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?

It’s important to understand that the reason cabin crew are sometimes asked by the captain to stop service, sit down and belt up during periods of turbulence is for their own, and passengers’ safety.

The aircraft itself is NOT in danger and is NOT going to crash, but the bumps could cause the crew and their equipment to lose balance, stumble or fall and injure themselves or others. The potential hazards are unrestrained people or objects in the cabin.

Am on an airplane right this minute. Looking at a beautiful full moon!

I am much better than I was about 15 years ago - I did a fear of flying course and it made a lot of difference to understand exactly what was going on all the time, all the noises etc.

Threads about turbulence make me even more nervous 😬

And you categorically stated that turbulence posed no risk. That was incorrect

I assume they mean that turbulence won’t bring a plane down (has there ever even been a case of this?) I bet no one here really cares that turbulence can cause injuries like a broken arm or whatever because they didn’t buckle themselves up.

Backinthebox That’s interesting, where is turbulence the worst? I find Southeast Asia quite a bit more turbulent than crossing the Atlantic, I wonder if my perceptions are real here though.

I definitely shouldn’t watch anymore episodes of Aircrash Investigation when I’m already a very nervous flyer!

where is turbulence the worst? I find Southeast Asia quite a bit more turbulent than crossing the Atlantic, I wonder if my perceptions are real here though.

I've found the same particularly over the Bay of Bengal.

Anywhere around the equator is always prone to worse weather. There is an area known as the ITCZ which gives rise to tropical clouds which create a lot of turbulence. I recall that the Malacca Straits near Malaysia and Singapore suffers from bad turbulence. Other areas that suffer perhaps more unexpectedly than other areas include the downwind side of the Alps, particularly going into Northern Italy. Central Africa is also often lumpy.

@stopgap Yes, you need to find the right dosage. I was very cautious at first since the last you need is a benzo overdose up in the air. I increased by 0.25mg each time after being sure I can tolerate the previous dose. 0-25 - 0.5 makes me drowsy but I'm still too on edge to sleep. However 0.75 - 1mg works beautifully for sleeping. I wake up feeling perfectly refreshed which also helps a lot against jetlag.

where is turbulence the worst? I find Southeast Asia quite a bit more turbulent than crossing the Atlantic, I wonder if my perceptions are real here though.

Anywhere crossing jet streams or over mountain ranges will be bumpy. Most transatlantic flights go through a jet stream between Ireland and Iceland so it bumps a bit. But if lucky, the rest of the flight should be calm. Flights from Europe to Asia are usually very good as they fly over Siberian flatland. Have had 8-12 hours flights with only 5-10mins of turbulence. Bad flights are over the tropical areas (unstable air) or the polar circle (rough winds). Flights from Europe to USA west coast take the shortest route over the arctic circle, coming down through the Rocky mountains. Out of 12 hours, about 2 were turbulence free.

I love flying, turbulence and all. Be grateful if you're not seated near OH who avidly watched Air Crash Investigation and tells you all about the accidents involving the plane you're on!

Coming out of Christchurch, NZ we were about 10 minutes into the flight, climbing over mountains, suddenly the tannoy started to squawk Emergency, Emergency. The crew calmly carried on giving out earphones etc and they said Oh, it happens all the time, ignore it!

I’d recommend an app called sky guru. I hadn’t flown for three years until last month when I had to fly to attend a close family members funeral. My GP gave me Xanax (I wish I’d gone And asked for it sooner) and I downloaded the app which has a turbulence measure on it (I think using your phones sensors) and sends reassuring messages to let you know turbulence is coming up and how long it’ll last and how normal it is etc. I’d love to go on a fear of flying course but they’re not cheap. Good luck

Try and picture the sky as being like the ocean and the Plane is a boat. When the ocean is calm you don't feel any movement but when there's little ripples and waves then you're going to feel movement as the boat bobs up and down. Another one is imagine there's a road up in the sky and the plane is traveling on it but this particular road has potholes on it so instead of being a nice smooth road it's now a bumpy road instead. Just try and remember that the Plane is at it's happiest in the sky and is doing what it was designed to do

I know this doesn't help but I'm the same. Flown since I was a youngster but still terrified! No amount of logic seems to help.

Try and book seats at the front.Im shit scared of turbulence and the air steward told me that the front gets much less than the middle or back (the back is the worst apparently)

Anything ending in pam is valium

Not quite. Valium is simply a brand of diazepam, just like Nurofen is a brand of ibuprofen. Diazepam is a member of the benzodiazepine drug family. The -pam is common to many benzodiazepines.

