Flying

[Kare56bear]

Hi I am going to Disney on Monday and I am horribly scared of flying. I was just wondering if anybody knows of anything I can do to help it go good.

 

[goofy4tink]

Welcome to the DIS boards first of all. Now, I'm not the happiest camper up there in the air. Since I started flying with my dd, back when she was 4, I decided that I should put my own fears aside so that she didn't adopt the same fears/issues. But, inside, I'm still a quivering mass of jello.
My best advice is to breath deeply. Try not to look out the windows until the plane has leveled off. Realize that as it lifts off, it is going to bank in one direction or another. Scared the living bejeebers out of me the first few times they did that!!! Head over to the fearofflying website. It has lots of terrific info for you.
Last...watch the flight attendents. If they are going about their business, with nice bright sunny smiles, then you can safely assume all is well. If they head for their little jump seats, are white as a ghost, and sweating...well, that's probably not a good sign. But, I have yet to have that happen.
Bring a good book if you're a reader. Be sure to stay hydrated. Stretch as often as you can.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Welcome to the DIS, KB.

Bring an iPod (or other Mp3), a book, a DVD player. Keep busy. Visit this site http://www.fearofflyinghelp.com/ good reading. If you have an idea ahead of time what the plane is (or going to) do, it makes things more routine to you.

I bet you will enjoy it. Enjoy your trip.

 

[Kare56bear]

Thank you guys for the information.

 

[MermaidsMom]

THE TRICKS I USE ARE:

1) Keep your mind visually stimulated with big pictures and colors- I use tabloid magazines like the Star/National Enquirer magazines (I don't read them other times except flying) be sure to take enough to last the entire trip.

2) Keep your mind stimulated auditorially with music using an IPod or CD player playing soft music while you read your gossip magazine. It also blocks some engine noise and you don't jump at every little sound the plane makes.

3)Keep your palate busy with interesting textures/flavors that are distracting. For this I chew gummy worms. They are sweet/sour and last a few minutes each and are also good for ear pain.

4)I also buy one of those disposable heating pads for neck/back injuries and wear it on my neck (under my shirt) because it helps me relax my muscles and when they are relaxed I tend to relax in general!

Hope this all helps!!

 

[Kae]

My best friend swears by a #2 bag of twizzlers she just chews on them, like everyone has said just something to keep your mind off of the whole flying ting. My other friend takes Valium, but it takes her a day to recover. Good luck to you & have a safe flight.

Kae

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm loving those gummy bears and twizzlers ideas!! Wonder if there would be any issues taking them in your carryon...especially the gummies.

 

[Juliet25]

I hear ya! I'm flying on Sunday and, yes, I'm nervous. I would usually sleep on the flight, but it's me and DD, so that's not happening.

I am taking 1 mg of Ativan before I get to the airport.

 

[Kare56bear]

Does that work. I just went to the doctors and got some of those.

 

[bavaria]

I sleep on most flights - I just take a sleeping pill 20 minutes before boarding, but test them out in advance as everyone reacts differently.

I'm over 75,000 miles YTD and I am actually a nervous flyer, but it's safer than driving or taking the train. Just don't get worked up beforehand and if you DO get worked up going through security etc take a few minutes for some deep breaths and relaxation before boarding.

Thousands of ppl fly every day and it's the safest way to travel.

 

[PlutosFriend]

Hi I am going to Disney on Monday and I am horribly scared of flying. I was just wondering if anybody knows of anything I can do to help it go good.

Welcome to the DIS
If you drink alcohol, maybe having a drink would take the edge off
Hope it goes well for you! It will be OK!

 

[Juliet25]

Does that work. I just went to the doctors and got some of those.

The Ativan? Yes, to a certain extent. It's not a cure-all, but it's better than nothing! It makes you a bit sleepy, so be aware of that.

 

[jannii11111]

I just do not want to feel any anxiousness on the plane. How does it make you feel? I am trying one out tonight to see how it works.

 

[Harvest02]

I am not one to dope up on medicine, but when I have been anxious in the past about things, I talked to my doctor. He gave me a few samples of Buspar, which is an anti-anxiety drug. It works great!!! I don't recall that it made me that tired, and it does to help soothe the nerves! Just an idea of something to take if you are afraid to fly!!!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Drink heavily.

MG

 

[Corryn]

I do not like taking any meds. I don't even like taking aspirin when I'm aching.
But when it comes to flying, I need something. Like one poster said, once you have the kiddies flying with you, Mom needs to put on a brave face, despite how she's feeling inside!
During a sick visit to the doctor, I said to her, I don't like flying, is there something you can prescribe me?
So she gave me a prescription for 10 tabs of Alprazolam. It's a generic form of something or other.
But I took it and it Helped!
Our last flight, we had some turbulance. My daughter said, Hey Mom, This is Fun!!! It feels like we're on a Roller Coaster!!!
If it weren't for the meds, I would have been all over that barf bag...
But instead I said, Yeah, a roller coaster, wee!!!!

Before taking the medication, I used to say my Rosary and take deep breaths. Like the other posters stated, get some magazines with big pictures.

Good Luck and try to enjoy it. It's such a wonderful experience once you're cruising along!

 

[WillCAD]

Alchohol is the absolute worst, stupidest, most irresponsible, and dangerous way to "take the edge off" when flying.

