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Original poster

Positive Vibes please for me and my crippling fear of flying )-:

44 replies

mosschops30 · 21/05/2007 11:27

Yes its that time of year again where I'm convinced I;m gonna die next week, my plane is doomed, etc etc.

Would love lots of positive vibes from you all to keep me going.

As usual I have started to have nightmares already/not sleeping/very stressed I dont know why I work myself up so much

OP posts:
kittylette · 21/05/2007 11:31

I'm the same, probably worse actully as I'm nowhere near being able to book a flight, just couldn't do it,

haven't flown for 6 years.

where are you going?

kittylette · 21/05/2007 11:32

You know you will be fine & have a lovely holiday,

Beauregard · 21/05/2007 11:34

Positive thoughts coming your way Mosschops.
I have only flown once,years ago,so i wouldn't relish the thought either but i am sure it will be worth it for the lovely holiday waiting at the other end.

bohemianbint · 21/05/2007 11:37

Ooooh, much sympathy, I'm the same. I usually have to take a couple of Valium and a bottle of wine before you'll get me on a flight. I was pregnant last time I flew though so unfortunately that wasn't an option. The way out was ok but I was still freaked on the way back.

I've got an uncle who's a pilot and talking to him made me feel slightly better, briefly. At the end of the day though it's a fairly rational fear I think, even though it is pretty safe as it goes. I'm thinking about hypnosis to get it sorted!

Hope you manage to deal with it and it doesn't ruin your holiday.

Original poster
mosschops30 · 21/05/2007 15:54

Aw thanks. We are only going to Menorca so only 2 hours (have previously braved flight to Oz although it nearly killed me).

You know you just want a million people to say 'it'll be fine, dont worry'

Looking forward to the holiday the other end but it does ruin my hols, because the last few days are spent stressing about the flight

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yogimum · 21/05/2007 16:14

I have flown a zillion times and used to be just like you, I got better then a couple of years ago I had a panic and I told the crew I didn't think I would be able to go. Luckily on BA they can prescribe drugs on board which I had to sign for but it knocked me out and I woke up just outside heathrow! Sods law since they upgraded me and I got none of the perks! Have flown since and a couple of things which help me are Bach rescue remedy, and some breathing exercises, also positive thinking! Just think of all the planes that are taking off that day why should it be yours? Take lots of magazines, IPod, anything to distract you. You could go to your GP and get something to help you relax. I did this last time just in case I needed it. Let the crew know you are nervous they are really understanding, they see this all the time. Have a lovely holiday!

yogimum · 21/05/2007 16:16

btw Menorca is a beautiful island!

mummylin2495 · 21/05/2007 16:30

i too ama nervous flyer but have only recently come back from lanzarote.I actually sat by the window ! i always watch the air hostesses and if they are calm so am i !!! strangely enough i am not nervous coming back.i understand how you feel.But try and relax and enjoy your holiday.

Original poster
mosschops30 · 22/05/2007 17:23

thanks yogimum. I took Bachs RR last year and found it wonderful (although I did exceed the stated does slightly ). Have tried Valium in the past but it only makes me very groggy and doesnt really take the edge off the fear and I feel much more out of control (the way you do after lots of drugs in labour).
Can you suggest any breathing exercises I can do that might help thats a great idea.
I have a letter from my GP which the airline already have a copy of so hopefully they will look after me.

Mummylin how weird I am worse coming back, its as if Ive gotten away with it on the way over so its deffo gonna crash on way back lol. Know what you mean about the air hostesses, I keep a watchful eye on them at all times

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yogimum · 22/05/2007 21:44

mosschops, breathing deeply into the belly and exhale fully drawing the naval to spine. Try extending the exhalation so it is longer than the inhalation. You can count the breath say breathe in for four counts and exhale for six. This will help you relax. You could ask the doctor for a beta blocker which won't make you feel groggy. Its usually a low dosage and not addictive. Funny I'm always worse on the way back, I've even paid a fortune to fly back first class as I hate been at the back of planes and I always request a seat further forward. I had a boyfriend once who would only sit at the back and we ended sitting at opposite ends of the plane, neither one of us would compromise. Hysterical!

arfishy · 22/05/2007 22:17

Don't fret. In the last 2 weeks I've clocked up 46 hours in the air. I'm statistically MUCH more likely to get it. My fingers are already hovering over the button to click & book another one.

2 hours - you'll blink and miss it. Have a good trip! Also recommend the Bach Rescue Remedy and/or large glass of wine.

