Fear of Flying...

[faindrops27]

I must admit, i never had a real fear of flying. But now with terrorist reports. And September 11th anniversary approaching. And me living in NY. I am now abit nervous about what could happen, whilst flying.

Question- What does it feel like when you take xanax? Are there any adverse side affects? How long do the affects of the meds last? TIA

 

[KikiNJ]

Huge fear of flying here! In fact I just got back yesterday from our trip to WDW, we drove LOL. I only fly once or twice a year and the anxiety starts even before I buy the plane ticket. My most recent attempt to get over it was to take a fear of flying course called SOAR, I think someone posted a link to it on here. I wish I could say I was one of the success stories but no such luck. Prior to the SOAR course I tried hypnotism and a fear of flying course at my airport. The hypnotism didn't help AT ALL, the course at the airport helped for a few years but then I regressed.

I know you said no meds, but I have found Ativan to work great. It takes the edge off but doesn't make me dopey. I didn't have luck with Xanax, I felt very sleepy and out of it on that, and it didn't take the fear away... instead of crying hysterically and screaming "WE'RE GONNA DIE!" I was like "dude, we're gonna die." I was still scared, just mellow about it LOL. The Ativan gives me an "I don't care what happens" attitude. But make sure you don't get the generic because even though they say it's the same, I have noticed a difference (and even my pharmacist said that other patients have made the same comment about that particular drug).

For non med tips... I don't know what about it scares you, but if it's turbulence, one thing that I learned is to kind of bounce up and down in your seat when it's bumpy. You look like a doofus but it does help. If it's the noises the plane makes, try headphones or earplugs to drown the noise out. A good book is "Flying Without Fear" by Duane Brown, there's a section that goes thru every step of a flight, so you know what to expect. And the thing that I have found helps THE MOST is to meet the pilot before you take your seat. I usually just approach the flight attendant standing at the door when you board and say that I'm a fearful flyer, and my instructor told me to ask to meet the pilot. They always say yes, and I usually get to go to the cockpit and meet the pilot and copilot. That act alone, putting a face to the person flying the plane, helps me a lot. I also found that the pilots tend to be more forthcoming with info when I meet them too. Meaning, last year when I flew, we had to sit on the runway for a long time. The pilot came on explaining that weather to the south was affecting flights coming in, but kept assuring that IN NO WAY does that affect OUR weather or OUR flight as far as turbulence LOL. Another time we had hit a patch of turbulence (coming home from WDW) and the pilot actually CALLED me at my seat to tell me it was ok LOL.

Good luck with your future flights... fear of flying is not an easy thing to get over, and the people around you who are not afraid can't ever totally understand the horrible terror we experience, but there are a lot of us scaredy cats out there!

 

[Minnie824]

I flew the first time when I was 4, then yearly at least once after that. However, I have not flown in the last 6 years...not since having kids and not since 9/11. I am terrified to fly. We drove to Disney last year. However, we are planning a trip to CA (from IL) next year, in which I'll have to fly. I mentioned to DH, maybe we should fly to Disney this year instead of drive, to give my DDs a chance to get used to flying. I was actually starting to get excited about it. Then the terrorist plot, and the restrictions, and the plane crash, and all the 'incidents' going on everywhere. So, now I'm back to driving. We still have our tickets to fly, and I'm going to wait til it gets closer but I am terrified right now. Then last night, I watched some of a documentary on TLC about the 2nd plane that crashed into the WTC. They showed a family on it, and how the guy was talking to his dad on the phone at the time and everything, and the thought of that happening and putting my kids thru that really scares me. I know millions of people fly daily, and I know that car crashes happen daily too, but still.

 

[goofy4tink]

I hate flying...always have. When we flew in Nov '01, I have to tell you I was a wreck. Add 9-11 to my already crazed mind and I'm surprised my dh didn't toss me out the door. But, since I usually fly with my dd, now close to 13, I have to put on my brave face. I don't want her to have my fear of flying. She does still get nervous...has to hold my hand as we take off or land. We play a game where she has to close her eyes and tell me when she thinks we have left the ground (on take-off) and when we touchdown..that one's not usually hard to tell!!
I take lots of deep breaths, relax each individual set of muscles. I have been to the FoF site...helped a lot. It explained a lot of those noises, movements etc. that you experience. I always watch the flight attendents...if they seem unconcerned, then I guess all is well with the plane.
The other thing that helps is to remember exactly how many planes are in the air at the same time you are....it's an incredible number. So, I figure, why would a terrorist pick my specific plane. Yeah, I know..not the most sound logical thinking, but it works for me!!

When I fly by myself, I'm most comfortable...have actually done that a few times. When my dd flew with just my dh in May, I was a wreck the whole time they were in the air. Now, I'm not sure what I would be able to do that my dh couldn't do in an emergency, but it just killed me to be on the ground and they were in the air. On the other hand, my dd freaks out when I fly alone...says she gets so afraid if she's not with me. Yep, there are a lot of us nervous, okay terrified, fliers out there!!!

 

[CleveRocks]

For those who are religious and subscribe to a religion with a concept of an omnipotent God ....

If you believe that God is all-powerful, then you likely believe the adage, "When your number's up, your number's up." Okay, if God wants to take you on a certain day, He doesn't need something so spectacular and dramatic as a plane crash. If your number isn't up, then, by this model, you'll be perfectly safe on the plane.

Keep the faith.

 

[CleveRocks]

It is totally true, statistically speaking you are safer flying between airports than you are driving to or from an airport.

