to be absolutely petrified of turbulence ?!

[optimisticpessimist01]

It panics me to the point where I start crying and feel sick, and I convince myself that the plane is going to crash and we are going to die. It doesn't even have to be severe turbulence, just a quick shake of the plane convinces me we are flying to our death. Dramatic, I know.

I also worry so much about it for months leading up to taking a flight. We are doing 5 hours to Cyprus soon and I am terrified in case we get turbulence

I'm at my wits end and I'm worried I'm going to get to the point where I don't even want to fly anywhere anymore

AIBU to ask how I can stop this silly feeling that I have and make flying enjoyable again?

I don't like it either. We had a really turbulent flight to Singapore one time, it just didn't seem to stop, it was extremely bumpy. The cabin crew were strapped in more often than not, along with the rest of us of course.

I don't like it either. We had pretty nasty turbulence coming back from LA last year. I had to keep grabbing DH. He wasn't phased at all. Neither was the cabin crew.

Flying to New York in 2 weeks, not looking forward to it.

@BarbarAnna it is pretty irrational though when you consider flying is by far the safest way to travel.

It doesn't bother me in the least - I fly long-haul at least monthly and never really think about it.

That's not helpful at all, I know, sorry.

If you consider how much stress an aeroplane can take before it would even have a small problem, it's incredibly unlikely that the most violent turbulence would be an issue.

And the pilots don't want to die any more than the passengers do, of course.

Commercial flying is so safe that if you could get a flight a flight to the supermarket it would be many times safer than driving or walking there.

I hate it too. Just remind yourself that people work every day on planes. They start their careers on planes, work for the next 40 years and then retire, never once plummeting to their death.

You will be fine, it might be horrible for you, but for the staff responsible for you, it's their day job and you are safe.

Ex cabin crew here, as others have said, turbulence can not make a plane crash and is just the same as driving down a bumpy stretch of road. If you can pre book your seats I would do that and try to get as close to the front of the plane as possible. Turbulence feels 10 times worse the further back you are as you are behind the wings and close to the tail. It’s amazing how it feels so bumpy at the back but when you walk to the front of the plane it’s so much smoother! It’s also a lot quieter too at the front as you are in front of the engines

Yanbu. I honestly haven't been on a plane in 3 years after a seriously traumatic flight while pregnant. I've never been a big fan of flying but I've always just drank enough before I boarded that I could be too relaxed to care but I obviously couldn't do that. The turbulence was terrifying and I was so panicked that my whole body was uncontrollably shaking and I had to apologise to the lady in front of me who had to endure me grabbing onto her seat for dear life. It was humiliating. I then googled how long it would it take to return to the UK by boat.

Someone told me to imagine turbulence like being on a train and to ask yourself why we don’t question the jolts on a track. Works for me.

@optimisticpessimist01 I'm not sure. I like rollercoasters etc. I guess I'm a bit of a thrill seeker...

DD loves it- says it's like bouncing on clouds. She's weird

I always think people should say they are frightened of crashing, not flying. I know where you’re coming from with turbulence as I guess you could say it makes you feel out of control. I once flew alone from San Francisco to Washington ( only about the 4th time I had flown in my life) & it was extremely turbulent. Luckily I had a lovely lady sitting next to me who held my hand, bless her. I know it’s ok but it’s still pretty scary. Kalms or Rescue Remedy before the flight might help

I used to hate flying until we had turbulence so bad on a flight back over the Atlantic I was convinced we were going to die twice.
It went on for hours - about 4-5, it was so bad you couldn’t drink anything as it just went everywhere, no trolley service obviously for the entire time, people screaming, the plane dropping. It was hideous
However, the one massive positive is, it totally cured my feaf of flying as I realised the stresses and strains a plane can tolerate. So it’s all good! 👍🏻😀

A few things that have helped me:

1. listen to some sort of fear of flying hypnosis podcast on headphones.
2. sit by a window - if I can see out I can reassure myself we’re not actually hurtling towards the ground.
3. find a totally chilled, calm other passenger across the aisle and keep looking at them; remind yourself how if they’re not worried, you have no need to be.
4. have a drink or two.
5. tell yourself you’re not giving in to this; the alternative is to stay home and you’re not going to be that person. Good luck, have a lovely holiday!!

