Fear of Flying - Positive Stories please.

[simpsonsandwaltons]

Name change as this post is likely to out me! We're due to go on holiday in a couple of weeks' time and it involves a 2.5 hr flight. I'm exceptionally claustrophobic (lifts, trains, tunnels etc) and am terrified. Like many people, I used to fly without a second thought but as soon as the DCs came along it all changed...

I'm a mental health professional so am well versed in CBT, Mindfulness, Valium etc and aim to use them all in varying degrees. What I'm particularly looking for is to read some positive stories about how my fellow MNers have coped SUCCESSFULLY with their fear of flying. Please tell me how much you loved the flight, how much you didn't spend the whole holiday dreading the return journey, how you felt empowered, how you overcame a decade-long phobia etc etc.

hello simpsonswandwaltons. I totally understand your situation as although I've flown many, many times over the years without any problems, my fear increased since becoming a parent. I think for me it's the control issue and need to protect etc - I made it better by deciding that it's, on balance, better that it isn't ME who is in control of the plane and to see it as a positive that very highly trained pilots were doing the job instead!! I also hum "we'll be coming round the mountains" or any other jaunty tune to myself to get myself into "it's an adventure" mode!! Added to this, I have a fear of flying hypnosis tape playing through my headphones on a loop! Hope you enjoy your holiday

I went through a period where I was terrified of flying, about 10 years from about 20 yo. Which was unfortunate as I worked in the travel industry and flew a lot with work.

I tried most things - Valium, alcohol, meditation and finally hypnosis.

Then I met DH and suddenly I wasn't scared any more. I can't explain it, I'm not a romantic - at all - the best way I can describe it is that I changed my mindset. Instead of wanting to be in control of the plane, and being terrified of it crashing, I started to think what will be will be, nothing I can do.

Now we have DC and DS (9) is scared. I know there is not a lot I can do to prevent this, other than calm him and reassure him. Sorry this probably isn't what you're after, but I wanted to let you know there is someone out there that was terrified, for a long long time, and isn't any more. It barely enters my consciousness now.

I take drugs from my lovely GP who completely understands why I am scared. I take 2 tablets - 10 mg about an hour before take off and top up every 4 hours with another tablet if needed. I cannot get through flying without them but I do do it and each time I fly I feel just a little bit better about it. this time I looked out of the window and saw the clouds and the mountains - amazing.