What do you do when you are terrified of flying but you are flying with your dc's ?

[Lilyloo]

I have always had a fear of flying from being a kid.
Not sure if it stems from a pretty bad flight at about the age of 10.
However i have managed to cope shorthaul with dc's but am about to take a flight to Australia this weekend.
dc 8 , 5 and 2 will be with me. I am terrified but am hiding it from them.
I have only ever done a longhaul flight to America without dc.
I don't want them to pick up any of this as they are v excited.

Hi, I was cabin crew for 8 years before my first DC came along. So obvously Ive been on a lot of air craft and through many airports.
I think the main things that make people really anxious about flying is the fact that its such an unfamiliar environment to be in and there are so many rules and regs to follow. Also not really knowing how the aircraft works and why things are happening during the flight.
Watch the cabin crew, they are usually fun loving kind folk who'll happily reasure you when ever you feel anxious. Try and sit near an exit, then you'll be close to a crew seat and you can watch how relaxed they are during the flight.
Your kids will hopefully be so excited by the whole expereince that they won't notice how your feeling.
Sure there's more i could say but so tired I must go to bed now. Will watch this thread to see if you have more comments, questions.

Thanks bumbums am getting more nervous by the minute as my dc are getting more excited

Hi LL Hope you have a fab time in Oz I've been scared of flying since I was pg with ds (must be an association phobia as dh and I were separated on that flight and I was seated at the back - max turbulance). I haven't done long haul since having the dc but when we flew shorthaul ds didn't pick up on my fear. When dh and I flew shorthaul alone I took some diazepam (which did help) but I wouldn't take it if with the dc as I'd want to be fully alert in case.........well you know (not helping am I!). Anyway, as Superman says, statistically it's the safest way to travel You'll have an amazing time once you're there so try to focus on that.

Thanks LL , i am sure i will lol at Superman quote will remember that

Lilyloo, I really sympathise with you. I am also scared of flying and am dreading the first time I have to fly with the DCs! I can also totally recommend Diazapam and I have found that when taken in a low dose I am totally fine and feel 'with it' IYSWIM, so that could be an option. I am always given enough tablets to start taking it the day before the flight, so that it can build up in my system and so I don't feel the need for a huge dose just to get me on the plane!! Might be worth talking to your GP to discuss options.

DH is an is an engineer and works in aerospace and no matter how much he tells me about safety and how the plane works, it never seems to help, but I have found that cabin crewe have been more than supportive (some have even made me a cuppa in the back of the plane!! ) and have really helped me through some tough times on flights, so don't feel afraid to let them know that your are nervous.

Hope you have a fab time and it all goes well with the flight!

Good tip about taking low dose up to a day in advance. I took low dose (2mg)and was advised by gp not to have alcohol. However, half hour into the flight I wasn't getting much effect so I had a whisky. Much better

Lol!! That'd do the trick!!!

It doesn't usually make me dozy, but I've graduated to 5mg as 2mg just doesn't cut it any more!! But on a long haul flight back from our honeymoon we hit turbulence and in a panic I took an extra one (so now had 10mg in me!!) and lost the next 3 hours!! Zonked out fast asleep!! Bliss!! Woke up and it was all over!!

Result

There is a relaxation/hypnotherapy CD you can get for fear of flying and they recommend you start listen before the flight. It helped me a lot and I am also mega scared of planes. Can get the name if you think it might help

Ooo, can I have the name of that CD please, bluetortoise?

Yes I'd be interested in that too

No problem, here it goes: it says on the CD that it is an Hypnotherapy Audio Session and it is called Overcome Your Fear of Flying produced by Sharon Shinwell. I had done hypnotherapy before for the fear of flying with a lady and got a recording from the session I had done as well, and use it sometimes too. But I think the CD helped me quite a lot to keep me calm. I belive that you just need to try whatever works for you ykwim? I got the CD through the net from SuperLiving Pharmacy. Hope it helps

Beta blockers help with the panicky, heart racing feeling. I also sneak a few valium in too. I have to feel spaced out to cope, found on a long haul it wore off after a while but still felt mellow enough to get by. And kept mind off things by watching film after film. DH has to look after the kids though.

Thanks