Am I the only one afraid to fly.....UPDATE!!!!

[dg39]

WE always drive down from NJ. All our plans are made for the resort. We're supposed to go in early July, but, now my dh may not be able to get off from work at that time. With the risk of losing $$, I can go with my daughter. But, I won't drive down alone. The only other way to go is to fly. I am so afraid of flying, always had been. Its only a 2 1/2 hr. flight, but hte very thought of it gets me sick to my stomach. Should I just cancel the trip or grow up & fly. I won't drink on the plane, because if god forbid anything I need my wits & it only takes me 1 drink to feel tipsey. Any opinions...My dd refuses to take the train....I don't know what to do..

Heres my update: Just want to thank all you wonderful people for giving me tips & hints on flying. BUT, my dh is able to get off from work & travel with us,BY CAR. All of your responses helped me a great deal when I thought I had to fly. A little part of me was kinda of excited about the idea of flying, even though the fear was always there. Now I can enjoy my trip planning and get excited all over again about the trip. We'll be leaving next week on the 4th of July. Just wanted to give you all an update, as you all took out the time to help me out. THANKYOU ALL VERY MUCH OF ALL YOUR ENCOURAGING WORDS, IT REALLY HELPED.

 

[inkkognito]

Believe it or not, even though we go to Orlando an average of 8 times a year (always by plane), I am scared to death to fly! The only way I can get myself to do it is by reminding myself that 1) 2 and 1/2 hours in a plane is much simpler than a day or two in the car; and 2) The statistics are with me. Of course, that isn't much help to me when we run into turbulence or I hear strange noises. I'm sure that if we ever ran into an emergency and survived it, I'd never be able to bring myself to fly again.
Some of the strategies I use are:
Visit www.fearofflyinghelp.com
It has excellent resources that really eased my fear by explaining what a lot of those sounds are, how airworthy planes really are, the training that personnel go through, etc. At heart I am a logical person, so that helps me a lot.
Bring lots of items to distract me, such as CDs of my favorite music, books, handheld games, etc. I also bring a meditation CD for relaxation. For books, I find that comedy works the best to get my mind of my fears.
Sit by the exit row. That way, you'll be the first one off!
I hope this helps...I understand your fears completely!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Tinky]

No dg39 you are not alone! I am also a fearful flyer. I'm ok once I'm on board and we're up in the air. Its the 2 or 3 days prior to that I'm a nervous wreck. Barb has excellent advice.. try to focus on your destination "The Mouse" and realize that the odds are definately with you. We drove many times before I got up the guts to fly and we seen so many accidents and had a close calls on the road. I don't "enjoy" flying but it is much, much safer. Just keep positive thoughts, relax and absolutely do www.fearofflyinghelp.com. Once I realized why the plane did what it did and understood turbulence it makes it bearable.

Oh yeah... and Xanax doesn't hurt

 

[SplshMtn99]

Can you take a friend along who would do the driving?

I booked our trip last weekend....and the realized I would have to fly....and cried for 2 days. I'm NOT ready yet. I've never liked it before.....like it even less now!

We are considering the AutoTrain.

 

[Disneyholic]

If I only have a week to go to Disney I fly, but I don't like it. I get all worked up before we get on the plane. By the time it's time to come home I'm too tired to care.

We took the train from Philly to Orlando 6 years ago, the first time we went to Disney(2 weeks). 2 years later we flew (1week) Next year we flew again (1week and the last trip before 9/11/2001) Last year took the Autotrain w/ a Deluxe Sleeper car and this year we are going to try driving w/ the option of taking the autotrain back if we decide the ride down is too much for us.

So, NO, you are not the only one!

 

[w8ting4pooh]

You are NOT alone!! I was never afraid as a kid. I flew all over the world. Now that I'm an adult, I get scared!

I took six flights in 3 months last year. The plane is sitting on the runway and I'm sitting there praying and doing my lamaze breathing trying to calm myself down. After takeoff, I would tell myself that it wasn't in my hands anymore. No matter how stressed out I get, my STRESS doesn't control what happens to that plane! That doesn't mean I wasn't still scared every time we hit turbulence - and we did hit it bad on one of the flights. But, if you can learn to let go and realize that being scared doesn't control the plane, it's a little easier to relax, look out the window and enjoy the view a little.

