Fear of flying - your top tips for combatting it

[TabbyMcTabster]

We've booked to go to the Seychelles in November and I'm already feeling anxious about the flight when I think about it!

I say 'flight' .. wish it was just one flight! It's actually two flights - one to Doha then onto the Seychelles

No idea where the fear of flying comes from. I've never been particularly keen tbh and I've never flown long haul. When I've been to Portugal / Turkey etc I spend a large amount of time just gazing at the flight attendants to see if they seem nice and calm!

Anyway - I'd like diazepam I think but doubt I'll be able to get it prescribed so in the absence of that - what can I do?

The thought of being in the air just makes me shiver - am I going to be on the plane that crashes?!!

Please - no horror stories

Another vote for hynotherapy.
What time is your flight? Obviously night time.. you want to try an sleep a bit.. if you're likely to be awake, something to keep you occupied.
I think you need some techniques or mantras to say to yourself.. one might be to look around at the other passengers, repeating to yourself, I am no different to any of them- and they are fine. Or something similar.
You will have a gorgeous time! Seychelles- holiday of a lifetime for most!

Solution ..... don't fly. It will stop your fear and save the planet all in one go!!

Completely agree, worked for me too, only flight I wasn't scared on! No drowsiness just felt calm.i haven't tried the headphones but would next time.

You should cruise, much better for anxiety I feel like. I don't like flying and I'm nervous but loved cruising and got to go to many countries.

I am not a fan of flying and am not a regular flier. I find I tend to build it up in my head beforehand and the actual flying bit is ok in the end.

I have recently done an 6.5 hr flight to the USA. I was dreading it but it was fine.

I recommend:

Kalms tablets

A small drink - I had a glass of wine on the plane before lunch.

Good ear plugs.

Then break down your time - 20 mins or so for take of and landing - that is already 40 mins accounted for. Then an hour or so for food and drinks - a good distraction.

Make use of the in flight entertainment - I watched 3 one hour long programmes in a TV series. That felt like it used more time than a film.

Downloading and listening to preferred Podcasts is a good call as well. I did download of comforting R4 ones. You can sit back, close your eyes and pretend you are in your bed listening to the radio.

Finally schedule in at least 30 mins of time to get up and walk around and use the loo

It will go quicker than you expect.

Friend of mine did the Easyjet fear of flying course several years ago, she'd never flown before.
Since then she's done several flights to Europe, Dominican Republic and Qatar. She even took a flight to Edinburgh by herself.
Unfortunately she hasn't flown since COVID so is a bit unsure about it again now though.

Benadryl.

For me the only thing that worked was coincidentally starting an antidepressant. After becoming a mum, my anxiety soared - in particular health anxiety. Having been successfully treated for this I discovered my fear of flying had also been successfully kicked to touch.

To put my fear into perspective, I had such a bad panic attack on one long haul flight the flight attendant had to unbuckle her self soon after take off to give me oxygen (mortifying). I had hyperventilated and then vomited everywhere. Oh the shame.

I have spoken to many new mums who had exactly the same symptoms. I wonder if it's a protective instinct gone wrong scenario after having children (scared of dieing - from a disease or a plane crash).

Hi OP, try hypnotherapy online or in person. In person is best, as the hypnotherapist will adapt the script to your specific fears (flying but also the nausea and leaving children behind). Three sessions should be sufficient.

I assume it is not too late to cancel and choose an alternative such as a short haul one somewhere?

i don’t like flying either. The only thing that’s helped me is to be consciously very rational about it. When was the last time a passenger plane crashed? It’s headline news if it does. When was the last time a car crashed? Probably a couple of minutes ago and it wouldn’t make the local news. You’re at far, far greater risk of losing your life getting in a car and driving down a B road. By a factor of thousands. Yet we do that every day without a giving it a second thought. I just try and tell myself that when I’m sitting on the plane.

If you are a statistical person, I can quote you one? If you caught a flight to work and back everyday, for 45 minutes, you would crash once every 33,000 years, and even then, the odds are good survive. That's pretty safe in my book.

Also, if look on youtube about the physics of flight. Aerodynamics etc. That will explain exactly how a plane handles turbulence, and that it isn't anything to worry about other than being a little uncomfortable.

My friend does get Diazepam from her GP for flying. He gives her like 4 tablets.

I did the BA Fear of Flying course years ago, and it completely cured me of my (really bad) fear of flying. I was so bad, I came back from a holiday in Italy by train.

I would really recommend the BA Flying with Confidence course - I did one about 8 years ago and it’s helped loads. I still heavily dislike flying but I had got to the stage where I refused to get on a flight or had weeks of feeling awful pre-flight. Onset of peri has made me a bit anxious in general so I’m thinking of redoing it before flying this summer as I don’t want to slip back into old habits……

Mine wasn’t caused by anything, I know flying is safe, I understand the mechanics and physics of flight, it’s just a random totally irrational fear. DH flies loads for work and I never worry about him at all so I know my fear is not the actual plane!

Take Sturgeron. Will help with the nausea and massive bonus puts me to sleep for a few hours too.