Do you ever get afraid of flying?

[alicia080979]

I don't recall any screaming posts either.

What everyone has to remember is that although this fear is not rational it is very real to people who experience it. We can spew out all the stats and safety stuff we can muster but it won't make anyone with a fear of flying lose that fear.

Anyone with a serious fear of anything will most likely need professional help dealing with it. Might be meds, might be desensitization therapy or both.

People who are afraid of flying, good luck to you, and don't be afraid to seek help. Given the right treatments you can be flying next year without giving it a second thought.

When I flew to Africa in 2004, I was just out of college (BA in Psychology) and getting ready to start grad school (I have a MA in Psychology) so I decided that since I had a degree in Psych surely I could "heal" myself, lol. I was going to conquer my fear using the "flooding" technique of systematic desensitization by taking a 17 hour flight there . It didn't work! As we were flying to London, the turbulance was so bad that the Flight Attendents had to stay in their seats buckled for 5 or the 7 hour flight. It was horrible! The second leg wasn't much better but on the way back, our last 7 hour flight was perfectly smooth and helped me realize that some flights are nice and smooth, some bumpy but chances are I am going to get there in one piece. I will still choose other methods 1st because of the fear but I hope I won't let it keep me from experiencing life to its fullest.

 

[Spike]

What airline are you flying that still does that??? May have to make a trip to someplace different on that airline!

United still did it last year when we went to Hawaii. I to hate to fly.

 

[Mysteria]

When I flew to Africa in 2004, I was just out of college (BA in Psychology) and getting ready to start grad school (I have a MA in Psychology) so I decided that since I had a degree in Psych surely I could "heal" myself, lol. I was going to conquer my fear using the "flooding" technique of systematic desensitization by taking a 17 hour flight there . It didn't work! As we were flying to London, the turbulance was so bad that the Flight Attendents had to stay in their seats buckled for 5 or the 7 hour flight. It was horrible! The second leg wasn't much better but on the way back, our last 7 hour flight was perfectly smooth and helped me realize that some flights are nice and smooth, some bumpy but chances are I am going to get there in one piece. I will still choose other methods 1st because of the fear but I hope I won't let it keep me from experiencing life to its fullest.

Ya flooding is overkill. Way too much desensitizing at once.

I'm not a psychologist or any other mental health professional. I speak from years and years of experince of dealing with fear. Not with a fear of flying in particular. I'm actually agoraphobic. So if ya think about it I'm a step, or ten, behind those with a fear of flying. << this is at myself, not anyone else. I've learned (and still leanring) how to cope through therapy and medication. Right now I lead a fairly normal life. I even fly by myself though not without some stress. I deal with it though...no actually I conquer it!!

Real point being for people on the thread. You CAN do it by learning ways to cope.

 

[Halbleib1]

I guess those of you that watch the flight attendants constantly better not experience any turbulance where the flight attendants are forced to sit down, buckle up and stop serving guests. Just because they have to sit down does not mean that the plane is in danger of crashing. It just means that it is safer for them to remain seated so as not to be thrown around the cabin.

I had this experience while flying from Italy to England. We were flying over the Alps and had some heavy turbulance where we actually dropped in altitude. I was told that this is a pretty common experience when flying over the mountains like that. Was it scary? Of course esp. experiencing it for the first and only time. That trip I flew for the very first time as well. Thank goodness I ended up liking to fly because it was a very long flight over and back. LOL

It is only normal I think to be afraid of the unknown. I still get nervous until we are actually on the plane taking off. Even though I do not mind take offs and landings I am still nervous because if something is going to happen this is most likely the time that it will. I try not to think about all the things that can go wrong and to think about my destination and what we are going to do once we are there.

I figure that if it is my time to go than it is not going to matter if I am on a plane or if I am somewhere else. I can not change it.

 

[fla4fun]

I would caution against taking any medication that will make you drowsy or cause you to fall asleep before/during take-off. If the worst should happen, you want to be alert and able to move quickly to exit the plane. Think of the times that something has happened to a plane, but everyone survived, like the plane in the Hudson River, or the Air France that went off the runway and caught fire. Everyone survived because they were alert and able to follow directions from the crew.

