel after that trip - he was considering driving down to Port Canaveral, he had the whole thing figured out until he heard he would have to drive himself, since the rest of us were not going to drive.

 

Long story short, last weekend I heard him talking to my aunt, and he said that he was going to stay with them in Florida for two weeks this year!!! I guess he has overcome his fear! It can be done. Just keep yourself occupied, and you should be fine. Or you can do what my sister does, and gets a pill from the doctor to calm her for the trip!

 

Jenn

[BTSEN5]

Is there anyone left with a "Fear Of Flying"??????

 

My Husband booked us on a perfect cruise of the Capitals of Europe. I am so looking forward to expieriencing that with him.

 

I truly have a fear of flying. I spent $39.00 on a "Fear Of Flying Video" that was usless. I certainly won't be afraid of turbulance but that won't get me thru the rest of the flight.

 

I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gotten over the "Fear of Flying". Thank You. Brigitte

 

 

I am a white knuckled flyer. I absolutely hate it. I do not like to take meds, but I have before. I try a drink or two, but only if not travelling with my children, which is not often. I don't want them to get the impression (correct one sadly) that I feel that alcohol is an aid to get me through a rough time. :rolleyes:

 

The last time I decided to suck it up. I used earplugs, and do you believe that eased 80 % at least of my stress. I don't know why, but I felt much more at ease. Whenever I did have a wave of fear, I would tell myself that this was normal, I am on a train, anything to make me feel better. I also pray often on the flight. It helps a bit, but never eases my mind completely.

 

I am thinking of a cruise out of Southampton in a couple of years and that is the only thing I am concerned about. The only advice I can give you is the above. The earplugs will take the edge off and you might even be able to sleep. :) I think that any little thing you can do to ease your mind is worth it. You may never get over it completely , but you can make it bearable.

[ancldaca]

I went from fear to extreme dislike of flying (it's that darn turbulence: John Ryan in The Hunt for Red October - that's me. Slightest movement and I tighten the belt a bit more. By the end of a flight, I have a virtual turniquette on my lower extremities going).

 

I used to get totally sauced up before the flight and then knocked back a few more while in the air; that helped a lot. But since I basically stopped drinking, flying has become an issue to me again. I now send subordinates to conferences (they love it of course). Being that I live in Puerto Rico, I'm forced to fly...

 

I've always though that having a Miami-San Juan passenger service would be cool to have again. Step aboard in the afternoon, wake up the next day in Miami (and vice-versa) showered, fed, and rested!!! And all that for basically the same price as air fare & 1 night hotel I figure...

[Arizona Cruz Chic]

Dh and I have no fear of flying. However DH will not fly over water!

He will cruise anywhere in the world as long a she he doesn't have to fly over water.

So I guess if we ever want to cruise the Mediterranean we will have to take the Queen Mary over and back and cruise RC in the Mediterranean! ;) .....Go figure!!

 

***

[FreewayFortune]

I vowed I would never set foot on an airplane. The thought of it terrified me. How can an airplane stay up there with so many people? But then I kind of got over it when I was in my 20's and my dad passed away. I decided to book a trip to WDW for my mom and I because of how much we both enjoy it there and it would help get our minds off of our loss. It was for the March Break and the fastest way to get there was to fly. I've come to see flying as a way to get to an exciting place. I will never feel comfortable about it until I land but I feel a little better about it.

[DayDreamer2]

I take valium to fly. I used to try to rough it, but my heart would race through the whole flight. We went on cruise in Hawaii a few years ago and were flying in from NY to Hawaii (12 hours flight time) That's when I decided to take the valium. It helped take the edge off.

 

From what I've read and what the stewardess told me on the Hawaii flights, the best thing to do is hydrate. Make sure to drink alot of water a few days prior to the flight and on the flight. Also alcohol is really not the best thing to drink on a flight. Flying dehydrates you and so does alcohol. Perhaps others can correct me if I'm wrong about this.

 

I do the same as others. Try to think of the cruise or the vacation. Put on the headphones and listen to music, do crosswords, read. Whatever distracts me. I fly because if I didn't we would have missed some great vacations and missed some of the most beautiful sights on earth.

 

I hope it gives you comfort to know your not alone. At one time I could not enjoy our vacations, I would be worring about flying back home. Now I try not to think about flying until the day of the flight or the day before.

I try to think positive thoughts. Good Luck!

[nrh322]

I was terrified of flying until my ex-husband became a private pilot. All the hours that I was forced to spend being jostled around in a teensy, tiny, private plane got me over my fear of flying commercially. It also helped that I never trusted his capabilities or judgment (some of many reasons we aren't married any longer!) so I took the FAA's "pinch hitter" course... which taught me how to keep the plane level, use the radio, and land in an emergency. Learning how to do all that and learning the physics of what makes planes able to fly helped me a lot. Now, I actually look forward to traveling... it's the packing I hate! :)

[Kailyn]

I second the Valium, or a Xanax. Go to your doctor and he will usually write you a small prescription (about 5 pills) for an anti-anxiety medication. I am lucky enough not to have a fear of flying because when I grew up my father had several small planes - Cessnas and the like. These days I fly about every 3 weeks. Since my father used to be a pilot, I more understand the realities of the danger in planes and how well pilots are trained to deal with them.

 

My best friends mother, whom we often vacation with, is deathly afraid of planes. That is one reason we cruise so much. She did have to get on a plane for an emergency trip across country. It was just her bad luck that there was a rare problem with the landing gear on her plane. The pilots circled for a couple of hours to make sure the plane was drained of fuel, then did a very safe - if bumpy - skid type landing. She was petrified the entire time, but now that she knows how many checks and double checks they go through and the safety measures, she can actually fly - as long as she has a couple of Xanax in her!

