Fear Of Flying

[shanks313]

Hi,

Has anybody else on here got a fear of flying or has had it,do you know of sny tips? Thanks

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I have a real fear of flying. i do manage to fly (few times a year), but i cant relax until we land and feel like crying if we have turbulance. we come back from new york last week and half way over the atlantic i woke to the plane shaking and the air crew coming round telling everyone to stay in seats and fasten belts, i really panicked and it was only turbulance.it is only a recent fear, last few years, but its getting worse.

My mum used to be petrified, on her first flight she was basically carried to the plane because her legs paralysed with fear in the departure lounge, after that flight she loved flying, has flew dozens of times since.

So I say just take the plunge. (sorry, bad choice of words)

Im okay with flying until turbelence,then I get really tense and sometimes upset,its just arisen through bad experiences in the past.
This time though,Im thinking its to do with the threat of terrorism,people are always saying dont think about it but no matter how much they say that,you do think about it.

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I don't like flying at all, and I always fly with a spare pilot at my side (DH)

I used to try to get him to talk me through everything, 'That is the landing gear going up etc'. I discussed it with a work collegue who was a clinical psychologist who said this was the worst thing to do, far better to have a couple of stiff drinks (but don't get pissed) and do something to take your mind off it, and try to pretend it wasn't happening. This has helped me a lot!

I'm one of the 'I mustn't walk around in the plane or I'll make it fall out of the sky' people too. So until I conquer that fear, I can't really do long-haul! I also, for some reason, really hate take-off - it just freaks me out. If I wasn't strapped in, I'd be face down on the floor in the aisle.

Not sure how to deal with it. A friend's GP prescribed some Valium for it, and she said it helped a bit. Have also heard of beta-blockers helping, but not sure what they do or whether they really would help.

terrified - have to take Valium.

fly quite a lot to get home to see family and LOATHE it.

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I hate flying. I'm petrified of take-off and I loathe landing. On the way home from Orlando last year we had turbulence that lasted an hour... Unfortunately it's a means to an end- wouldn't have the time to sail to the USA so I put up with it. No tips though. Rescue remedy perhaps?

I talked my DH through some of it (safety compared to other sorts of travel and distracting him on takeoff/landing), the rest of it was a few stiff drinks!!!!

The thing that has made the biggest difference - we flew on honeymoon to Canada (he got bladdered beforehand!) BUT I asked if we could go up to the cockpit, and the pilot was a GREAT help. He talked about all his controls, and how autopilot worked. He pulled back on the big stick thingy, pulled it right back and let go. Had no effect on the plane at all, the stick just went slowly back into position on his own. That, and the fact that he and the co-pilot just turned round and chatted to us in a really relaxed way, did wonders for DH. He is still scared of flying but doesn't have to get blind drunk anymore!

i used to be phobic about flying, can now do it although would rather not. I went on the British Airways Fear of Flying course (about £250 for the day) and it really helped. THey have a huge team of people including flight crew, pilots, psychologists etc to talk you through what happens then they take you up in a plane, again explaining what's happening, what all the noises are etc. If you can afford it it's very good.

Before the course I hadn't flown for years, and when I did fly it was on a combination of valium and a lot of whisky!

hth

You poor thing! I actually posted a message on here a couple of weeks ago asking about short haul (very short haul) holidays to the med for the family this summer - just so sick of being at the mercy of the British Weather. I managed to get on a plane last year for the first time in 19 years - I'm less worried about dying or the plane falling from the sky, more frightened of just panic attacks and claustrophobia. So I managed 4 one hour flights last year and this is how I did it..... I made damned sure that the flight attendants knew that I was not merely a 'nervous' flyer... that I was severely in danger of completely freaking at any moment and having them nanny me was really helpful. I also went to my Doctors and got Valium (which have taken on and off for a few years) and some Temazepam. Now, not really advisable to do this very often and you can't do it if there isn't another adult there to look after your kids! But, I took one of each and although it didn't knock me out and I did still feel a bit fluttery, it took the edge off big time. The other thing was that I HAD to do this for the sake of my kids - that there are things in the world that they have to see and it can't be up to me to deny them just because of some stupid, ridiculous, crazy problem that I've been living with for 20 years.... I'm not saying the fear isn't real, it REALLY is and it's REALLY REALLY nasty. But I need to keep pushing the boundaries and if that involves a cocktail of drugs now and again, so be it. Good luck.

You're braver than me 2littleboys .. I last flew in 198? - the year of the Manchester plane crash - we had already booked to go to Santorini, then that happened. I was already feeling jittery and I flipped. Somehow got through the holiday with the help of antid's but have never stepped on a plane since. I think it is partly claustrophobia (such a confined space) and partly being out of control. The terrrorism thing has only made it worse. Hubby gets sent to the USA on business and I cope with that OK by blotting it out (it's not me on the plane). It was hardest when DD1 (then aged 11) went on a school trip to France. I think I need an incentive before I would ever try to conquer it - the destination isn't enough. If either of my daughers moved abroad I think it is about the only thing that might persuade me.

I hate flying though do it a good few times a year. My main aim is for the children not to see my fear. I'd recommend a coffee with brandy in it before take-off. The daft thing is I never think about it till we're boarding. I love travel and club lounges (due to dh's travel for work). I'm much worse since having children.

I agree with not letting the children see the fear. I didn't take them on the first 2 flights, then we went away for Easter last year and they had their first plane journey. At one point, I convinced them that I had stubbed my toe which was why I was crying! I did find it easier with the kids though - they distracted me and helped me forget myself and they're all such good card sharks that once the novelty of going through the clouds had worn off, they played cards with me for the whole journey without suspecting anything. They're really looking forward to actually going abroad this year and I want to be the one to take them. I can't say that I'm not dreading the flight. Everytime I think about that cabin, I get butterflies, feel sick and need the loo!!! I guess the need to do it for them and my long suffering husband and to do it for myself is gathering momentum.....

I am terrifeied of flying. Definately I am of the belief that if I get on a plane it is the last thing I will do. It is without doubt going to fall from the sky. How could it not? I did a fear of flying course in Manchester and it did not help at all. My last flight I was petrified and asked if I could se the cockpit. I thought it might help but of course its not allowed anymore with terrosism.

We have not been abroad since having children. I know I need to get over this as its not fear but I can't halp thinking getting on a plane is like taking them to their deaths. I know the statistics but I also know on any plane that crashes there must be a few people who hate flying going 'told you so, I knew this would happen!'

Any help in this department would be appreciated!!

I also did the BA fear of flying course - it cured my fear too (which was pretty bad before the course). I would really recommend the course