I am not a person who likes to fly, but I can do it. The only reason I can do it, is because I learned everything I could about what all the different sounds and movements of the plane mean, and which ones are nothing to worry about and which ones to be concerned about. I know that doesn't take away from the risk that something might happen - just like it might happen driving to the airport, or it might happen if I'm sitting home watching TV and a plane drops on my house. But other than gripping the armrest a bit at take-off and landing, I can manage.

There are a lot of ways to work through a fear of flying. If one thing doesn't work, try something else. No two people are the same and what works for one doesn't necessarily work for the next one.

 

[goofy4tink]

I guess those of you that watch the flight attendants constantly better not experience any turbulance where the flight attendants are forced to sit down, buckle up and stop serving guests. Just because they have to sit down does not mean that the plane is in danger of crashing. It just means that it is safer for them to remain seated so as not to be thrown around the cabin.

I had this experience while flying from Italy to England. We were flying over the Alps and had some heavy turbulance where we actually dropped in altitude. I was told that this is a pretty common experience when flying over the mountains like that. Was it scary? Of course esp. experiencing it for the first and only time. That trip I flew for the very first time as well. Thank goodness I ended up liking to fly because it was a very long flight over and back. LOL

It is only normal I think to be afraid of the unknown. I still get nervous until we are actually on the plane taking off. Even though I do not mind take offs and landings I am still nervous because if something is going to happen this is most likely the time that it will. I try not to think about all the things that can go wrong and to think about my destination and what we are going to do once we are there.

I figure that if it is my time to go than it is not going to matter if I am on a plane or if I am somewhere else. I can not change it.[/QUOTE
I completely agree. When I say to 'watch the FAs', I mean when all is calm, so to speak. It would be pretty obvious that the FAs are taking seats due to turbulence!! At least one would think so!!!
It's those time when everything looks just fine and the FAs sit down that I'm talking about.

 

[breakingd_awn]

I am also a "nervous flyer" , on our last vacation that was the first time my children and I ever flew (DH has flown before). On movies/tv the planes always look huge . When we got on our plane to fly to Florida I was surprised at how small it was I thought "great were flying in a chevette, were all gonna die" I don't want to take anything I have kids so I want to be "with it" at all times .I hate take-off and landings and turbulance , just the thought of plummeting from the clouds to your fiery death with your children crying and knowing whats going to happen to them scares the crap out of me. I don't let my kids know I'm scared , I try to look ccc for their sakes. I do think a 2 hr flight to florida beats a 16hr+ drive with 4girls in van, then I would probably take something

 

[kaytieeldr]

I've been nervous on planes twice. Once, first flight, from Boston to Hartford (to pick up a car), I thought the plane was stopping in mid-air. Everybody else was fine, so I relaxed. The other time was when I'd flown US Air to Orlando and two days before I was supposed to go home, one of their planes crashed. Naturally, I panicked and called about getting my money back. The CSR was willing to refund my money but pointed out I likely wouldn't be able to match the price on another airline... and that he would feel 100% safe flying US Air based solely on statistics. Both points made absolute sense.

The time I wasn't afraid to fly was November 2001 - when all the airlines were offering deals on their frequent flyer miles. I went to Las Vegas via First Class.

But for serious issues, family friends are claustrophobic. One hadn't flown in years - had a panic attack boarding a plane in Orlando, the entirely family debarked and drove back to MA; the other had never flown. They've both seen a hypnotist in the last couple of years and now can board planes (and stay on them for the duration of the flights)!

 

[adisneygal]

I would caution against taking any medication that will make you drowsy or cause you to fall asleep before/during take-off. If the worst should happen, you want to be alert and able to move quickly to exit the plane. Think of the times that something has happened to a plane, but everyone survived, like the plane in the Hudson River, or the Air France that went off the runway and caught fire. Everyone survived because they were alert and able to follow directions from the crew.

When I took the anti anxiety med, I wasn't out of it. It just took the edge off. I think if something would have happened, I would have been perfectly alert especially with the adrenaline rush. For those that are going get meds to fly, try them out before you fly to see how you react. I will use them everytime I fly now. For those that said they couldn't take meds because they had kids to tend to, it didn't impair me, just helped with the anxiety.

 

[Nermel9]

I'm definitely a nervous flier...our 2008 trip to WDW was my first time on a plane in about 10 years, so I forgot how nervous it made me. During take off I was crouched down in my seat, in tears because I was so afraid...the flight attendant saw me crying and asked my DH if I was ok...it was awful.

