Fear of Flying...

[Ms.Mouse]

Ok, I have to ask....
How many of you are terrified of flying... especially with the new try with terrorism on planes???

I have a real problem with flying but the rest of my family loves to fly. Last year I agreed to fly and I started crying while still on the ground, cried at the airport in Hartford, CT and cried until we were probably around Virginia area and finally fell asleep!!!

We're planning to fly at least twice (maybe more) to WDW... Sept, March and possibly again later next year, and I'm already getting nervous about next month's trip...

For those who are afraid to fly but do anyway.... How do you manage (without using meds!!!)... Any tips would be appreciated.

 

[dismom5]

One word---Xanax

 

[DebbieB]

I think experience helps. I was scared the first 2 or 3 times. Now I fly almost weekly and don't think twice. My mom didn't fly until she was in her late 50's, I had to drag her on, after a few times she got used to it and would rather fly than drive.

 

[pbharris4]

Flying never bothered before, but once I was married and had kids it started to bother me. (More to lose I guess.) But every once in awhile I will fly just to get over that fear. For me..it's not being in control. In June we flew to WDW and the way down I was really nervous (so was my 10 yo DD), but I knew it was a short flight and just decided to face it. My knees were sore because my legs were really stiff. The way back was no problem. I wasn't afriad at all AND we were delayed because of bad storms. I close my eyes and say to myself that I can't control every thing in life. Thousands of people fly each day and are fine. I can't say the same about I-95! Now, I wouldn't fly all the time, but hey..if I was going back to Hawaii I'd fly in a heartbeat! Take a really good puzzle book..not a book, but a puzzle book. It will keep your mind busy. Best Wishes!

Pam

 

[babslittleones]

I never had a problem with flying until we took our first plane trip to Las Vegas with our daughter. For some reason, I get really really nervous and anxious when we fly as a whole family and the kids are along.

I always make sure I have my prescription for Xanax. I take one about a half hour before we board the plane. If I am really anxious, then I may take an extra one a half hour later.

I also travel with a bunch of puzzle books and magazines that don't require much attention to do or look at. I also bring along a CD player and use that the instant they announce you can use them. I turn up the volume as loud as needed to drown out the noise of the engines.

Even with Xanax, I can't fly on the smaller jets. I have to be on the bigger jets all the time.

I also feel safer and better if our row of seats is within a row or two of an exit to the plane. I always count the rows to the exit as soon as we board the plane.

The next time I fly, I am gong to make sure I have a Gameboy or some other type of personal game system to play also. You can also get one of the personal DVD players and watch a movie to keep occupied.

I wish you the best of luck.

 

[Microcell]

One word---Xanax

I was a Behaviorist in college, which means that you do what you can not to medicate to manage behavior.

Then I was a mom. Then I almost fainted holding DS when he was 1 in the airport and I remembered what a very wise college professior (a pioneer in Behavioral techniques) told me:

"We do not want to medicate people, but sometimes it is required to help take the edge off, so they can focus on what they need to do to no longer require the medication."

I take Xanax because I fly so infrequently. I think the program I would use for fear of flying if I had to face it often is Systematic Desensitization. It involves ranking different aspects of flying as to how scared you are of that aspect, and then you break down each fear and tackle it from least to most scary.

For me, driving up to the airport is was scary, like a 7 out of 10, and I have actually managed to bring it down to 4 or so. I am still at 8 out of ten on being in the terminal. I currently take the medication at the terminal before check in, because I still battle trouble breathing during check in, but I know the calm is coming so I can make it through. I also medicate, because I fear I might faint and they won't let me on the plane if I do that at the gate!

I am two weeks out from my next flight and at a 6 about even going, really.

About addiction to Xanax or anything like it, I only get enough pills to get me through the next trip. I got 6 this time because DH was talking about going to Hawaii in Feb of 2007, and I want two each direction for that long a flight!


Good luck!

 

[Lives4Disney]

I am not a big fan of flying, either. I have become comfortable with SWA, though. I always fly them if I can help it. The familiarity and consistancy keeps me more at ease, I think. I fly them about 5 to 6 times a yr. I don't like meds, either, because I like to be fully aware and in control of myself incase there is a problem.

