Going out of my mind-So scared of flying that going to miss booked holiday on Tuesday

[kangers]

Don't think I can even go to airport. Three DC and DH will be devastated. I am so mad with myself. Have tried diazepam and sedatives, but not cutting it. Not sure about source of fear but I just can't face it- whole thing- check in, boarding, taking off, being up there and trapped in that little seat. Kids will take piss which makes me worse. Youngest will be saying 'what is keeping us up' as he has not flown recently. Just in turmoil. Going with friends too so making me even worse. Any PLEASE???

You would be ok for your DC to go without you though? So you know it's OK really, don't you.
I hate flying too, but I wouldn't let it stop me going anywhere. I wouldn't go on Ryanair, but not for safety reasons :)

I reported you Einstein. Arse.

Ex Air Traffic Control so experienced to post...Air travel is MEGA safe...if you had seen all the rules and regs and how much red tape controlllers/aircrew/engineers go through you would be thoroughly placated..the industry is vigorously policed..safe as houses!

kangers

Erm... I suggest you check your Geography, I can assure you it is not far, and yes I have been to Tripoli, only I departed from the Port of Genoa in Italy.
I

thanks highhopes- keep thinking about air hostesses and pilots! I have friemds who fly all the time, just so irrationally petrified. In esponse to earlier question what am I afraid of- ultimately its dying in a plane crash and not being able to do a damn thing about it. Completely out of control on a plane and at mercy of mechanics, technicians, pilots, weather and terrorists.

Also helped knowing that i dont want to freak out in front of my ds10 as i dont want him to get a fear of flying,so get busy with your kids on the plane,after a few drinks you will be fine.

Portoeufino Sun 17-Apr-11 22:06:18
I reported you Einstein. Arse.

I have reported you as this site forbis personal attacks.

I hate flying as well so feel for you. I did once fly with an aeronautical engineer who really helped by being very geeky and explaining how it all worked - made it seem all the more 'normal' and less scary. Also someone once pointed out that the pilot/co-pilot doesn't want to die either, so will do their damndest to make sure the plane stays in the air...

Actually, one thing that did really help once was sitting in front of someone who was even more scared than me . She was at the point of gibbering hysteria, so even I was like 'blimey, you need to chill the fuck out'

OMG Einstein- even you can't thow a stone from Tripoli to Alicante- check your manners you txxt.

My sister is dead scared of flying. Recently she did a 9 hour flight with the aid of diazapam and gin.

Flying is really safe. Use drugs to get you through this trip and you'll break the back of your fear.

My DP used to be scared/phobic of flying but a couple of years ago he did transatlantic and is now converted to the wonders of planes.

It will be tough before you fly, but you can do it. Good luck!!

Will they prescribe Beta Blockers? My friend couldnt take her driving test because she would go nuts every time. So her gp gave her BBs and they worked.

Possibilty?

I sympathise. I have a similar thing with hospitals/doctors/dentists/midwives you name it. Its very hard to deal with but you CAN.

Imagine how bloody brilliant you will feel if you beat this fecker.

I really hope you go.

I think taking the sedative after the check in/ boarding would be the best idea as perhaps you don't really have enough time to overcome the phobia.

And yes, you are at the mercy of all these people- but that's good,as they know what they're doing. You wouldn't want to be the one doing the flying bit

I hate flying. I do it though, for my DH, as I think life would be terribly restrictive if we only ever holidayed in the UK. I hear about crashes and it worries me for weeks.

I remind myself that the trip down the motorway to a ferry port is far more unsafe than a flight, statistically speaking. In fact, I suspect the 10 minute taxi ride to the airport is too.

I also remind myself that I live right by an airport and planes aren't falling out of the sky all the time.

Kangers - you should know that einstein is a horrible troll. I, along with others, have reported him/her.

Flying is one of the safest modes of transport. Just think about all those planes that take off every day from all our airports - there are so few problems. It really is safe.

That said, the airlines are very aware that many people are anxious passengers, and they will treat you with every sympathy.

But - you haven't left yourself very long before you travel, and it would be seriously unfair on the rest of your family to pull out now. Go and see your GP and tell them exactly how you feel and ask for something to help you calm down/relax.

And have a lovely holiday!

Thanks for all positivity- need to work out best combination of drugs to alcohol. Will ask dr for letter- thats a good idea as I did seem like a raving pisshead on thesedatives last night. Someone told me betablockers take a few days to work.

Portoeufino Sun 17-Apr-11 22:06:18
I reported you Einstein. Arse.

I have reported you as this site forbis personal attacks.

Good luck with that!

And, btw, I sympathize, as I have developed a fear of flying after having kids, even though I used to pilot the aircraft before It gradually went away, though.

You'll be fine Lots of alcohol or sedative and you'll be ok and have a lovely holiday.

Pretty sure Gadaffi is a little busy at the moment bombing his own people. Shouldn't think he has the resources or time to be plotting anything else.

Op seriously my dad is an airplane engineer and he says he feels far happier flying than driving on motorways.

Concentrate on sorting your kids out during the flight and focus on the fact of how short it is- and don't forget to keep breathing. What about an ipod/music to shut any noise out?

Do it

Einstein

You are a horrible, horrible person. You are deliberately making this posters' fears even worse.

I have reported your post and asked for you to be banned.

You are despicable.

poster's, obviously

I completely know how you feel , i too have an absolute irrational fear of flying. No matter how many times i am told it is the safest form of transport.
I agree that my feeling of not wanting to pass this on to my kids helps, i have gone from having panic attacks pre kids to doing a flight (or 3) to Aus last year.

My DH is a security officer at a major aiport and one of my friends works as cabin crew. Another of my friends flies 2 -4 times a week on business. My friends have racked up literally thousands of trips between them with never even a scare. It seems a big thing to you but that's because you don't do it often. if you never went in a car you'd be scared of that too (and maybe rightly so, cars are far, far more dangerous than planes).

It's DH's job to check the bags/ work the x ray machines/ scan people etc. I can tell you that the job is taken incredibly seriously. I can tell you that they have "pretend" threats go through every single day of their working life, to check they are on the ball. If they miss them, they're pulled out for retraining. You can be sacked at the drop of a hat - basically mistakes are not allowed because it's too important. The training process is hard and out of dozens of people initially interviewed for the job, DH was one of only 2 people who made it through the stringent selection process.

Knowing what I know now, I would feel very reassured and safe going on a plane. Go to the doctor and see what else you can get. Maybe if you are not coherent with sedatives you can have a doctor's letter explaining why?

I think you need to find a way to go. You'll be glad you did.

honest Kangers,tell the air hostess's they are brilliant at calming you down.and dont be bothered telling them,it will help.along with a few doubles-as long as youre not staggering about you'll be fine.like i said your dcs will keep you busy too.

I would have suggested going to see a hypnotherapist / EFT therapist but as you are going on Tuesday try some of these:

www.youtube.com/results?search_query=EFT+flying+phobia&aq=f

Don't beat yourself up over it, phobias are very scary and you aren't feeling like this on purpose! Tapping (EFT) is amazing and you feel the difference instantly. It looks a bit strange but I promise it really works. It's one of the therapies that Paul McKenna uses and is based on similar principles to acupuncture but without needles.

The tapping will help to bring your anxiety level down. Do some positive visualisation about your flight going well and getting to the other end feeling calm. Try to arrange for your DH to take main responsibility for the kids if you can, so you can do deep breathing and if you can learn the basic tapping points, (they are really easy to remember) you can tap them at the time on the plane and beforehand and that will help too.

Don't give up on your holiday though, the journey is only a couple of hours out of the whole thing and once you get there I'm sure you will have a great time.