 

[Tigger Woods]

I've got three words for you .. xanax .. xanax .. xanax. Seriously, I used to be a white knuckler, focused in on sounds, movements, even the expressions on the flight attendants' faces. (If they weren't smiling, I'd get nervous). Drinking alcohol only made things worse. I talked to my doctor about it, and he prescribed xanax. I took one an hour before take-off, and by the time we were in the air, I could'nt have been more relaxed. I forgot about being in an airplane, and started enjoying the scenery we were flying over. I actually took a little nap for about 45 minutes and woke up feeling great. There is no 'hangover' feeling from taking xanax. Well, I've been on dozens of flights since then, and xanax always does the trick. A couple of other things that help: get a seat as close to the front as you can. There's less noise, the flight seems smoother, and you don't have to look at the wing. Get a window seat. There's lots of great stuff to look at out there. It beats staring at a magazine for 2 hours. Believe it or not, over the years, I've actually learned to enjoy flying. Talk to your physician about xanax. It might be 'just what the doctor ordered'.

 

[SpaceAce]

As one who loves to fly but just gets a little nervous, I am curious about those who really get "bent out of shape" over flying...Again only curious and not at all critical....

Why do you think you are afraid to fly?

I, on the other hand, who can't wait to get on the plane, am scared to death of heights. Ever been to the big tower in Toronto? I look down through that glass ceiling and you'd think I was in front of a firing squad. I don't worry about falling through, as much as it seems like my whole perspective of balance disappears. However, being in a plane, or a roller coaster, and looking out, not down, is great! I know I don't make sense...but I'm lucky that most of us have to fly sometime, but never really have to look down through a glass floor!

So....what causes your phobias? Just curious.

 

[Aisling]

I'm a fearful flyer, but as mentioned here, Xanax helps me tremendously. It takes the edge off and I then can actually enjoy the flight. Also as mentioned, that fear of flying website is great!

I get stressed out by the noises, the vibrations, the general movements of the plane, thinking something may be wrong. Someone asked what fearful flyers are afraid of, and for me it's the idea of being trapped in a plane as it's falling out of the sky. It's just more terrifying for me than a car crash. It don't have a fear of heights, though.

I always try my best to get a seat way up front, so that I don't have to look down the long tube of the plane, which can add to my anxiety. Also, yes, the sounds and "feel" of the plane are different up front. And I watch the flight attendants. When I see them laughing and going about their business even when we hit rough air (as the pilots like to say), I feel safer.

Anyway, I only have a few more weeks to go and I'm getting on that plane!

 

[SpaceAce]

Just thought of something...I will be taking my new bride on the honeymoon by plane, the first time since she was a kid. What should I do if she freaks out????

 

[nicolep91]

I am also petrified of flying! I hate the whole experience - the sounds, the recycled air, etc. but what I find the scariest about it is the "lack of control". I don't like putting my life in someone else's hands. I'm also a bad passenger - whenever my husband and I go anywhere, I almost always drive because otherwise we'll end up getting in a fight. Although I logically realize that I'm not really completely "in control" when I'm behind the wheel since I can't control the other people on the road, it still helps that I have some measure of it.

But we're still planning on flying to WDW in November (my 6th flight) because I can't justify wasting our vacation time on the road and making my kids sit in the car for that long.

A question for those who have used Xanax - I would like to talk to my doctor about it but I'm worried about feeling "dopey" while trying to keep my children in hand, keeping track of all our money, tickets, etc. I'm worried that I would just sit there with a big smile on my face while someone robbed me blind! LOL! But seriously, how does Xanax make you feel?

 

[dg39]

Thanks for all these responses. I will look into the fearofflying.com. I can't take xanax, it puts me to sleep & I have to be awake to dwell on my fear. I don't know what to do. I'm losing sleep over this & am in just a downright nasty mood to everyone. It's on my mind all the time. I just came back from the store & bought ear planes, because the last time I was on a plane,18 yrs.ago) I got such a terrible sharp pain in my head & I read that these will stop the pressure buildup. If I have to travel with just myself & dd I will take the plane because my dd wants to go so bad & so do I. I'm not going til july, so just think about how long I have to deal with this problem of mine. My other kids think I'm nuts & I'm starting to think I am to. But then this should be my only problem in my lifetime. THanks again, & I will frequent this site til I go. I'll let you all know whats doing in the meantime.