I had a funny experience on a Delta (never again) flight to Hawaii a couple spring breaks ago. We had to de ice the plane...sat and sat and sat at the gate, get out on the runway and sit some more. Then after about 1/2 hr on the runway, the pilot says after going over the numbers, he thinks we are too heavy to take off. (What??!!) To make a long story (and flight) short - we moved 3 times to different runways trying to get the right wind to give us that extra oomph of lift. After a long wait, on the third try, the pilot didn't say anything, just started revving the engines and away we went. (I shut my eyes, crossed my fingers and said my prayers) Then when we were up in the air, he said the Tiki Gods must have smiled down on us. I spent my whole HI vacation worried about taking off to go home. I will not fly Delta ever again. That was just too much information for me. SWA it is.

Anyway, to make myself at ease on a flight, I bring a good book & some magazines with me. I bought myself MY OWN DVD player - the kids have their own - and I buy some DVDs I have wanted to see so I have something to occupy myself and distract myself from my worries. I bought a little Sony Bean. I psyche myself up to thinking of the plane trip as "ME time". How often do I get 2 1/2 hrs to myself to read/watch DVDs and listen to my own music?? Not very!!

Good luck! You will do just fine!

Lives4Disney

 

[dreaming3]

I have declined many fun trips because of my fear of flying. I'm now going to WDW this October and toughing it out so that we can take my son. I will take Xanax to handle the actual getting on the plane anxiety. But I have already started to "prepare" to go by deep cleaning, catching up with filing, bringing things to the goodwill and just generally getting my s*&t in order. I will not be able to go unless everything is perfect right down to the shining kitchen sink.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

try this website:
http://www.takingflight.us/forums/
It's a message board and you can ask questions to a Southwest Airline pilot (and other small plane pilots.) His name is Ray Stark and he also wrote an excellent book for helping people overcome their FOF. I've read the book and now loaned it to a coworker.
It really explains so many things no one would ever tell us like weight calculations mentioned earlier or turbulence (my nemesis)
I've taken Ativan which helps slightly but when the turbulence kicks in I can't focus on a puzzle, DVD player or anything else. I've spent hours holding on to the seat in front of me until my arms ache. (Like that will save me! lol ) I still fly and definitely know it's safer than driving 1800 miles in a car. I just wish I could have gen. anesthesia so they can just wake me up and say, "OK, we're there!"
Even if you don't buy the book, the website itself is awesome.

 

[lookingforward]

I vote for xanex too! I used to live in Japan and traveled so often I knew the names of the customer service agents in Detroit, NYC and Tokyo. Now, years later, I still fly (work and pleasure) but it is harder. As I get older my fears increased, I don't know why. If I pop a very low dose xanex pill it really helps mellow things out. Otherwise I am on edge from start to finish. And I truly freak out if we land and then sit on the tarmac for a long time before being let off the aircraft. I get claustrophopic. My doctor writes a script for just a few pills when I am flying and it's all good.

 

[Snoozan]

I also used to be very nervous flying - I was scared of all the noises the plane makes because I didn't understand how an airplane THAT big could stay up in the sky! One trip, we were delayed taking off because there was a mechanical problem. The pilot(or co-pilot)came back to talk to some of the passengers while we were waiting for the problem to be fixed. You know what he said that changed my life? He said that he wouldn't fly until he knew everything was okay with the plane as he also had a family to go home to. DUH - these pilots aren't on a suicide mission and would NEVER take a chance with his or our lives. So now, I trust the pilot that everything is okay as he's not about to risk his life or ours!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Good online course here, sounds and much more...........

http://www.fearofflyinghelp.com/

 

[Vivianne]

I just try to relax. I listen to my favorite jazz music on my mp3 player, bring a good book, and think about what I will do next when I reach my destination. Once the plane takes-off, my fears dissipate and I'm up in the clouds.....

Don't dwell on your fears.

