to be scared of flying....

[Fetlock]

used to love it, now on a bad day terrified. various things come into my mind when i am having a freak out so there is a list of things/likely scenarios that put me off flying although i do still fly, if i have to, am avoiding a long haul job however, much to dh's frustration. am i alone with this fear (i know i am not, but anyone here feel the same?)

I haven't flown for 23 years
I was ok about flying
then I married an aircraft engineer
Think I would be absolutely terrified now as DH is full of alarming stories!

Used to love flying and then developed a completely irrational fear of it and became an absolute basket case every time I had to fly. As my close family live in four different countries I really had to get over it, so I found this free fear of flying course online and it was a real lifesaver.

Did the course and read all the info carefully and was pretty much cured straight away - even went on a long haul flight followed by flights on several tiny planes without even breaking a sweat.

Still have to read through the info again every now and then as the old anxiety can resurface, but I really dont mind flying any more and usually even enjoy it!

The only thing about the website is that it is a bit cheesy in parts (rather a lot of icons and crap animations) and is focused on the US, but the basic info is very sound. It's written by an experienced pilot btw.

Hope that helps!

YABU.

At 30000ft I would have thought flying was the optimum scenario. It's crashing you should be scared of.

manatee - you're right, i don't know what i was thinking of, bit like being in a room with a horror film on and being terrified hiding behind a pillow but still peaking out from the sides to see what is happening

mrsb - ah 'banking'. this happens shortly after take off whenever i have gone to denmark, there is always a really serious tilt to one side you feel as if the plane is almost upside down, really freaky

gastro - thanks for that, i will have a look next time i am due to go somewhere on a plane :)

Heh, Fetllock, that is kind of what I was like when doing my 'research'! Horror/fascination!

Used to be fine with flying, then married DH 20 years ago. Had 1 flight with him which was awful, fog, stacking, dreadful landing. My DH was so petrified, he refused to get on a plane again. As time has gone I too am frightened.

However last year DD1 flew with friends, DH flew for work twice and last month DD2 flew to New York with school.
When the girls flew, I felt so guilty that I had never taken them, but they were both absolutley fine. I thought if they can do it so must I, so have booked a holiday to Spain. Only 2 hours 15 from a local airport, but I am so nervous, already stressing about it.
Reading all your stories is helping actually.

Used to love it, hate it now and have to take Diazepam which helps a lot.

I still worry before the flight though - my main fear is that we'll hit turbulence and that I'll freak out and have a panic attack and want to get off (a bit difficult when you're 30,000 feet up).

What the f* would I do then?

Nope. You are not alone. I am also terrified of flying. Unfortunately, as an international family, we fly a great deal. I approach each flight as if it were my last.

I'm another one who used to have no problems flying but hate it now. We've just got back from australia and i spent most of the flight fighting this great urge to shriek and run up and down the plane waving my arms in the air. Only my British fear of making a twat of myself stopped me! I hear every single engine note change, feel every dip/bump etc.

We were supposed to fly out on A380 and I was fully expecting an engine to drop off. When it turned out we were flying on a 747 it was a relief until BIL told me Qantas had pulled a lot of really old 747's out of mothballs after A380 scare. Then worried that 747's were too old and would fall out of sky.

Do stupid things like looking at route planner and being terrified when we're over Afghanistan / Pakistan etc because they're v. mountainous and nowhere to make emergency landing.

Am fully aware am silly cow - doesn't help.

Have told DH do not intend to fly anywhere for at least 2 years.

I agree that long haul is better than short haul. You sort of resign yourself to being there for a long time and have to give in. Business class is better, maybe just upgrade one way to get the first part over with. By the time you work out how to use the bloody seat you'll have reached your destination. Coming back from Bangkok recently we had major turbulence and I have found flying less scary since. It helped me to overcome that panic and claustrophobia. Also having a kindle really helps, I have 100s of my favourite books on there even (embarrassing) an old Enid Blyton childhood favourite for comfort. Good luck

You might find this helpful

the noises mean

I did. I always used to think "what the hell is THAT" and now I know.

Still knock myself out to get through it though.

The bit I loathe is when you level out after take off. You've been going up for so long that levelling out feels like "nose down".