Anyone else terrified of flying?

Does it stop you from traveling?

I try to not let it bother me but I have no control. I have ALWAYS been this way- even when I was little (people say fear is learned but I've been this way since day one). But then it got even worse after 9/11.

DH and I are going on a vacation (MUCH needed) and we are leaving on Sunday and although I can't wait for the vaca part I have been dreading the flight for WEEKS now. That is how bad my fear is- it will just weigh on my mind.

Anyone who is like me- how do you deal with flying? I can't really tolerate alcohol so I don't know if hitting up the plane's bar is a good idea.

Anyone in my shoes? I'm DREADING San Diego and Hawaii in September-- DREADING.

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

YES.

And if I can do it, you can do it!!!


Here is a post I wrote a couple weeks ago to someone else who posted something similar:

I'm so afraid that for a couple days before flying I get so anxious and can't really eat a lot or sleep. Then the anticipation of waiting in the airport really gets to me and i'm in the bathroom until we board the plane. I don't like taking any meds so I just deal with the nerves until we're back on the ground again.

I LOVE traveling so I would never let my fear stop me from seeing the world. What helps me during take-off is looking around at the other people on the plane, it really amazes me how calm everyone is. All the bumps, dipping, etc doesn't seem to bother anyone but me!!! People are just reading their paper, sleeping (which makes me so jealous) or chatting with their fam/friends. I love seeing that. Also, talking to the pilot when we get on helps too.

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

i am terrified and have avoided it for the past couple of years

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

A friend of mine is the same way. She has her doctor prescribe her a pill so she can relax. It works wonders. Traveling w/ someone helps too.

I'd go to the Dr. and ask him for something mild to calm your nerves. You can take 1/2 if your nervous wait 45 min & take the other 1/2 before you get on the plane if your still nervous.

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

YES!! I am so scared of flying even before 911 I was very scared, even more so now!

What keeps me calm is when I talk to the captain when boarding or when I hear his voice once we are in the air and he lets everyone know things are good.

I also have to watch the movies they play takes my mind off my nerves.

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

i am the same...i am flying to fl in a week and i will probobly drink a beer or two to calm me dawn....

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

I have developed this fear of flying as well and it's come out of no where. I plan on taking something that will relax me and calm me down before our HM... I would never allow this fear to stop me from traveling.

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

im not but my uncle is deathly afraid of flying! the doctor had to give him a prescription for pills that help him relax and put him right to sleep.

maybe that'll help.

dont worry, you'll be fine! ...just imagine you're on the ground the whole time and just driving in your car. thats what i do when i start to get nervous.

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

I am terrified of flying. I am going to Aruba on Sunday (kind of like a 2nd honeymoon for DH and I since we only went on a mini-honeymoon). I woke up this morning with such fear inside me because I am already thinking about the flight on Sunday. I usually take something to calm my anxiety, but it doesn't really help. I have been this way since I am a teenager. I don't let it stop me from traveling, but I wish that I didn't get so anxious!! Also, when I do fly it can only be for about 4 hours max, and that's so bad because I really want to go to Europe one day, but I don't think I can fly that long.

Don't worry I am right there with you I truly understand.

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

Posted by Ladybug63

A friend of mine is the same way. She has her doctor prescribe her a pill so she can relax. It works wonders. Traveling w/ someone helps too.

I'd go to the Dr. and ask him for something mild to calm your nerves. You can take 1/2 if your nervous wait 45 min & take the other 1/2 before you get on the plane if your still nervous.

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

Posted by DaniRella



the anticipation is HORRIBLE... to the point where it ruins the "excitement" of going on vacation!

and it's true-- i look at other people who are so calm and i'm like HOW DO YOU DO THAT?! also when the plane dips or anything happens i look around for someone to freak out along with me and no one ever does

one time- the first time i flew after 9/11 (took me about four years to get on a plane again)-- they had to separate DH and I from each other b/c that was just how they did the seating!!! i was like oh hellll no... so i said "i'm PETRIFIED of flying- i NEED to sit next to him".... and the person who needed to simply switch seats with me to make that happen would NOT do it!!