Turbulence is scary - but it's ever so common. Planes tend to crash for reasons other than turbulence.

Wow. That must be a comforting thought for someone who is anxious about flying. 🙄

OP, it was always explained to me as being no different to a bus going over bumps in the road. Thinking of it that way always settled me.

Turbulence doesn't bother me regarding worrying about it. I've always been told that this is what the plane is meant to do however it does make me feel sick.

I would love a cure for the fear. I am a frequent flyer due to work. Probably take on average 4/6 flights a month. Normally choose the night flights so I can down a few glasses of wine to calm my nerves. I have just accepted the fact nothing seems to help. 😭

I was a very confident passenger for years and years until on one flight we hit such bad turbulence and dropped so significantly that a child in the row in front of me lifted out of his seat and hit the ceiling of the plane.

He wasn't strapped in, but everyone else was.

I still have nerves but ultimately I think 'well there's nothing, literally nothing I can do'.

That sense of no control makes me feel better!

I quite like it. I even enjoy the sudden drops. It makes a rather boring experience a bit more fun. Feels a bit like a fun fair ride.

DH loathes it though . He is scared of flying as well. Hypnotherapy helped him fly with less anxiety but he is still very anxious just not panic attack level.

I was going to say exactly the same as @doodlejump1980. I used to find turbulence scary but have always reassured myself that train - and car - journeys can be bumpy and the vehicles jolt around, so why would a plane be different.

What’s so strange to me is that there seems to be a lot more turbulence than there was several years ago. I think (could be totally off) it’s because pilots used to be allowed to use their judgment and the fuel to fly around rough pockets, but now they’re forced to just fly straight through it because airlines don’t want to spend a single extra pence on the fuel just for “comfort.” I remember it used to be the case that you’d have turbulence for a moment, then the pilot would climb or descend slightly to avoid it, or fly around it; now they just do nothing (I assume because they aren’t allowed). Maybe I’m wrong and it’s actually weather related or something, but seems unlikely. Maybe a pilot can chime in.

I don’t know if that’s a help to you, OP, but pilots are not going to risk their own lives, and airlines are not going to risk massive loss of business, so turbulence really is about being “comfortable,” as much as turbulence can be very, very uncomfortable indeed, and I’ve had the shite scared out of me by it, too.

Similar to those who explain as bumps in the road it was once described to me like waves in the ocean, if you were on a boat and went up or down a bit you wouldn't worry so just think of the air being the same it has ups and downs too depending on the hot and cold air so if you get a bump it's just the air movement and not to be feared.... easier said than done I know but hopefully you are able to relax a little

@Armadillostoes
I am sorry that you find it so traumatic OP but it really, really is NOT remotely dangerously. In objective terms you are at no risk because of it.

I know that you are trying to reassure OP but what you say is not quite right. It is 100% true that the plane is not at risk of crashing due to turbulence.

However people do get injured in severe turbulence- they can be thrown into the air and suffer head, back and leg injuries. Such severe turbulence is very rare but it happens. There is a simple solution- keep your seatbelt fastened at all times, even if the flight seems smooth, because it can come on suddenly.

I know this for a fact due to my job in aviation insurance. It doesn’t stop me flying or make me afraid but I do always wear my seatbelt.

I really don't understand people who enjoy turbulence. Do you also enjoy driving a motorway at 100mph in heavy traffic?
I fly frequently (across the Alps (at least once a fortnight for work) and it is frequently bumpy. I grin and bear it if the cabin crew are up, if they are told to sit down then I know it's not going to be much fun.
Not much help OP. The captain etc are very well trained and know what they are doing. Keep your seatbelt on and know you are in the hands of experts.

I have suffered this for years after an incidence of very bad turbulence. After unsuccessfully self-medicating with alcohol and Valium I tried this book and while my last long haul flight was miles better despite quite a long period of turbulence. What also helped, weirdly, was forcing myself to watch loads of videos of turbulence on YouTube, and practicing staying calm. Putting a clear plastic glass half full of water on your tray is a really powerful trick, you might feel like the plane is rising and dropping by feet at a time, but unless the water spills, it can’t possibly be moving more than a few inches. Soar: The Breakthrough Treatment for Fear of Flying www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0762788003/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_6BGmDb48CE131?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

Sorry, *my last flight, not while my last flight!