Extreme Fear of Flying

[PickledMuffin]

Hi there

Over the past year I've developed an extreme fear of flying.

I've never really been a fan of flying, but last year we went on holiday and both ways I was a mess inside. We have 2 DC and I was desperately trying not to let them see my fear, as I didn't want them to feel they have a reason to be afraid. I was terrified for pretty much the whole flight both ways.

We've just booked a holiday and I am
panicking already. I want this to go away!

Is there any advice?

TIA

Is a fear of flying course an option, or hypnotherapy?

It sounds silly but Flight Radar cured my fear of flying. Watching all those planes in the sky at one time, tracking them, watching them all get to where they were meant to be safely really helped.

I read the title as 'Extreme Fear of Figs'.

Your brain is making assumptions that things will go wrong so you need to challenge your thoughts are come up with a more balanced and reasonable perspective. Flying has a lower fatality rate than driving by car. You could try watching videos on YouTube of people boarding and flying.

I used to be cabin crew in another life. Think about what it is that you are scared of then try to combat that.

Statistically you have more chance of bring involved in an accident on the motorway on the way to tje Airport than on a plane itself.

Incidents from around involving planes the world are reported on the news. If the news reported every car accident where even five people died we wouldn't make it to Emmerdale until the early hours. That being said I know it's not a rational fear and it's understandable.

If you can maybe visit a smaller airport, if you live near Manchester Barton airport would be ideal. Go in the pub and talk to the pilots. If you can afford it take a fear of flying course (most big airports offer them periodically) or a flying lesson or even a sim lesson.

Flying is incredibly safe. Commercial flying from the UK is incredibly safe. Some aircraft can land themselves even!
The cabin crew are well trained, the flight deck spend thousands of pounds training to get their license and everyone working on that flight wants to be safe too.

Cabin crew check the the full cabin before passengers board after all other staff have got off, they're trained for all sorts of medical situations as well as safety. You will be fine.

There's a podcast I found called the fearless flyer, it didn't alleviate things completely for me but it did rationalise my thoughts and make me slightly less worried because I understood noises, or why they do certain things at certain times etc..

I totally understand. My husband and I are currently not speaking after fighting because he wants to go on holiday with his family but they’ve chosen somewhere too far for me to fly (2-2.5 hrs is my max) Even reading this thread makes me feel anxious and I find it so frustrating. Am considering doing a fear of flying course but they are expensive and worried it won’t change anything for me. I just hate the whole experience, being strapped in the seat, the noise, the movement, just everything about it makes me feel panicky. Always reassuring to know others feel the same but it doesn’t stop me feeling so frustrated that it limits my life experiences! 😫