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Original poster

Fear of flying. What can I do about it

33 replies

jomblejumble · 20/02/2023 16:55

I never used to be afraid of flying but a few years ago had a horrific flight that had the entire cabin crew in their seats for the whole flight through a huge tropical storm and I genuinely thought my time was up.

Ever since that flight despite trying to shake it off and ignore the fear, I have flown and have to for work but I feel utterly sick during every flight and my heart feels like it's going to give up!

To make matters worse the last flight I was on had a massive gust of wind when landing and the whole plane was a load of ooooo ahhhh as it came down and pretty much everyone was frightened.

I really want to get on a plane and be calm again. Has anyone managed to be ok after a fear brought on by a particular flight?!

OP posts:
Yarnosaura · 20/02/2023 17:14

EasyJet do a fear of flying course that looks fab.

arghtriffid · 20/02/2023 17:17

Read Soar.

Arthurflecksfacepaint · 20/02/2023 17:20

Drugs.

Only way I’ve ever been able to fly. Beta blockers mainly and diazepam.

I’ve flown in a horrendous storm somewhere between Hong Kong and Australia. It went on for ages, all staff in seats. So long that lunch and dinner ended up being served together. Plane shaking and dropping all over the place, it was horrendous! My then 6 year old ds slept though the whole ordeal!

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JunkIsland · 20/02/2023 17:32

Watching with interest. My phobia of flying (specifically turbulence) is so irrational that on a recent multi-leg flight I was far less scared during a landing so bumpy that the captain warned us we wouldn’t be able to take anything with us if it ended up being an emergency landing (!) than on the preceding smooth seven-hour leg. I’m more afraid of my own terror and being trapped with it for hours than anything else.

I’ve read Soar and it didn’t help me much. I know planes are built to withstand truly awful turbulence but I’m still petrified by the possibility of it happening.

JamSandle · 20/02/2023 17:34

Diazepam

notsosoftanymore · 20/02/2023 17:39

Hypnotherapy, worked for me in 3 sessions.

DoraSpenlow · 20/02/2023 17:41

Hynotherapy. OK I still get a bit anxious on boarding, but am now able to get through take off without hyperventilating!

Diazepam had no effect whatsoever for me although I know if works well for some.

gonnabeok · 20/02/2023 17:46

See a hypnotherapist. We deal with phobias all the time. It takes me 3 sessions to work with a phobia. Check out the association for solution focused hypnotherapy website for qualified hypnotherapists in your area.

LavenderSloe · 20/02/2023 18:03

Arthurflecksfacepaint · 20/02/2023 17:20

Drugs.

Only way I’ve ever been able to fly. Beta blockers mainly and diazepam.

I’ve flown in a horrendous storm somewhere between Hong Kong and Australia. It went on for ages, all staff in seats. So long that lunch and dinner ended up being served together. Plane shaking and dropping all over the place, it was horrendous! My then 6 year old ds slept though the whole ordeal!

I don't think you can get these for flying anymore sadly...I wish you could! Hypnotherapy helps me a little, not a lot.

Gufo · 20/02/2023 18:06

You can get drugs - this thread just reminded me I have a prescription to collect for just this!

QuentininQuarantino · 20/02/2023 18:11

i take Almaprazolam (Xanax) for flying, prescribed by my doctor in Spain where I live. But I’ve been getting slowly better at it, I think from improving my overall mental health.

lovemypuppa · 20/02/2023 18:28

Diazepam - at least 5-10mg

GoodVibesHere · 20/02/2023 19:35

My GP surgery will no longer give Diazepam for flying. Where are people getting it from? Private prescription?

GyozaGuiting · 20/02/2023 19:39

I don’t like flying but 2 glasses of wine work for me!
My Dr doesnt give diazepam as they want you to be alert if there’s an emergency, so booze it is!
If I need to drive the other end I’ll just have one.

Wiifitmama · 20/02/2023 19:49

@JunkIsland that is exactly how I feel! I have never heard anyone else express it. I internally cheer as we begin descent no matter how bumpy. I don’t mind take off either. My fear is entirely about turbulence once we are up there and being trapped with it. The slightest bump (which most people barely feel) and I am on high alert. At the moment, I am only coping with very short flights (under 3 hours). I need to fly transatlantic again some day but can’t imagine doing it.

PrincessHoneysuckle · 20/02/2023 19:52

A bottle of prosecco just after take off

YellowDaffodillie · 20/02/2023 19:55

My DH has retired now but ran a successful practice as a hypnotist. He used to deal with phobias in one session usually. Fear of Flying is very common and pretty straightforward to resolve with a good hypnotist.

