Flying tips

[kvand423]

Hello all,

I'll be going to Disney in August and we will be flying down. I absolutely hate flying... But I love how fast you get there. I always get super nervous and anxious beforehand. I usually take a Dramomene before boarding, but that seems to do nothing. I also get a lot of pain in my ears as well that chewing gum does not fix. I have not flown in 5 years. Any tips or advice that would make me feel better about I would greatly appreciate!!!! Thank you

 

[TeachTink]

Hello all,

I'll be going to Disney in August and we will be flying down. I absolutely hate flying... But I love how fast you get there. I always get super nervous and anxious beforehand. I usually take a Dramomene before boarding, but that seems to do nothing. I also get a lot of pain in my ears as well that chewing gum does not fix. I have not flown in 5 years. Any tips or advice that would make me feel better about I would greatly appreciate!!!! Thank you

I know it is hard to do, but relax. I am not a fan of flying either. Before last year, I hadn't flown for probably 6 or 7 years. I went on my honeymoon last year and I was SO NERVOUS. I'm talking freaking out for days, searching every website for tips about calming down, checking turbulence reports constantly, etc. I had a super smooth flight to and from Dominican Republic and it made me feel silly for all the worrying I had done.

I will be flying to Disney in about 2 weeks, and I know the anxiety will creep up again. For me, it helps to check the weather maps and turbulence forecasts so I can reassure myself I will have a smooth flight. I have flown PA-FL several times and have never had a rough flight. I hold my husbands hand while taking off. Once we are in the air, I sit back and ZONE OUT. I will play a game on my iPad, listen to music, read a magazine, or sleep. I also like to sit in the aisle because it makes me feel like I have more room.

I hope you have a great flight.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm not a huge fan of flying either, but it no longer really bothers me since I do it so much! Here's my advice.....learn some deep breathing exercises. The ones that are used in Lamaze classes for childbirth. They help me in a lot of stressful situations! Then, the night before you are to fly, take a good decongestant. Take another one the next morning. Try to have one in your system, working, by the time you get to the airport. If it ends up with you in the air when you should be taking a third one, take it! If you want to be a bit sleepy, take Benedryl...that will really relax you. Take two but no more.
Then, take some magazines on the plane with you. They are much easier to read than a book!

If you can, find a fear of flying site online. A lot of them have videos of what happens during flight...especially during take off and landing. It's really scary when you hear some of that stuff..or when you feel a bit weightless upon taking off!!! Knowing what is going on will really help you.

And lastly....this is the biggie that I tell my dd...watch your flight attendants. They seldom hand out snacks and beverages if there is an issue!! If they are going about their business, all is good!

Planes are hard to bring down. Something really awful has to happen. They just don't stop flying! Do you believe there are so many people out there, making a living on planes, if it was dangerous? Yes, accidents happen. But far more people are injured in car accidents than in plane accidents!

So, do your homework, get familiar with the flight process and plan on taking those meds...and relax. You're going to DisneyWorld!!!

 

[Greysword]

Unfortunately, Dramamine is for motion sickness instead of anxiety. If you need a good motion sickness remedy, I like Mechlazine (need to ask the pharmacist).

Good luck, and enjoy the flight. It'll be fine.

 

[Siriusblack]

Visit you family doctor and get a bit of anti anxiety medication. I got to the point where every time I had to get on a plane I would cry and feel sick the whole time. Now I can go any time, no worries. Why suffer?

 

[alaska8]

Try to sit as far forward in the plane as possible...you will feel less turbulence. Now that you can use electronics for the entire flight there are some great apps that may be helpful (I personally like Andrew Johnsons) for calming your nerves. Avoid alcohol and soda....plenty of water will help you feel great during the flight. Take a good decongenstant starting 1-2 days before you fly (you can always take Afrin with you to use during the flight) Chewing gum will help (start at the top of descent...usually around 20-25 minutes prior to landing...you will hear a change in engine sound...or ask your flight attendants) Tell you flight attendants that you are a nervous flyer they will check on you and answer any questions you may have.

 

[goofy4tink]

I also have found that EarPlanes work very well for ear pain. You can get them at a CVS or Walgreens type store.
I seldom recommend using meds to overcome anxiety while flying, unless you've been taking them all along. There is no way to be sure how you're going to react to them...and you really don't want to be at 30,000' and have an adverse reaction.
But, to each his, or her, own.

 

[Leslieloody]

Unfortunately, Dramamine is for motion sickness instead of anxiety. If you need a good motion sickness remedy, I like Mechlazine (need to ask the pharmacist). Good luck, and enjoy the flight. It'll be fine.

We have Meclazine in my drug store along with other travel medicine. It's a 12.5 mg, where the prescription strength is 25mg. Just take two.

 

[Greysword]

Try to sit as far forward in the plane as possible...you will feel less turbulence.

Why does the front of the plane feel less turbulence that the middle or back? I would think the area in the middle would be less overall movement, since the aircraft pivots at this axis point (up/down, left/right, side to side), but the whole aircraft will get buffeted in an unstable air mass.

 

[dis_guy]

Why does the front of the plane feel less turbulence that the middle or back? I would think the area in the middle would be less overall movement, since the aircraft pivots at this axis point (up/down, left/right, side to side), but the whole aircraft will get buffeted in an unstable air mass.

You're basically right though it is very possible for thermal activity and other things to destabilize a plane by acting on one wing and the like. I think the pp was referring to the fact that any yaw (side to side) motion is more pronounced in the aft of the plane. As well most people feel less claustrophobic sitting in the front of the plane. With today's systems it's rare to feel anything worse than a bump on the road that you'd feel in a car.

 

[alaska8]

Why does the front of the plane feel less turbulence that the middle or back? I would think the area in the middle would be less overall movement, since the aircraft pivots at this axis point (up/down, left/right, side to side), but the whole aircraft will get buffeted in an unstable air mass.

Not sure the reasoning but from experience when you on a 737 you feel the turbulence a lot less the further forward you are. As a flight attendant if Im sat at the front jumpseat during turbulence my experience will be completely different from those flight attendants sat on the back jumpseat . I might just feel a few little bumps but they have been bounced around pretty badly in the back...weird I know.

 

[BongoFury]

I also have found that EarPlanes work very well for ear pain. You can get them at a CVS or Walgreens type store.

I was wondering if those EarPlanes worked. The last time I flew I had a helluva time trying to get my ears to pop.

Thanks!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I also have found that EarPlanes work very well for ear pain. You can get them at a CVS or Walgreens type store.
I seldom recommend using meds to overcome anxiety while flying, unless you've been taking them all along. There is no way to be sure how you're going to react to them...and you really don't want to be at 30,000' and have an adverse reaction.
But, to each his, or her, own.

I had some flying anxiety for a while around 10 yrs ago after a very turbulent return flight from WDW. I needed something to get them through the next few flights so my doctor prescribed Ativan with a couple extra to try ahead of time, on a weekend, so I'd know how I react to them without interfering with our vacation or work. It was great. I only needed them a few times. Once I had more positive experiences, the 1 negative one faded from memory.