Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

A new fear of flying.......whats best to do??

26 replies

mindermummy · 08/01/2012 14:12

I have flied many many times in my life and been fine about it!!!
About 2 years ago i took my kids away with my husband and my DD was horrific...one of those kids that scream all the way!! hesterical!! I have never felt so stressed in my life!!

Anyone last year i went away with friends on a hen weekend..and suddenly was terrified of flying....i was sweating, terrified with any turbulance etc etc.My firends could not beleive how i had changed with flying!!

This year we are going away with friends abroad....and the first time since the nightmare time with my DD. I think she is more grown up now and will be ok. I just dont want to give off my fears to my kids. Im looking forward to holl...but dreading the flight...its not till jly....but im already thinking about it!!!!

any help or advice would be good, thanks

OP posts:
SantasENormaSnob · 08/01/2012 14:56

You have my sympathies op.

I was exactly the same after a bad flight in 2007.

Friends and family can't believe the difference as I really enjoyed it before Sad

I now take a lot of diazepam (only when flying) but tbh even that only just takes the edge off.

Others swear by that flying safety course or hypnotherapy tapes.

diabolo · 08/01/2012 15:04

Diazepam for me too - about 10mg 15 minutes before flying works a treat.

LadyPeterWimsey · 08/01/2012 15:30

Yy to diazepam. I've had a fear of flying for 10 years despite having flown very regularly all my life. If it is any consolation I made it to Australia and back last year and it was much better than it had been.

I have heard that phobias can arise when you displace stress about one thing on to something else. So one friend got stuck in a lift on a very stressful formal occasion and coyldn't take lfts for years later. I was stressed about returning from abroad and my fear of flying got worse with every flight that took us closer to the UK. Conversely, last year I was thrilled to be going to Australia and had had a lovely relaxing stay with friends for the two days before - and the flight was fine. So just tell yourself that this is rebound stress from a bad travel experience - and take the diazepam!

Original poster
mindermummy · 08/01/2012 16:05

do you have to get that from doctors?

I think the thought of flying with kids and the horrible things that could happen, alse make it worse!!!! Dont think years of wtching LOST helped!!!!!!!!!! LOL ;)

OP posts:
LadyPeterWimsey · 08/01/2012 18:43

Yes, but my doctor handed it over in seconds, and refills very happily when I ring to ask - obviously at long intervals!

RidingInTheMidnightBlue · 09/01/2012 09:51

I have a new-found fear of flying too - think it's as I'm about to go longhaul with 11mo DD and am transferring stress about that. The Alan Carr (not chattyman) book is really helping me - highly recommended.
If I wasn't flying with DD, would go for the diazepam though!

AngryFeet · 09/01/2012 09:58

Fear of flying course worked best for me. I did the Virgin one www.flyingwithoutfear.co.uk. £200 well spent IMO.

AngryFeet · 09/01/2012 09:59

Oh they have put the price up. Still, it is worth the cost I think.

SooticaTheWitchesCat · 09/01/2012 11:21

My friend is terrified of flying and she just goes to the doctor to get diazepam, which really helps her. They actually managed to fly to Spain this year and she was fine.

mummymeister · 09/01/2012 12:31

I had'nt flown for 16 years following an incident in the air (won't talk about it!) i had some hypnotherapy immediately after the incident because i couldnt watch films with planes in and even felt anxious when they were overhead (no fun when you live in London!!) then i took loads of sleeping pills and was able to fly. fast forward 16 years i now have 3 DC's - 13,11 and 9 who have never been abroad and desparately wanted disney. so went to GP who gave me the lovely diazepam and it worked a treat. i didnt sleep, felt in control but not anxious. Am now browsing websites to see when i can fly abroad again and actually enjoyed the descent into Orlando. Sudden fear of flying is well known and even happens to stewardesses. take the diazepam and i bet you will be absolutely fine.

Original poster
mindermummy · 09/01/2012 13:36

oh mummymeister....i really wanna know what the incident was now!!! lol...mind u might make me worse...

what were u all scared of? the thought of it crashing??
I think thats why i am...but my partner tells me all the time, more chance in the car etc etc!!!

think im def going for diazepam!!!! does it make u dizzy or have any side effects?? Dont wanna take and creat any more probs!! lol

OP posts:
SantasENormaSnob · 09/01/2012 13:49

Mummymeister that sounds identical to what happened to me.

It's awful isn't it.

