Page 5 | Too scared to fly tomorrow

AlpacaMittens · 02/02/2025 01:11

Hoohootootoo · 01/02/2025 16:49

Got a holiday booked flying tomorrow, 2 hour flight with my husband and two young children. I am terrified of the flight it’s made me ill today. I don’t think I can do it. What do I do.
I feel on the verge of a panic attack. I already know I have adhd and ocd. I’m so envious of people who have a typical brain 😔

OP I completely empathise. I suffer from terrible fear of flying. It's improved massively as I'm on antidepressants but that's obviously of no use to you now. Please believe that the plane will not crash, I promise you. It's only two hours, it'll pass very quickly. I have found that it helps me look around the cabin when I start feeling panicky at any sign of turbulence etc. What I see is a cabin full of relaxed people who are either sleeping or eating or watching a movie. Nobody else is panicky apart from me! Cabin crew going about their normal duties as well with a blasé look on their faces. This helps me massively as it's reinforcing that just because I'm panicking doesn't mean that anytning scary is actually happening. It's only the phobia and the anxiety.

You will have a lovely holiday. Don't chicken out! You'll regret it. Hugs 💙

Ottersmith · 02/02/2025 01:57

I know. Just imagine that the pilots and air crew do this every single day and they don't die. They won't be likely to die tomorrow either. Look at them doing their job to calm down. They will just be getting annoyed at the customer service stuff. Or get some valium. Then next time take the ferry!

suburberphobe · 02/02/2025 02:02

Flying and the plane crashing

Stay home do therapy for your fears.

notatinydancer · 02/02/2025 02:08

Brandyb · 01/02/2025 17:00

Valium

Where from?

Original poster

Hoohootootoo · 02/02/2025 10:34

Thank you so much everyone, I did it!! Flight wasn’t half as scary as I’d built it up to be in my head and the children were such a good distraction.
Thank you all for taking the time to reply. I read through your replies for reassurance and it helped me so much.
THANK YOU
xxx

OP posts:

creamsnugjumper · 02/02/2025 10:39

Hoohootootoo · 02/02/2025 10:34

Thank you so much everyone, I did it!! Flight wasn’t half as scary as I’d built it up to be in my head and the children were such a good distraction.
Thank you all for taking the time to reply. I read through your replies for reassurance and it helped me so much.
THANK YOU
xxx

Whooo well done now enjoy your break!!

PennyApril54 · 02/02/2025 10:42

Well done! Have a fantastic holiday ❤️

ClioMuse · 02/02/2025 10:43

Hoohootootoo · 02/02/2025 10:34

Thank you so much everyone, I did it!! Flight wasn’t half as scary as I’d built it up to be in my head and the children were such a good distraction.
Thank you all for taking the time to reply. I read through your replies for reassurance and it helped me so much.
THANK YOU
xxx

Wow - well done you! That's made my Sunday morning 😁.

I do recommend that book though. Have a fab holiday ❤️

Datgal · 02/02/2025 10:49

mashingwachine · 01/02/2025 17:28

Not prescribed for flying

Show quote history

I get diazepam for fear of flying. Always have done. Not the highest dose in the world. But it really helps. I suppose though it's a case of some will, some won't.

Dramatic · 02/02/2025 10:52

Hoohootootoo · 02/02/2025 10:34

Thank you so much everyone, I did it!! Flight wasn’t half as scary as I’d built it up to be in my head and the children were such a good distraction.
Thank you all for taking the time to reply. I read through your replies for reassurance and it helped me so much.
THANK YOU
xxx

Well done you! Have a fantastic holiday

mashingwachine · 02/02/2025 11:46

@Datgal

I get diazepam for fear of flying. Always have done. Not the highest dose in the world. But it really helps. I suppose though it's a case of some will, some won't.