Besides diazepam, the other common ones are alprazolam (Xanax), clonazepam (Klonopin), temazepam (Normison), nitrazopam (Mogadon), oxazepam (Serax) and chlordiazepoxide (Librium - but this is for alcohol withdrawal, not general anxiety).

My 'Abnormal Psychology' elective has finally come in useful!

It doesn’t normally bother me but an 8 hour flight recently the plane actually shook so much for the full time I was sure bits of it must have fallen off. I felt sick for the first time ever on s flight and the crew had to be strapped in. I always thought they could adjust altitude to fly under/above turbulent air. Then we had an aborted landing so I wonder what was going on.? We actually approached the airport, heard the landing gear lower then we swooped back up and gear retracted to loop around again.

I worked as cabin crew many years ago.

Will always remember one captain whose calm, relaxed voice would come over the PA system whenever we hit turbulence, saying it was nothing to worry about, it was just like driving over cobblestones.

You could see the passengers visibly relaxing.
Try telling yourself that.

@Ellabella989

I LOVE Air Crash Investigation!

I was never a nervous flier before falling in love with that programme, but now I take a very logical approach to flying.

Always sit within max 5 rows of emergency exit in an aisle seat, make sure I know where my lifevest and nearest exit is, wear appropriate footwear, don’t take anything that might inhibit my judgement, and keep belt fastened.
When in Asia I’ve been careful to look at the safety record of airlines I fly with.
If I get nervous I remind myself I’m more likely to be killed on my commute than in a plane crash!

I used to be like you OP. I have flown a lot for business and pleasure over the years, to each corner of the world. After a couple of successive bad experiences I developed a sudden fear of flying. It then got so bad that I have literally had a melt down and been let off a flight before it started taxiing. Many miserable short and long flights followed where I would literally sit rooted to my chair, knuckles clenched on my arm rests, sick bag in hand through sheer anxiety. Even the thought of entering the airport terminal filled me with a horrible sense of impending doom. Then I decided for the sake of my children (and their opportunity for travel in their childhoods) that I needed to tackle this fear head on. I read, listened to podcasts, watched you tube pilot tutorials, self help courses (Paul McKenna's one is particularly good) etc etc etc - anything to educate myself on the process of flying. I would talk to the crew when I boarded - explaining my fear of flying (they have always been compassionate) - I have often had a visit from the pilot and/or co pilot for reassurance as a result mid flight. I wouldn't say I am completely cured now but there has been such a massive shift in my head in more recent years, that I no longer feel like my legs are going to buckle every time I enter the airport or board the plane. My main tips -

• EXPECT turbulence. It's a fact. Instead of hoping that it won't happen, absolutely expect it to. It's completely normal.
• When it's mild (and the overhead seat belt signs are not yet on) GET UP and go to the loo! A pilot recommended this to me! You'll be amazed at how much your body relaxes when it's forced to move.
• when it's stronger and you're buckled in - repeatedly shake out your arms and legs - try to keep yourself 'loose'.
• Remind yourself that a plane isn't 'held' by turbulence, despite feeling like that - but it isn't. It is travelling at a very powerful 570 mph THROUGH it.
• Talk to the crew. It really helps.

Will always remember one captain whose calm, relaxed voice would come over the PA system whenever we hit turbulence, saying it was nothing to worry about, it was just like driving over cobblestones.
You could see the passengers visibly relaxing.
Try telling yourself that.

This is the difference between having a bad flight and a good flight for me. I’m so scared of flying and try to hide it, no crying etc...because I don’t want the children to have the same fear. Perhaps it’s not possible in all cases for the pilot to give a quick update but perhaps the co-pilot could?

I hate it! I survive on rescue remedy and alcohol..... I also keep my seatbelt fastened and hold on tightly to the armrests (because that will obviously save me if we crash!!)

We had an episode of very bad turbulence coming back from florida last year. It was during the night so a lot of people slept through it? How?!!!
The crew had to be strapped in, things were falling around, and many people were being sick. The thing that annoyed me tho was that none of the crew or the pilots spoke to anyone to reassure them, or to even warn that turbulence was coming up. Why can't they just do that, it would have helped me so much

I've been helped by noise cancelling headphones. I know that doesn't stop the movement but hearing different engine noises terrified me.

I also agree with PP that when I flew to the ME certain airlines would increase altitude if they hit turbulence whilst others wouldn't.

Pop to your doctors and explain your fear, ask if they can prescribe something to help. Also remember while it feels horrible its not dangerous x