Original poster
mosschops30 · 23/05/2007 12:44

Oh you must be mad 46 hrs is my idea of hell.
Thanks for the advice yogimum, will definately try the breathing exercises. Am not allowed to take beta blockers so thats not an option unfortunately.

Wish me luck

OP posts:
mummylin2495 · 24/05/2007 00:00

you will be fine.relax and enjoy your holiday

Malaleche · 24/05/2007 00:04

it's ok. so long as one person on the plane believes it will stay up, it will. since the pilot believes it will stay up you are therefore perfectly safe.

Original poster
mosschops30 · 24/05/2007 13:24

love that mamaleche

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DumbledoresGirl · 24/05/2007 13:31

Mosschops, I am beginning to get nervous about a potential flight I might be taking next Easter - mind you, it will be to Australia which I always think is half the worry (How do plane stay in the air for so long and what if they run out of fuel? ) - so I understand your fear about a flight next week.

The only advice I can give is to try to think of the many thousands of flights that take place each day. How many of those end in disaster? Exactly so why should yours?

Also, I think about people for whom flight is a normal part of their lives: stewardesses, pilots, even people like the Prime Minister or ordinary people like my dh who travels a lot for work. They don't die doing what they are doing, and neither will you.

If all else fails, I think to myself, it will be a quick death, better than months of suffering a painful or degenerative illness.... but it isn't going to come to that!!!!!

You will be fine. Take some calming pills if you need them and have my that mext week you will be relaxing in sunny Menorca.

Original poster
mosschops30 · 24/05/2007 13:45

Oh I know DumbledoresGirl, I was watching AS on the Apprentice last night floating round in his hellicopter and he probably doesnt think twice about it, also all the celebs who fly all the time and footie teams.

But I just have this irrational fear that its gonna be my plane.

I am gonna try and be good, it drives me crazy that I am normally such a strong and confident person who is reduced to a wreck doing a 2 hour holiday flight

Australia is lovely, I managed to do it once, its a bit like childbirth long and painful but the memory fades good luck and I hope you get to go

OP posts:
herbiemom · 24/05/2007 14:25

I'm exactly the same and so is DP so holidays for us are often long car journeys to the South of France or cottages in Devon.

I've flown hundreds of times (literally) and my fear has got worse and worse the older I get. But I never worry if anyone I know is off on holiday on a plane - I always assume they're gonna come back - it's only the flight I'm on which is going down! So this means you'll be fine!

Rescue remedy is good for me for a short flight like this though I did need diazepam for flight back from Australia. Deep breathing for any 'moments' such as turbulence or unexpected delays (which always mean there's something wrong with the plane, of course) and a vodka or two always seems to help.

You know you'll be fine really - have a great holiday.

DumbledoresGirl · 24/05/2007 15:59

Mosschops, I have been to Australia twice before (dh is Australian) - once with 3 small children - so I don't really feel the need to go there again to savour its beauty. But I know what you mean. The pleasure of the holiday will outweigh the horrors of the flight. And the same applies to you. I hope you have a lovely time.

Original poster
mosschops30 · 24/05/2007 19:13

Ha ha lol at your post herbiemom everything you say is completely true of me, its always funny when its someone else.

Anyway its my plane going down not yours wanna fight?

OP posts:
fizzbuzz · 24/05/2007 19:58

But the way to make a plane stay up, is to grip tightly onto arms of your seat all flight to make it stay up!

If you let go, or dare to go to toilet it will know....(or failing that, go to toilet and get sucked out into stratosphere )

I have never found valium much good or hypnosis, but would love to find a solution to my fof

Wilkie · 24/05/2007 20:01

Mosschops - what is your actual fear? Turbulence? Crashing? (I am going somewhere with this BTW...)

LilyLoo · 24/05/2007 20:04

oooh i know exactly what you mean. Off to Chicago next week and i can guarantee i won't be out of my seat. I cannot undo my seatbelt never mind stand up. I know it is completely irrational but i just about hate every second i am on the plane and also hate the airport as i am in a complete state whilst there too.
I have tried lot's of things but have resigned myself to the fact that i am terrified.

fizzbuzz · 24/05/2007 20:16

Has anyone ever found anything really helps?

I have often thought about those courses, but I am not sure that they would do anything. Knowing about how it gets up and all noises etc, wouldn't really help with my fear of being shot down or bombed......or is it just me?

Wilkie · 24/05/2007 20:17

Try reading this site and the FAQs here it has cured my fear of flying. I worried about turbulence causing the planes to crash but the explanation on here really made sense. I printed off the FAQs and read them whils flying when I felt anxious. I now don't mind it AT ALL.