The terrible commuter jet crash last week took 50 lives. It was the most costly U.S. commercial airline crash since 2001. The worst in 5 years!

50 people died in the past 5 years.

On U.S. roadways, 50,000 (FIFTY THOUSAND!) people die every year. That's 250,000 people on roads in the past 5 years, and 50 people in airline crashes. You do the math, and you'll rest easy.

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

It is totally true, statistically speaking you are safer flying between airports than you are driving to or from an airport.

The terrible commuter jet crash last week took 50 lives. It was the most costly U.S. commercial airline crash since 2001. The worst in 5 years!

50 people died in the past 5 years.

On U.S. roadways, 50,000 (FIFTY THOUSAND!) people die every year. That's 250,000 people on roads in the past 5 years, and 50 people in airline crashes. You do the math, and you'll rest easy.

50? Did the First Officer pass away?

 

[CleveRocks]

50? Did the First Officer pass away?

Not that I'd heard. Sorry for the small inaccuracy!

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

Not that I'd heard. Sorry for the small inaccuracy!

I'm glad you were wrong. Didn't want to see that the only survivor had died.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Another person petrified to fly-granted, it was "only" 49 people who died on that crash. When those 49 died 10 miles from my backyard and I pass the crash site daily, that solidifes my notion that I was created to stay on the ground.

 

[sammielynn]

I hate to fly and have a 7:05 flight to Orlando next Friday! I don't want to take pills or have a beer. I will be alone so no one to hold my hand. so if you are at MCO Sept. 8 and see a crazy woman kissing the ground it's me. Please stop and help me up.

 

[zuzu310]

My mom is scared to fly and the only time she has is with me for two mother-daughter trips. Once we took off, she stole my ipod and listened to The Carpenters the whole way. The music soothed her and she did word searches throughout the ride to take her mind off of it. I also held her hand during take-off and landing. Listen to music, close your eyes, and relax is my best advice to you! Good luck!

 

[helenm29]

Hey Sammielyn, Here's a bunch of Pixie Dust coming your way! We'll talk to you when you get back all safe and sound ok? Helen

 

[tomerin]

since i am trying to get my wife to fly on our next trip i am going to get her to read this thread. hopefully she will see that others have this fear and still manage to fly. since amtrak raised their prices for sleeper cars almost 400 dollars for a round trip economically it is influencing her to try it.

any kind words or information anyone else here can offer i wll pass it along to her. she wont be alone she will not only have me but our 2 strapping teen sons so she will be surrounded by lots of beef to keep her secure

 

[jennwdw]

Ok we were planning to fly if we got a good ding rate but a week prior to dings starting for oct. I found out I was preggo!!! SO I can not take my meds to fly (ativan which I've used for every flight for the past 9 years) so guess what No fliying for me. Of course 3 days later a $59 ding was available for me but I didn't take it....Just can't do it.

Ativan works best for me not as dopey/drowsy just takes enough of the edge of for me. I would suggest it over valium or xanax based on my personal experience.

Also my Dad trains pilots for a living. I've been to the training center rode on the simulators etc....and still do not like to fly. I should know better for sure. Of course I hear about the pilots he fails regularly and the union won't let them go.....

 

[CleveRocks]

Another person petrified to fly-granted, it was "only" 49 people who died on that crash. When those 49 died 10 miles from my backyard and I pass the crash site daily, that solidifes my notion that I was created to stay on the ground.

Such a stark reminder is a terrible thing. Sorry it's something you have to deal with.

Most of the people I treat were injured in motor vehicle accidents. If I'm working with them, it's because they had horrible, devastating, life-shattering, life-long injuries that they need to learn to live with as best as possible.

I've been doing this for almost 17 years. I work with people only within about a one-hour drive from my home, and I tend to work with people anywhere from six months to 2 years or so.

Unfortunately, business is good. I make a very good living, and my company always has a waiting list (too many potential patients, not enough qualified staff).

If I worked with families of survivors of commercial airline crashes, I'd be (happily) unemployed almost all of the time, sometimes for years on end.

I just looked at a training manual from my company. I can't say what year this is from (although I'm certain it's a recent year), but according to the federal CDC there are 5.3 MILLION Americans living with traumatic brain injury (brain injury caused by physical trauma such as a blow to the head, not by illness). Statistically, about 75% of TBIs are caused by motor vehicle accidents. So roughly 4 million people acquired that injury via motor vehicle accident. These are just Americans, and these are just the people who survived, and doesn't include people who died from their TBI, such as two friends of mine from two separate accidents.

4 million people. And this is just TBI. It doesn't include things like spinal cord injury, loss of limbs, etc. 4 million people. In the history of non-combat aviation worldwide, there have not been even a tiny fraction of that many people involved in aviation accidents.

As I've said before, you're MUCH safer flying between airports than driving to and from the airports.

 

[kaitlin-n-mom]

I am in the process of planning a trip to WDW in Jan 07 for my dd15 and I. I have flown at least a dozen times in my life. However I have not flown since 2000. For some reason I am absolutely terrified this time. I have anxiety whenever I even start looking for airfair. This is so not like me. I was always the fearless one. I used to jump out of airplanes and now I am scared to jump in. The older I get it seems the more scared I get.

Flying has always made me a little nervous and I usually get to the airport in time to sit in the bar and have a couple glasses of wine to calm my nerves. But this time we are trying to get a early am flight out and I doubt the bar will be open at 5am. I will be definately talking to the Dr. about some meds.

Thanks for the website suggestions, I will be checking them out.

 

[sammielynn]

helenm29,
Thank you!