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

I used to be HORRIFIED of flying.

When I flew to Spain, I was crying hysterically, sobbing and everything.

I also cried while on my honeymoon flight.

I have to say, as I've flown more and more, it's gotten so much easier that it seldom bothers me at all anymore.

I spent a lot of time looking at the other passengers- I figured they'd be the ones to react if something bad was happening.

Hang in there! You'll be fine!

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

I used to be...but then my husband started pursuing his private pilot's license. My husband is the most logical person I know, and he actually sat down with me and described exactly how it is that planes are HUNDREDS of times safer than cars. You have a MUCH greater chance of getting into a car accident...or being struck by lightning...than of the plane going down with you in it!

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

Posted by DaniRella

wow- your post and what happens to you and what you go through are EXACTLY what i go through...

the anticipation is HORRIBLE... to the point where it ruins the "excitement" of going on vacation!

and it's true-- i look at other people who are so calm and i'm like HOW DO YOU DO THAT?! also when the plane dips or anything happens i look around for someone to freak out along with me and no one ever does

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

I've gotten better, but I really don't like flying at all. Takeoffs are the worst for me. I'm fine once we reach cruising altitude unless there's turbulence.

I asked my doctor to prescribe something and she gave me Ativan, which is an anti-anxiety med. After taking one about an hour before the flight, there is definitely a difference. I still have the same thoughts I would if I didn't have the Ativan (are we going to crash? etc.) but my body doesn't have the corresponding physiological response to the stress (no crazy heartbeat, no sweaty palms, no wanting to cry). Definitely give it a shot and see if it helps

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

It did for 11 years, until this past year when I met my FH, since then we have been to Vegas, Florida, Bahamas, and Aruba and are going back to Vegas to get married in 81 Days, YAY! I take xanax so i am not so worried on a plane tho.

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

Posted by DaniRella

Posted by shellybelle

i am terrified and have avoided it for the past couple of years

my grandmother is the same way

she has not flown in over 15 years- i wonder if this is genetic

it would be easy if i could blame her!

i remember being like FOUR years old and my parents telling me that we were going to DISNEY WORLD-- I mean, every four year old's DREAM and my first thought-- AT FOUR-- was "our plane is going to crash and we are going to die"

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

thanks so much everyone

take off is the hardest for me too-- i always listen to johnny cash as we are taking off-- b/c, i figure, if i'm going down might as well go down listening to johnny cash!

but i know the stats and i know that during take off there are the most risks for crashing- i also know that you are most likely to die during take off because of all the fuel- the plane is totally loaded at that point.

then, i know that once you are in the air-- you are SO high up that if anything happens to make that plane go down-- you might as well just bend over and kiss your asss goodbye!

now, landing i love- b/c i know that statistically- you are most likely to survive anything happening during landing- the plane is pretty much emptied of it's fuel at that point and the odds are in your favor of living if something happens.

i told this to my travel agent when booking my HM-- along with where is "best to sit" on the plane (statistically) for survival and she looked at me like I was NUTS b/c I am.

She actually said- "you need to take a smaller plane from San Diego to LAX in order to fly from Hawaii-- is that going to be ok???" and I looked at her and said "how small is small? are we talking JFK Jr. small where they seat you according to weight- b/c I do NOT go on Sesnas!" (sp?) She laughed out loud and said "NO! I'm talking private jet small"... So, that I agreed to.

Then she said "and besides- it's just forty minutes- by the time you are up- you're down!" So I said, "yes, that is usually what happens when you CRASH" she was like "wow"

Message edited 6/25/2007 5:01:58 PM.

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

oh no, hon, don't worry, its going to be OK!

I agree with calling the MD for a pill - I mean, you're leaving on Sunday...no time for a quick emotional rewiring! I've heard that the fear of flying can be overcome with a very patient therapist and some short, "test" flights. I know many many people that take a pill before flying - most of the people I know take Xanax.

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

Message edited 6/25/2007 5:16:38 PM.

Re: Anyone else terrified of flying?

Posted by DaniRella

every four year old's DREAM and my first thought-- AT FOUR-- was "our plane is going to crash and we are going to die"