 

Good luck with managing your fear. Some of these suggestions are great. You can even get portable DVD players for just a couple hundred dollars now. I usually take a laptop, a book or 2, and sometimes I borrow my kid brother's game system and play Sudoku puzzles on it.

[nrh322]

One suggestion on the anti-anxiety medication...

 

If you're going to go that route, TRY the medicine at home, on land BEFORE you actually need it! I found out that I was allergic to Valium a few years ago when my doctor offered me one prior to having an MRI. He asked if I was claustrophobic and I told him that I was a little. They gave me the pill and I broke out in hives while I was in the machine. Imagine trying to stay still for several hours...trapped in that little tube... with itchy, rashy, sores breaking out all over your body. It's not the kind of thing you'd want to have happen to you on an airplane if you're already nervous!

[brigittetom]

I'm sorry I haven't thanked all for responding, I've been trying for 2 days and CC wouldn't let me.

Thank you so much for the responses, stories, and good advice.

I'm not new to flying. I do go the 5 xanax route for each trip but what I've found is that 1/2 a xanax and a screwdriver will get me comfortably on the plane. If there is turbulance the xanax will kick out until all is calm and then it kicks in again. Very frightning for me. I will say that my $39. video has probably solved the turbulance problem for me. It's routine, expected, and nothing will hurt the plane.

Again, thanks to all of you for responding. I read everything and really felt I was ready then it dawned on me that I'd had a couple of Vodka Tonics and then I'm always ready. :)

I have to say that CC people are the very best. Always so helpful. In person friends just say "get over it".

[carwvu80]

Now that this thread was started - I must add that I am terrified of flying. And to hear some of the others issues with flying - makes me realize my fears are all the same. The only thing - I cannot bear to listen to music or headphones, bc I feel like my body notices all the movement even more, if that makes any sense. And I feel like I can feel the engine's shutting down...I know I sound like a freak - but I really, and truly hate to fly. I took valium in October for my flight to Miami - did just fine, on the return - I was a giant mess. The lady next to me bought me some wine just to calm me down, and my husband thought I was losing my mind. If someone could explain to me that hearing the engines whine - feeling the plane fall a bit - or even explain all the noises of a plane, I feel like I would be so much better. I love when the stewardesses get up - it makes me feel it is a normal flight. I love landing - bc the closer we get to the ground, the happier I feel. I am flying in September - alone - and I am already having minor panic attacks about it.

[BTSEN5]

Now that this thread was started - I must add that I am terrified of flying. And to hear some of the others issues with flying - makes me realize my fears are all the same. The only thing - I cannot bear to listen to music or headphones, bc I feel like my body notices all the movement even more, if that makes any sense. And I feel like I can feel the engine's shutting down...I know I sound like a freak - but I really, and truly hate to fly. I took valium in October for my flight to Miami - did just fine, on the return - I was a giant mess. The lady next to me bought me some wine just to calm me down, and my husband thought I was losing my mind. If someone could explain to me that hearing the engines whine - feeling the plane fall a bit - or even explain all the noises of a plane, I feel like I would be so much better. I love when the stewardesses get up - it makes me feel it is a normal flight. I love landing - bc the closer we get to the ground, the happier I feel. I am flying in September - alone - and I am already having minor panic attacks about it.

 

 

I would like to understand the engine noises and changes in that, and the feeling of falling (rollercoaster like). I use the earplugs so I cannot hear the changes in the engines and it helps, but when I feel the plane "fall" I freak out. I usually lay my head on my husband or son when I feel that, esp during landing. I hate how the plane manuevers during the descent. It is so hard for me to keep my wits about me.

 

I am flying on Aug 22 for the first time without my family. I am taking my mom on a cruise. I am terrified of leaving without my husband and kids. I hope it is an okay flight, because it is my family that helped me on all the flights I have taken. Mom is just not going to cut it, I don't think. This will only be her second time flying, so she doesn't know much about the planes to comfort me.

[cruise_lover]

I am so afraid of flying :( that I literally need to take a very minor tranquilizer :eek: everytime I drive to the airport to pick up or drop off family and friends. That is why I only cruise out of New Orleans or Galveston (I live at the half-way point for both these ports). I do plan on taking a cruise out of Miami but it will be in 2-3 years when I retire so I can drive to one of the Florida Ports. That is the only way I'll be able to cruise to the U.S. Virgin Islands.

 

Until then I am doomed to keep visiting the same islands; Costa Maya, Honduras, Cozumel, etc.

[ChristieNJ]

Hi Brigette, and everyone else!

I am DEATHLY afraid of flying!!! :eek: That being said, I fly regularly pretty much two times a year. Germany, Florida, France, etc. I won't let it stop me from going on vacation. HOWEVER, flying to Australia or somewhere BEYOND Germany is my limit! LOL

I have found this website that has been a HUGE HUGE help to me, and it's free! There are additional things you can choose to pay for. But this captain explains EVERYTHING, from what planes feel like when they're turning, or landing, and even what the engine change noises are.

Check it out here:

 

http://www.fearofflyinghelp.com/

 

I have used this for YEARS, and it really really helps!

I do, however, still take two Xanax AND I put my iPod on, with Spa music. That relaxes me (as much as I can be relaxed on a plane!) and helps me to get to where I'm going without freaking out TOO much! Suffice it to say, you are definitely not alone!! :)

[KKeeganS]

My husband always listens to the cock pit channel while on the plane - not sure if all airlines have it, but it is literally a transmission of what the pilot and co-pilot are saying, and their interaction with the ground. This terrifies me, but for those who like to see the stewardesses in action, it is the ultimate confirmation that everything is under control.