However, like in any profession there are mediocre and excellent hypnotists so try and get some recommendations and see if you can book a short free consultation to see if you feel comfortable with your chosen practitioner.

Best of luck!

BlackCatTabbyCat · 20/02/2023 19:59

Wiifitmama · 20/02/2023 19:49

@JunkIsland that is exactly how I feel! I have never heard anyone else express it. I internally cheer as we begin descent no matter how bumpy. I don’t mind take off either. My fear is entirely about turbulence once we are up there and being trapped with it. The slightest bump (which most people barely feel) and I am on high alert. At the moment, I am only coping with very short flights (under 3 hours). I need to fly transatlantic again some day but can’t imagine doing it.

I'm the opposite my fear is taking off and landing. Thankfully I don't fly very often as I can't afford to go on holiday! I think when I do next fly my phobia is going to be even worse as I know a lot more about planes and crashes than what I used to. I hate myself for it as I know it's the safest form of travel and the chances of something happening are miniscule but its a horrible fear to have.

I follow a few pilots on Tik Tok who answer questions about flying and they are very reassuring. I recommend pilotgeeza and flymansimon.

lovemypuppa · 20/02/2023 20:33

GoodVibesHere · 20/02/2023 19:35

My GP surgery will no longer give Diazepam for flying. Where are people getting it from? Private prescription?

I've always been able to get it for anxiety but it was taken off repeat a couple of years ago. It makes me so mad that people have so much trouble getting it. I have always been respectful of dependency albeit I've not had a single problem with it over 20 years. I never take daily, just when I can't control my anxiety which is in certain situations, especially when I have to interact with my ex-H to Co-parent my children - eg. I wouldn't have been able to attend parents evenings or graduations without it as I'm terrified of him. Sad, but that's my crutch. A large glass of red wine probably sedates better, but it's not appropriate to use wine in certain situations, ie parents evenings, kids parties, etc...

Arthurflecksfacepaint · 20/02/2023 20:56

GoodVibesHere · 20/02/2023 19:35

My GP surgery will no longer give Diazepam for flying. Where are people getting it from? Private prescription?

Yes, my private GP.

Original poster
jomblejumble · 21/02/2023 06:31

So it looks like perhaps it's alcohol that might do it. I'd happily take beta blockers. Do they give them out in the U.K. for this though? Honestly wouldn't mind passing out for the whole flight. Worst ones are when I have to go with colleagues and I'm gripping my arm rests in fear. Quite embarrassing!

OP posts:
Fedupofdiets · 21/02/2023 06:48

Diazepam for me too. I am flying to Spain on Thursday, first time on a plane in 3 years and just sitting here thinking about it makes me want to vomit. I did the Virgin Flying without Fear course some years ago and it was moderately helpful. Diazepam is the only thing though that makes it in any way doable for me. Luckily I have some left over from when I had severe anxiety last year, they make me rationale about things and take the edge off the worst of the symptoms. I know i could not get on a plane without them, no way.

bumblingbovine49 · 21/02/2023 07:35

My husband uses beta blockers . He also had hypnotherapy about 10 years ago which worked so well he didn't always need the pills at first He gradually got a bit more nervous over the years and started taking the pills again but he's never been as bad again as before the hypnotherapy.

He has recently had trouble refilling his prescription though .He is in his 50s and has had has a prescription for this regularly ( ie about 10 pills every 3-4 years ) since he was in his 20s but as I say recently his new young GP has made noises about this and his last prescription was written very reluctantly. This was about 5-6 years ago as he is flying much less often nowadays. So I think he want be able to get any more when his current ones are finished

He has however been scared of flying (seriously seriously terrified when I first met him) for 30+ years. . He used to only take trains but he had to fly for work for a while and when he met me I was pretty unhappy about the restrictions his phobia put on our travelling which I used to love when I was young. So he got the tablets and did fly after he met me. The hypnotherapy helped as well

MissyB1 · 21/02/2023 07:45

Diazepam did absolutely nothing for me, I took 10mg! In fact I actually think it made me worse 🤔
I don’t know what the answer is, I have to fly to South Africa at Easter and I already feel sick with anxiety about it.

Greenfairydust · 21/02/2023 07:47

I hate flying too and avoid it as much as I can (I know this is not helpful...).

I used to be OK with it then I had a flew horrible flights in bad weather in small planes where everything was shaking, everyone including the crew was strapped on for the duration of the flights and the landing was just the plane dropping like a stone over and over and shaking like the inside of a washing machine!

Another time we had to abort a landing at the last minute as another airplane suddenly appeared on the runway and our plane suddenly went back up at full speed to avoid crashing into it.

Frankly I have managed to fly since but I absolutely hate it and much prefer holidays where I can use trains/ferries to travel.

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