Tips for fear of flying

[Ljc1985]

24 hours till our flight. Short haul to Spain Friday am.

Currently feel emotional and like I'm sending entire family to certain death.

How can I keep this in check and not ruin my family's excitement

For context I've flown many times. I have always been nervous but since Covid and having a baby it's got so so much worse. I always get on the plane but the days before a holiday I'm a emotional wreck and I struggle to sleep

Any tips or advice

Fire up Flight radar and have a look at all the thousands of planes in the sky, day and night. Thousands and thousands of people doing something so normal and routine - and safe.

Which airport are you flying from? My son is a pilot and is due into Heathrow at 6.45am this morning. Have a look at flight radar and see if you can see his flight - EK7. I also used to have a fear including having to take meds, alcohol, and anything else to sedate me lol but now I understand the physics of flying I love it. Thinking of you today and have a dab holiday! You can do this 💪

fearofflyinghelp.com

This. It's free. Really good info and lots of techniques to overcome the fear.

Just to point out to others that you can still get tranqs to fly.

If there's a show you absolutely love, download it but only ever let yourself watch it when you're on a plane.

Hi @Ljc1985 I'm not afraid of flying at all but I always think that if the cabin crew are wandering around, chatting, doing their thing with refreshments and sodding scratch cards and duty free etc, then everything is absolutely fine!

Does no one else have a glass of wine? 🤣
I never look outside and try to keep busy. When the plunging thoughts pop into my head I yell ‘NO!’ Internally and refocus on my puzzle or book. I remind myself that I want to go to interesting places.

Tell yourself you are excited about going on holiday, not nervous. The two feelings can be quite similar.

Another tip...reflect on the pilots life story...how they wanted to become a pilot, now get to live that dream out...how one day they will retire and a day like today will be so utterly mundane to them; helps build perspective.

Also , the cabin crew, think about what their very normal plans for next Wednesday might be- water plants, get a haircut, change bedding...again building perspective that they just go about flying in a plane as part of their everyday life....

There’s a brilliant app called SkyGuru where you put in your flight number and it talks you through everything that’s happening, what all the noises are, how the sensations will change depending on where on the plane your seat is, how turbulence works and when to expect it. It’s 5£ per flight I think, but worth it for me!

Thank you so much everyone! We have arrived! All of your tips were so useful! I'm pleased I managed the flight and now not another one for 7 Days! I have downloaded flight radar 😊

Have a fab holiday 😎

@chemistnightmare I think this must depend on your local health trust as I've been reading this on MN for a few years - each time giving me real panic - but my GP still prescribes. (I hope - they did last time I asked.)

Unfortunately my dislike of flying increased with the menopause.

Very stressful.

Taking a xanax really helped me.

If I had to fly tomorrow I'd have a few drinks to be perfectly honest. I don't though and ferry to the continent

They are prescribing against the national guidelines. I'm not sure when they changed but a quick google will confirm this.

In honesty, whizzing along at over 500 mph in a metal tube at 30,000 feet is not a natural pass time. It's hardly surprising we're not very keen! 😬

Time for the return flight! Trying to channel all of these tips!

Hi guys I’ve got a long haul 10 hour flight coming up . I booked it thinking that I would be able to get some meds to help with my crippling flight anxiety. I’m now freaking out because I’ve read that doctors no longer prescribe meds for this. Has anyone got any idea of any otc meds that really work? I’m so close to cancelling the flight! Please help

I find Kalms quite helpful. Also night nurse (the drowsy version) paired with a glass of wine may help knock you out!

Take whatever antihistamine tends to send you into a fog. Get some sleep.