Original poster
mindermummy · 09/01/2012 14:08

angry feet; what did they tell you or do that then made it better...if u dont mind me asking?? xx

OP posts:
AngryFeet · 09/01/2012 14:41

I have to pop out for a few hours so will reply this evening - it is a full day course so lots of different things they do. Will explain all later :)

Original poster
mindermummy · 09/01/2012 15:56

:) thank you

OP posts:
RidingInTheMidnightBlue · 09/01/2012 16:10

Not scared of crashing in the air - I'm scared a wing will clip the runway on take off or landing causing a fire. Or that someone will open the door midflight and we'll get sucked out. Irrational, I know.

sailorsgal · 09/01/2012 18:35

I flew a few weeks ago and downloaded the Paul Mckenna course from his website. It did help though I took diazpam aswell just in case. Grin

Just be aware that some doctors will only prescribe 2mg tablets which to me wasn't enough, I took about 3. DH and I also shared a half bottle of champagne half way through the flight aswell. Not recommended I know if you have taken diazapam.

sillymillyb · 09/01/2012 19:24

I am terrified of flying - to the point of trying to get a cruise ship home from LA when I was backpacking.... I did the virgin fear of flying course too and whilst it helped, I still rely on shed loads of drugs to knock me out if Im forced on a plane.

From memory, the day included an in depth chat with 2 pilots who explained how the plane works, how many fears are unfounded and why (they went into lots of detail about turbulance / engine failure etc) and how it was their job and they do it all the time.

There was then a hypnotism bit where we were all talked through relaxing and staying calm and breathing techniques.

Then the scary bit we were all loaded onto a plane, there was a really good staff to scared person ratio (though I pulled a short straw and sat next to a journalist who was a bit freaked out when I grabbed his leg when we took off!) and they talked you through exactly what was happening on the PA system just before it happened ie, the wheels are about to retract, you may hear a clunk.

Flight last about half an hour / 45 mins and you then debrief afterwards and are given a relaxation cd to listen to in your own time before any future flights.

Gosh, this is a mammoth message! Hope that info helps though, I do think it was worth it - though I am by no means cured!

mummymeister · 09/01/2012 22:51

My fear centres around not being able to get out/do the right thing and get others out. the actual falling out of the sky or dying bit was never the problem. its more the anticipation and the what ifs. My pills were 5mg and i took one an hour or so before take off and 2 half way through the flight. in my experience doctors understand this and are willing to help. as for the effect i was told that 15mg would knock out an elephant and i know i am fat but... didnt even make me drowsy just very chilled and calm and certainly completely in control. The other thing that really helped was the headphones. because of the previous experience i was constantly listening for a change in engine noise which of course there is lots of i put on the BA super duper headphones and just heard one constant hum. The absolute worst thing about all of this is that i didnt fly with my lovely children, and take lovely warm holidays abroad and i just felt overwhelming sad at how much i and they had missed out due to this stupid feeling so please go for it and don't let it rule you.

Original poster
mindermummy · 03/07/2012 14:20

hi everyone......

im just coming back on this thread to ask another question....

was given the diazipam by doctor.....a set of 6 2mg tablets.
Now i wanted to try this out before the flying day...just incase they didnt react to me very well......
so i took one of the tablets (2mg) just on a nothing day....i may have been slightly more relaxed...but didnt really feel it done much to me...or was this cos i wasnt in THAT situation???????
Should i take 2 of the tablets or 1 and half to get more effect??????? Although with kids and dont wanna be a zombie either???
And do u think one glass of wine on there with it will be ok??????? :?

thanks

OP posts:
girlywhirly · 03/07/2012 14:59

It's not recommended to drink alcohol with Diazepam, even though two 2mg tablets isn't a huge dose, (it is the lowest dosage available just enough to take the edge off the anxiety) it does react with alcohol. There is no benefit to trying to split tablets into halves and you shouldn't unless instructed by a Dr.

Did the Dr who prescribed them give you an information sheet about the medicine? If so read it carefully as you should before using any medicine for the first time. If you haven't had any adverse reaction after taking one tablet, you won't get one. I'd save the rest for the outbound and return flights.

I'm sure that everything will be fine this time.

diabolo · 04/07/2012 16:53

I think at least 8/10mg is needed to feel the effect. My doc prescribed 28 x 2mg tablets, I take 4 about 15 minutes before getting on board and another 1 or 2 if necessary through the flight. I think you might need to go back to the Doctor mindermummy.

Some people on here on an old thread needed 20mg, so 6 x 2mg isn's enough in my opinion. Whatever you do - dont use them with alcohol.

ENormaSnob · 06/07/2012 20:37

I take 20mg.

Any less has no effect at all.

Am not mammoth sized btw.

Original poster
mindermummy · 10/07/2012 13:00

Thanks. I think I will take 2 of the 2mg tablets as I said one tablet made me feel no different and sounds like its a real minimal dose anyway. I promise I won't have a glass of wine!! Wink

OP posts:
sinead95 · 30/11/2016 20:20

Hello my doctor prescribed me with 2mg diazepam I really want to try one tonight but I am so nervous in case something goes wrong!! I am only going on a very short journey friday on a plane but get so nervous about flying last time I cried the whole journey! It was so uncomfortable. Can anyone advise me pleaseeeee! !!