I don't know when the last time you flew was but the rules regarding prescribing diazepam for flying changed last year. If you are still being prescribed it, you shouldn't be.

edited because I don’t think it was last year, I’m still in 2024 in my head, it may have been longer.

blackandwhitefur · 02/02/2025 14:14

@mashingwachine I was prescribed this in April 2024 when I flew to Thailand

Bubblyb00b · 02/02/2025 15:35

I haven't read the whole thread so maybe someone already mentioned it - go and join Lovefly on FB, they also have podcasts on Spotify. The are amazing and helped me a lot with my fear of flying - there are experts on there, pilots, etc and also thousands of people just like you, you can chat to them and get support! They also offer practical tips about how to deal with specific fears - take off, turbulence, etc.

You can do it! Anticipation anxiety is an awful thing, but the real life is never as scary. Big hug.

MissyB1 · 02/02/2025 15:40

On the subject of diazepam for flying, the one time I tried it (about 5 years ago), it actually made me more anxious, it was a horrible feeling.

Brandyb · 02/02/2025 17:11

mashingwachine · 02/02/2025 11:46

@Datgal

I get diazepam for fear of flying. Always have done. Not the highest dose in the world. But it really helps. I suppose though it's a case of some will, some won't.

I don't know when the last time you flew was but the rules regarding prescribing diazepam for flying changed last year. If you are still being prescribed it, you shouldn't be.

edited because I don’t think it was last year, I’m still in 2024 in my head, it may have been longer.

Edited

Oh no!! Diazepam really helped me out last time I flew long haul, in 2023.

Anyway, well done for getting through the flight @Hoohootootoo!!

Brandyb · 02/02/2025 17:15

Bad luck for us @Datgal - @washingmachine
is right https://www.ormistonmedicalpractice.scot.nhs.uk/2024/08/01/gps-will-no-longer-be-prescribing-diazepam-for-flying/

Zita60 · 02/02/2025 17:45

Congratulations, @Hoohootootoo ! I hope you're enjoying your holiday.

EddieVeddersfoxymop · 02/02/2025 18:14

@Hoohootootoo I'm so glad to read that you went! Well done - you should be mighty proud of yourself. Now have a large wine/gin/whatever and relax. The flight home will be just as easy - if not easier as you know what to expect.

Sugargliderwombat · 02/02/2025 18:34

Hoohootootoo · 02/02/2025 10:34

Thank you so much everyone, I did it!! Flight wasn’t half as scary as I’d built it up to be in my head and the children were such a good distraction.
Thank you all for taking the time to reply. I read through your replies for reassurance and it helped me so much.
THANK YOU
xxx

Yessss!!! Every time will be easier now.

Mochudubh · 02/02/2025 18:48

This will sound completely batshit (even compared to my "Flying bus" mantra above) but we used to holiday in a country where the only English medium TV channel available in the hotel used to show "Aircrash Investigation" every evening.

I know it sounds counter-intuitive but I actually found it very reassuring when you see the lengths that crew go to to save the plane, passengers and people on the ground. I know it's reached 20+ series but many featured incidents aren't fatal and every one results in lessons learned which makes flying increasingly safe.

I'm not doing a great job here, am I?

mashingwachine · 03/02/2025 13:19

blackandwhitefur · 02/02/2025 14:14

@mashingwachine I was prescribed this in April 2024 when I flew to Thailand

I mean that's probably great for you, but the standard is now that it's not prescribed for flying. Of course there will be people who still manage to get it, because everyone's medical history isn't matched, but the general rule will be to say no to this.

AngryBird6122 · 06/02/2025 21:24

@Hoohootootoo well done! and if you haven't read I do recommend the easy way to enjoy flying

HoppingPavlova · 06/02/2025 21:28

I think it’s predominantly the thought that if something were to go wrong it would be absolutely terrifying and is a choice I’d made to book and go on the flight when we could have just continued our nice life on firm soil

Makes no sense as you are far far more likely to have a fatal incident un your ‘nice life on firm soil’, yet do you worry about life every minute on firm soil? It’s a stats game, you are safer in the air. Can you think of it that way?