The last 2 trips weren't as bad, I made it through without crying...but I did think I was on the verge of a panic attack coming home this time. I literally had to talk myself out of it because I did NOT want to freak out on the plane.

I know it's safe, but it makes me nervous. Like I said, I'm better now than I was 2 years ago, but every little strange noise and bump makes me think something is going wrong! Luckily I have a fantastic DH who is not afraid at all and can explain to me that everything that is happening is normal. It's mostly the take off and landing that bothers me. Once we're in the air, I'm pretty much ok.

 

[Halbleib1]

I guess those of you that watch the flight attendants constantly better not experience any turbulance where the flight attendants are forced to sit down, buckle up and stop serving guests. Just because they have to sit down does not mean that the plane is in danger of crashing. It just means that it is safer for them to remain seated so as not to be thrown around the cabin.

I had this experience while flying from Italy to England. We were flying over the Alps and had some heavy turbulance where we actually dropped in altitude. I was told that this is a pretty common experience when flying over the mountains like that. Was it scary? Of course esp. experiencing it for the first and only time. That trip I flew for the very first time as well. Thank goodness I ended up liking to fly because it was a very long flight over and back. LOL

It is only normal I think to be afraid of the unknown. I still get nervous until we are actually on the plane taking off. Even though I do not mind take offs and landings I am still nervous because if something is going to happen this is most likely the time that it will. I try not to think about all the things that can go wrong and to think about my destination and what we are going to do once we are there.

I figure that if it is my time to go than it is not going to matter if I am on a plane or if I am somewhere else. I can not change it.[/QUOTE
I completely agree. When I say to 'watch the FAs', I mean when all is calm, so to speak. It would be pretty obvious that the FAs are taking seats due to turbulence!! At least one would think so!!!
It's those time when everything looks just fine and the FAs sit down that I'm talking about.

Yeah that would have me wondering what was going on as well. Thank goodness we have never experienced that. All of our flights since the one that I mentioned in my earlier post have gone normal for the most part.

 

[Mysteria]

when i took the anti anxiety med, i wasn't out of it. It just took the edge off. I think if something would have happened, i would have been perfectly alert especially with the adrenaline rush. For those that are going get meds to fly, try them out before you fly to see how you react. I will use them everytime i fly now. For those that said they couldn't take meds because they had kids to tend to, it didn't impair me, just helped with the anxiety.

ita!

 

[Yzerbear19]

When I took the anti anxiety med, I wasn't out of it. It just took the edge off. I think if something would have happened, I would have been perfectly alert especially with the adrenaline rush. For those that are going get meds to fly, try them out before you fly to see how you react. I will use them everytime I fly now. For those that said they couldn't take meds because they had kids to tend to, it didn't impair me, just helped with the anxiety.

I agree. I was prescribed Xanax for anxiety and panic attacks and it didn't make me drowsy or doopey. I was still able to function normally, just without the anxiety. I take a different medication for my anxiety now and a had not problems flying with it a few weeks ago. I think I was calmer than I normally am when I fly. I was alert for most of the flight, but did sleep a little but that is only because I normally sleep on planes and not a result of the medication. Definitely start taking any medication before you leave. Some medications take a while to get used to. When I started taking the medication I'm currently on for anxiety it made me a bit dizzy, but as my body adjusted to it those side effects vanished.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Oh, yeah, I forget where I read this statistic, but... someone expressed their fear of air travel to their physician. The doctor told them if the ONLY way they could die was in a plane crash, statistically they would live to be over 30,000 years old.

 

[KellyNY]

Oh, yeah, I forget where I read this statistic, but... someone expressed their fear of air travel to their physician. The doctor told them if the ONLY way they could die was in a plane crash, statistically they would live to be over 30,000 years old.

Good one.

 

[wdwobsessed]

I used to get sick to my stomach just thinking about flying. I did it twice and was a wreck the whole time .... that was about 20 years ago.

So I endured the long drive to the world many times over.

I had fears of a lot of things. Mostly due in part to my mother who would freak out at a moments notice ... even at thunderstorms... OMG I used to be terrified of those!

So through help and meds (ativan) I have been able to combat many of my fears.

I just bought tickets for our flight to orlando next month a few weeks ago. At least I can think about flying now without freaking out.