Think happy thoughts!

 

[helenm29]

OH YEAH! I HATE to fly! for some reason, it's gotten worse as I've gotten older...maybe because of all that stuff that's going ON out there? As long as I'm in the Isle seat and can see what's going on in the cabin I seem to be able to tolerate it ok. Why do you think they put BARS at Airports? I honestly don't think it's a good thing drinking before you fly...I think my stomach would rebel on me and THAT would NOT be good! Hang in there and THINK POSITIVE! Helen

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

I also used to be very nervous flying - I was scared of all the noises the plane makes because I didn't understand how an airplane THAT big could stay up in the sky! One trip, we were delayed taking off because there was a mechanical problem. The pilot(or co-pilot)came back to talk to some of the passengers while we were waiting for the problem to be fixed. You know what he said that changed my life? He said that he wouldn't fly until he knew everything was okay with the plane as he also had a family to go home to. DUH - these pilots aren't on a suicide mission and would NEVER take a chance with his or our lives. So now, I trust the pilot that everything is okay as he's not about to risk his life or ours!

You are exactly right. My DF captains 737s for a major airline and there's nothing that makes me feel better than knowing he has safely reached his destination, whether home or layover. He flew for the Navy for 7 years and has been flying commercial aircraft for 15 and he is the most conscientious person I know. He takes his position of responsibility for people's safety very seriously. He would never take risks with his own life or the lives of others.

I, too, cannot fathom how something that weighs about 155 thousand pounds at take off can get in the air, even though it has been (patiently ) explained to me more times than I can tell you. Still, I fly regularly and so do the kids. It's certainly a lot faster and more convenient than driving across the country

 

[n2mm]

You are not alone as you can see by other posts. Nope not a big fan of flying, but my love of going to WDW far outweighs my fear. I know there is no way hubby will go unless he flys, so if I want to go, I have to suck it up and fly. OK, after many, many trips (60 now), I still get a little nervous. Being married to a Disney CM for many years equals many trips to WDW. I'm much better now and have come to terms with fate. I commute by commuter train every day 4-5 hours a day, and take my life in my hands everytime I step on that train. Taking this into perspective, flying is a piece of cake. I do admit, everyone in my family knows that I have to hold someone's hand during takeoff....it's just a tradition now, so recently when I couldn't sit with my hubby, my grandson stuck out his hand and said, here, you can hold mine. With security being high and air marshalls on the planes, I feel safer than ever. Of course, I work in Wash. DC and know more than the average person when it comes to terrorism, and have to say, I feel safe flying. I flew out of Dulles just last week and expected the worse at the airport since the week earlier was chaos...I was pleasantly surprised by how calm and efficient the procedures went. It took be 5 minutes to get through the security checkpoint at Dulles Airport, and 5 minutes to check my bags....which left me with almost 2 hours to hangout at my gate, as we were told to arrive 2 hours prior to our flight.

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

One word---Xanax

I second that motion!

 

[pepperw23]

Ok, I have to ask....
How many of you are terrified of flying... especially with the new try with terrorism on planes???

I have a real problem with flying but the rest of my family loves to fly. Last year I agreed to fly and I started crying while still on the ground, cried at the airport in Hartford, CT and cried until we were probably around Virginia area and finally fell asleep!!!

We're planning to fly at least twice (maybe more) to WDW... Sept, March and possibly again later next year, and I'm already getting nervous about next month's trip...

For those who are afraid to fly but do anyway.... How do you manage (without using meds!!!)... Any tips would be appreciated.

I am terrified of flying. I always have been. I flew to Germany twice and that was not so bad, still scary, but the plane was huge. I hate the domestic flights. It feels like there is nothing holding me up....not sure if that makes ANY sense at all ha ha.

 

[Ms.Mouse]

Thanks everyone... of course, I'm still nervous but will visit those sites and will call my MD for xanax...

 

[kimmikayb]

Doesn't Xanax make you sleepy? I'm going to be going with my kids and my mom, therefore the responsible one! LOL! But I'm scared to death to fly and I don't want anyone to know.