 

[Lewisc]

duplicate post sorry.

 

[Lewisc]

Not sure of the age of your DD but sleeping so you DON'T have to dwell with your fear may not be a bad idea.

A sudafed an hour before take off and another one an hour before landing (slight overdose) will dry up fluid in your sinus and will do wonders for the pain. Also gum.

Originally posted by dg39
I can't take xanax, it puts me to sleep & I have to be awake to dwell on my fear. .

 

[Aisling]

nicolep91,

My doctor gave me a very low dose, 0.25, and it doesn't make me dopey. I travel with my 2 children, so being awake and alert are very important.

SpaceAce, if your new bride freaks out, just hold her and be the big strong comforting man that lots of women I know wish they had LOL!

 

[DNBois]

DH and I booked flights going down and back in early May and perhaps we are chickens but we cancelled and then decided to drive both ways. We then cancelled that idea and decided to take the train both ways - we had a blast on the way down although the trip back was not too fun but we are planning on taking the train down next year and flying back. If you are afraid to fly, you are not alone. . . trust me but I will tell you - as we were coming home on the train, we were wishing that we had taken the plane. . . I guess it all depends - good luck!

 

[goofy4tink]

Spaceace, you ask why the fear of flying? I, also, fear heights. My main problem flying are take-offs and landings. I put on a brave face for my dd, now 9. Flying doesn't faze her in the least, so I must have done well with my act. I have visited the fearofflying site. My flying mantra is....planes like turbulence, planes like turbulence!! My head knows this, please, tell my stomach! I also do the driving in my family. My dh drives all week, so I tell him I'm doing him a favor. Yah, sure I am!! So, when I fly, I check in with the nice pilots, try for a front of plane seat and white knuckle it. I try for non-stops if possible. When something tragic does happen in the air, the thing I hate the most is when the reporters call the passengers 'souls'. I hate being in that plane, thinking of myself as a 'soul'. Gives me the willies!!!! Someday we will drive down and make the drive part of the vacation. But, this August, I'll be the lady with white-knuckles, playing the 'tell me by feel when we leave the ground' game with her dd, and has the panic-stricken expression!!!

 

[inkkognito]

The comments about ways to use various substances to ensure a calm flight reminded me of an experience when we were flying to one of our first Disney cruises. A woman sat in the three-across row with hubby and I. We were chatting with her, and she pointed out her husband and two kids dozing peacefully in the row across the aisle. Hubby is scared to death of flying, so she said he has a few drinks and heads off to dreamland. A little decongestant had done the same for the kids! I don't think they stirred for the entire flight, and we had a great time chatting with Mom about the upcoming cruise.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[dg39]

OK my dh just told me not to expect him to go with us because of work. As I sit here typing with tears in my eyes about flying, I have to make ressies for JetBlue. He says thats the plane I should go with. Now I'm also nervous about what type of luggage to bring. Its only my dd and myself, but if I stay for 2 weeks we do need alot of clothes & such. I plan on bringing 3 medium size luggages with my purse & a tote with my makeup and some personal items in. Is this too much luggage? Does anyone know what size bags are allowed on the plane with you and how many each can be brought on. I'm a worrier & soon I'll be worrying about them losing my luggage. Has anyone flown JetBlue. Could you all give me some pointers on where to sit & if they let you pick your seats. Should I buy diff. luggage, like one big one for all our stuff, or should I stick with the med. size. I know I'm rambling, I'm sorry, its my nerves. My husband thinks I'm ridiculous & is starting to get annoyed.

 

[Tinkerbelle739]

I flew in 2000 and was scared to death and that was before 9/11! The flight was fantastic and so quick. I am now having the opposite panic attack, we are DRIVING 18 hours from NJ. That worries me more than flying for 2hours.

Take a deep breath and think of all the fun you will have when you get there.

Hoping everyone has a "magical" day!