Anyone cope with fear of flying?

[Cruelladeville]

This is a good thread. It's nice to know I am not alone about flying. I take a lot of deep breaths, keep my eyes closed, and listen to music. When I get brave, I use a DVD or read a book--I am claustrophobic, and I work hard trying not to focus on the lack of space. I have to sit on the aisle, so I sit across the aisle from DH, who is 6-3. It's the absolute worst if I have to walk out on the tarmac to the airplane. I almost passed out just walking to the plane, had to ask personnel to help me to get to it, because my knees were so weak from fear. Now I know to check the size of the plane before I book my flight, but I still fly because I can get to Florida in 2 hours vs. 24 hours in a car.

 

[spiceycat]

I don't like to fly. It is a control issue!!!

I love to drive and most of my trips are in my car.

from birmingham to LBV it is not a long drive 9 to 12 hours (depending upon stops). I generally do it 10 to 11 hours.

for my May trip I got a wonderful rate $101 there and by on Delta. It was nice...

I brought my tape player and one of my favorite books. the trip went quickly - but I certainly understand trying to walk down those steps.....

for my June trip I drove down. So I don't know when I will be flying again.

this Sept no way - we aren't staying onsite and I always drive when staying offsite.

bring a good book!!! something to listen to YOUR favorite music on ...

when I flew Delta this May they gave us peanuts. But I have heard that they (if they know in advance) will clean the plane and take off all the peanuts.

Have you get the allergy reaction medicine? You can get it in a shot from your allergy doctor. It will stop allergy reaction immediately.

I would also get some Benedrlyn (okay I can't spell it). My doctor has given me both before to stop a reaction.

 

[lenshanem]

Darn Pat. They served peanuts? I thought I read somewhere they were going back to serving them. DRATS!

We do carry EpiPens and Benadryl with us everywhere she goes.

 

[Disneylovers]

Darn Pat. They served peanuts? I thought I read somewhere they were going back to serving them. DRATS!

We do carry EpiPens and Benadryl with us everywhere she goes.

It was March of last year when we flew them (it was our first experience with Southwest, and I swore it would be the last, but darn ATA had to go belly up, almost), so things may be different. We're flying to LA with them next month, I'll let you know what we get to eat when we get back.

 

[Lizardbeth61]

XANAX!

I didn't read everyone's thoughts . . . end of fiscal year at Penn State and I'm swamped with orders, but . . .

RayJay has is right as well as a few other posters. I often think about the flight attendants and how they CHOOSE to do this daily! I sure as heck wouldn't, but they do and I'm sure they're not filled with a death wish.

While I try to fill myself with all those, "why would anything happen to the particular plane I'm one?" and the thoughts about how the employees have chosen this career, I also down my Xanax and have a good old nap. It doesn't get rid of the jitters completely, but it helps and I would hate to miss all the wonderful places to travel if I refused to fly! I've got to get that book someone mentioned though. What an amazing experience . . . to read it on a flight and lose my fear in the middle of the trip! Wow, WOw, WOW!!!!!

 

[JimMIA]

There is one other thing to do up there to take your mind off the fear...and that is to enjoy the view! My wife (previously ID'd as a fearful flyer) likes to sit in a window seat so she can see the ground. Without commenting on the logic of that, I will say that I hate to give up my window seat to her because I miss the views. I do the gallant thing, but I'm not happy about it!

I enjoy looking below and trying to figure out where we are, for example. It's way too easy from Miami to Dallas, or from Dallas to LA -- but it's pretty challenging from Chicago to Dallas or Seattle - New York. The route from Dallas to Seattle has to be one of my all-time favorites (despite the distance), and I love it in either direction.

But the most incredible views are not being able to pick out the oilfields in West Texas or seeing Yosemite from the air. The most incredible views are the clouds on a mostly clear day, and the sunrises and sunsets. I flew 20-something trips last year, and I had about six breathtaking experiences, not even counting Mt. Rainier.

Flight crews and frequent flyers can spot each other at about 500 yards, whether the crew members are in uniform or not...and we often hook up and talk during delays. You think we talk about bad weather? Naw. We talk about sunsets!

Learn from that. Put your fear aside just for a few minutes next time you're up -- and look out the window. It's an amazing wonderland up there most of the time. Enjoy it.