Now I am still nervous about it ... but I am not letting on to my kids because I refuse to cripple them like my mother did me!!

I plan on asking my Dr for something a little stonger for the flight as the ativan helps but I think my body has adjusted to it a lot so for a really stressfull situation I'm not sure it would help.

Interestingly enough I hate the dentist so when I went in for some extensive work he had me take a LARGE dose of ativan (it was like 4mg before i went to bed and another 4 1 hour before the appointment) and that Made me a lil LOOPY or silly. I can take 1 MG and function fine ... 2 and get a little drowsy but I can stay awake fine.

Maybe I should ask if I can take 3. LOL.

Maybe I shouldn't have read this thread because I feel some nerves coming on!


I

 

[Flyin2MCO]

Lots of ground (well, maybe air) covered here already, but a few things to add:

• It's OK to be nervous, scared or even terrified of flying...It's really an "unnatural" thing for humans to be hurtling through the air, so I think a first step is to acknowledge that and not feel like you are weird or offending other people by having these feelings.

• For a lot of people it's not just the flying part but it's the loss of control or claustrophobia that is the bigger problem (despite some past attempts and many Hollywood portrayals, humans can't "fly" per se....you are in an aircraft that does the flying, at the hands of a highly trained flight crew that works in tandem with the mechanical and computerized elements of the plane). You really have to think about what exactly is creating your feelings, since "fear of flying" is too broad of an issue. Think about and list out the issues underneath that heading of fear, and try to address each issue. There are actions you can take to deal with whatever might be creating the individual concerns.

• In my mind one strategy is to focus on the benefits, "pros" and rewards of taking that 2 hour flight versus say the 12 hour car ride, and not obsessing on the potential risks of a very unlikely event. Think about all of the time you will save and not waste, how much more energy you will have, and the extra time you will have to enjoy WDW. You can argue all day about the "it's more dangerous to drive to the airport" versus flying on a plane statistics, and frankly they do not help most folks feel better. I just think it's better to be aware of and accept all of the risks with everything that we do, and focus on the destination and the intent of your travels, which is to have fun and get your Disney on!

• Lastly, I always come back to the fact that we all have a 100% mortality rate. Time is my most precious commodity, and I'm going to see and do as much that makes me happy in the time I have left. I'm going to expand my horizons and see what is out there in the world. And I want to do it with efficiency and ease, even though I know there are risks out there.

 

[dizkids]

I travel with my kids so i freak out on the inside if i have to. I too squeeze the arm chairs and i tap the floor (LOL), tense up, but i work through it by conversations about what we will first be doing when we arrive. Sudoku is great too.

 

[robinb]

Flyin2MCO, love your avatar. I find it particularly amusing considering the subject of this thread .

 

[jacos11]

Lots of ground (well, maybe air) covered here already, but a few things to add:

• It's OK to be nervous, scared or even terrified of flying...It's really an "unnatural" thing for humans to be hurtling through the air, so I think a first step is to acknowledge that and not feel like you are weird or offending other people by having these feelings.

• For a lot of people it's not just the flying part but it's the loss of control or claustrophobia that is the bigger problem (despite some past attempts and many Hollywood portrayals, humans can't "fly" per se....you are in an aircraft that does the flying, at the hands of a highly trained flight crew that works in tandem with the mechanical and computerized elements of the plane). You really have to think about what exactly is creating your feelings, since "fear of flying" is too broad of an issue. Think about and list out the issues underneath that heading of fear, and try to address each issue. There are actions you can take to deal with whatever might be creating the individual concerns.

• In my mind one strategy is to focus on the benefits, "pros" and rewards of taking that 2 hour flight versus say the 12 hour car ride, and not obsessing on the potential risks of a very unlikely event. Think about all of the time you will save and not waste, how much more energy you will have, and the extra time you will have to enjoy WDW. You can argue all day about the "it's more dangerous to drive to the airport" versus flying on a plane statistics, and frankly they do not help most folks feel better. I just think it's better to be aware of and accept all of the risks with everything that we do, and focus on the destination and the intent of your travels, which is to have fun and get your Disney on!

• Lastly, I always come back to the fact that we all have a 100% mortality rate. Time is my most precious commodity, and I'm going to see and do as much that makes me happy in the time I have left. I'm going to expand my horizons and see what is out there in the world. And I want to do it with efficiency and ease, even though I know there are risks out there.