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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hide under my bed

21 replies

fearofflying01 · 30/12/2023 20:11

I am absolutely terrified. How come???

I am flying Dublin-Berlin in a few days, and I am fecking terrified!

I am worried a plane comes out beneath me, and slices the plane in half. I watched all this plane-crash shite on tv, and Uberlingen is the one that really terrified me.

If you vote YABU, and it comes out on top, I will fly. If you vote YANBU, I will have to make a very difficult decision Sad

OP posts:
Tawlk · 30/12/2023 20:13

Bless you it’s a very real fear but I voted YABU because I don’t want you to miss your flight because if it. The stats are on your side, you will be fine x

Tawlk · 30/12/2023 20:15

Also could you have a drink or a Xanax beforehand to take the edge off?

Original poster
fearofflying01 · 30/12/2023 20:16

Tawlk · 30/12/2023 20:13

Bless you it’s a very real fear but I voted YABU because I don’t want you to miss your flight because if it. The stats are on your side, you will be fine x

Thanks you are really reassuring me 😥

I am flying to return from vacation, and my brother is leaving the house, I stayed with him, and it would be quite hard to stay for me

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Original poster
fearofflying01 · 30/12/2023 20:18

Tawlk · 30/12/2023 20:15

Also could you have a drink or a Xanax beforehand to take the edge off?

I cant drink, nor be under any substances, but I will have some valerian tea

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Original poster
fearofflying01 · 30/12/2023 20:22

Oh thanks so much MN, almost all the votes point towards me flying Smile

Flowers&Brew to all you helpful people :)

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Original poster
fearofflying01 · 30/12/2023 20:32

It says this about meds

And talking of meds, let me just say that these are only a temporary fix that may suppress your fear, but if you get the timing wrong they don’t work.

Not only this, they can also make you more anxious, worrying if they will wear off before the end of the flight. They also impact your ability to drive when you get to your destination or make you feel lousy for the first part of your trip.

And some of these meds have black box warnings from the FDA because they are potentially dangerous.

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Curiosity101 · 30/12/2023 20:33

What about propranolol? It won't stop the anxiety and intrusive thoughts. But it takes the edge off of the physical anxiety symptoms (racing heart, sweating, fainting etc)

Original poster
fearofflying01 · 30/12/2023 20:35

Curiosity101 · 30/12/2023 20:33

What about propranolol? It won't stop the anxiety and intrusive thoughts. But it takes the edge off of the physical anxiety symptoms (racing heart, sweating, fainting etc)

I dont have any physical ones. When I return home, I will probably order either easyjet's course or BA's

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Sprogonthetyne · 30/12/2023 20:35

Don't know if I can/how to vote on the app, but you should take the flight. Statistically your more likely to be hit by a car on the way to the airport, then be involved in a plane crash.

If you really can't face it, Google maps say you can take a ferry to England, then several trains (including Channel tunnel) to get to Berlin. It would be over a day of travelling and probably quite costly though.

Original poster
fearofflying01 · 30/12/2023 20:38

Sprogonthetyne · 30/12/2023 20:35

Don't know if I can/how to vote on the app, but you should take the flight. Statistically your more likely to be hit by a car on the way to the airport, then be involved in a plane crash.

If you really can't face it, Google maps say you can take a ferry to England, then several trains (including Channel tunnel) to get to Berlin. It would be over a day of travelling and probably quite costly though.

Ferries worry me. Same as planes. I watched too much Plane N Boom on youtube, and they have ferry ones too.

I dont worry about my plane, just the other ones coming under and slicing our plane in half. The one I am flying on, on the way to Dublin by plane, I was told it has an impeccable safety record.

OP posts:
TitusMoan · 30/12/2023 20:38

The fear of flying course is brilliant. Very worth it. Do it.

Original poster
fearofflying01 · 30/12/2023 20:39

TitusMoan · 30/12/2023 20:38

The fear of flying course is brilliant. Very worth it. Do it.

The easyjet one?

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Original poster
fearofflying01 · 30/12/2023 20:43

I will probably take one of the courses, then after that a bunch of small flights, like someone suggested on another thread

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TitusMoan · 30/12/2023 20:46

fearofflying01 · 30/12/2023 20:39

The easyjet one?

Show quote history

Ah, I meant the one that used to operate out of Heathrow (literally life-changing for two people I know) but I expect the one you mention runs along the same lines.

lesdeluges · 30/12/2023 20:47

My similarly terrified sister swears by an eye (sleep) mask, and noise cancelling headphones with a downloaded audiobook or podcast to get her through flights.

Hibye23289 · 30/12/2023 20:48

I was an air hostess for years doing multiple flights a day and I am still alive. If you look on flight radar it might make you feel worse at the amount of planes flying but it also might make you feel better to see that the probability of it happening to your flight is very rare. It is the safest form of transport and if there was a crash I am sure it would be over quickly and you wouldn't know but don't worry because I doubt that is going to happen!

LonelynSad · 30/12/2023 20:55

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

tiredofitall99 · 30/12/2023 21:26

Contact the airline (can usually do a form online) so you can have passenger assistance at the airport (you have an anxiety disorder). You will go to guest svs before checkin/bag drop and they escort you through every part of the process, no normal queues- and you can likely choose if you go on first or last... it takes a huge stress out of the whole thing. The staff on board will be aware, and will be able to reassure you at various points. Our son developed severe anxiety after a brain disorder and completely 'forgot' all of his previous travels, and going to the airport and all it entails. Passengers assistance were amazing!

OldTinHat · 30/12/2023 22:14

You're more likely to have the bed collapse on top of you whilst you're hiding underneath it than anything happen on a plane!

I can't vote YABU because I'm on the app, but you are.

Have you tried Rescue Remedy?

PS. Diazepam works for me but only because I'm claustrophobic, not worried about flying iyswim. No way would I get under that bed! 😆

DyslexicPoster · 30/12/2023 22:21

Curiosity101 · 30/12/2023 20:33

What about propranolol? It won't stop the anxiety and intrusive thoughts. But it takes the edge off of the physical anxiety symptoms (racing heart, sweating, fainting etc)

This. I don’t like flying since getting ill in Hong Kong before flying onto Australia. The urge to get off or open a window.

propanalol works. So does sitting to someone more nervous than you. We had side winds returning from Dublin. The man sitting next to me was really not coping. Oddly I found that distracting.

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