If you are scared, see your doctor and get a prescribed medication to help with the anxiety and take is only as directed by your doctor. Never self-medicate without consulting your doctor first, and throw away the alchohol.

Being drunk, or even just a little tipsy, on a plane is a terrible condition for several reasons.

1) Tipsy or drunk people lose their inhibitions and often wind up becoming a serious nuissance to fellow passengers or the flight crew. And that's a nice way to get arrested.
2) Tipsy or drunk passengers often get sick from the combination of motion and booze. How much worse would your flying experience be if you spent the whole flight with your head in the toilet?
3) Lower air pressure in a plane while in flight makes the alcohol metabalise faster, so you get drunker, faster, than you would on the ground. You may think, "I know my limits", but those limits are much shorter when on a plane and a couple of drinks will hit you way harder.
4) What if some emergency DOES come up while you're on the plane? If you are impaired, you endanger not only your life, but the lives of your family and everyone else on the plane in teh event of an emergency.

Be safe, be smart, be sober.

If you truly have a phobia about flying, get counselling. There are lots of qualified, professional therapists who specialize in helping people overcome their fear of flying and have a very high success rate. Seek one out (ask your own doctor or your health insurrance company for a recommendation), and you can overcome your fear without drugs, tricks, or booze.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Alchohol is the absolute worst, stupidest, most irresponsible, and dangerous way to "take the edge off" when flying.

If you are scared, see your doctor and get a prescribed medication to help with the anxiety and take is only as directed by your doctor. Never self-medicate without consulting your doctor first, and throw away the alchohol.

Being drunk, or even just a little tipsy, on a plane is a terrible condition for several reasons.

1) Tipsy or drunk people lose their inhibitions and often wind up becoming a serious nuissance to fellow passengers or the flight crew. And that's a nice way to get arrested.
2) Tipsy or drunk passengers often get sick from the combination of motion and booze. How much worse would your flying experience be if you spent the whole flight with your head in the toilet?
3) Lower air pressure in a plane while in flight makes the alcohol metabalise faster, so you get drunker, faster, than you would on the ground. You may think, "I know my limits", but those limits are much shorter when on a plane and a couple of drinks will hit you way harder.
4) What if some emergency DOES come up while you're on the plane? If you are impaired, you endanger not only your life, but the lives of your family and everyone else on the plane in teh event of an emergency.

Be safe, be smart, be sober.

If you truly have a phobia about flying, get counselling. There are lots of qualified, professional therapists who specialize in helping people overcome their fear of flying and have a very high success rate. Seek one out (ask your own doctor or your health insurrance company for a recommendation), and you can overcome your fear without drugs, tricks, or booze.

Huh???
Okay, I was only kidding about my earlier post, but this is a bit of over reaction in my opinion.

Yes, I still say... "Drink Heavily"

Signed, a VERY experienced flyer...
MG

 

[MermaidsMom]

Alchohol is the absolute worst, stupidest, most irresponsible, and dangerous way to "take the edge off" when flying.

If you are scared, see your doctor and get a prescribed medication to help with the anxiety and take is only as directed by your doctor. Never self-medicate without consulting your doctor first, and throw away the alchohol.

Being drunk, or even just a little tipsy, on a plane is a terrible condition for several reasons.

1) Tipsy or drunk people lose their inhibitions and often wind up becoming a serious nuissance to fellow passengers or the flight crew. And that's a nice way to get arrested.
2) Tipsy or drunk passengers often get sick from the combination of motion and booze. How much worse would your flying experience be if you spent the whole flight with your head in the toilet?
3) Lower air pressure in a plane while in flight makes the alcohol metabalise faster, so you get drunker, faster, than you would on the ground. You may think, "I know my limits", but those limits are much shorter when on a plane and a couple of drinks will hit you way harder.
4) What if some emergency DOES come up while you're on the plane? If you are impaired, you endanger not only your life, but the lives of your family and everyone else on the plane in teh event of an emergency.

Be safe, be smart, be sober.

If you truly have a phobia about flying, get counselling. There are lots of qualified, professional therapists who specialize in helping people overcome their fear of flying and have a very high success rate. Seek one out (ask your own doctor or your health insurrance company for a recommendation), and you can overcome your fear without drugs, tricks, or booze.

Without drugs, TRICKS, or booze? What else is there? Coma?
Almost everything you will do to distract yourself whether it is prayer, meditation, reading, going to your happy place, etc, involves "mental tricks".

 

[maxiesmom]

Alchohol is the absolute worst, stupidest, most irresponsible, and dangerous way to "take the edge off" when flying.

If you are scared, see your doctor and get a prescribed medication to help with the anxiety and take is only as directed by your doctor. Never self-medicate without consulting your doctor first, and throw away the alchohol.

Being drunk, or even just a little tipsy, on a plane is a terrible condition for several reasons.

1) Tipsy or drunk people lose their inhibitions and often wind up becoming a serious nuissance to fellow passengers or the flight crew. And that's a nice way to get arrested.
2) Tipsy or drunk passengers often get sick from the combination of motion and booze. How much worse would your flying experience be if you spent the whole flight with your head in the toilet?
3) Lower air pressure in a plane while in flight makes the alcohol metabalise faster, so you get drunker, faster, than you would on the ground. You may think, "I know my limits", but those limits are much shorter when on a plane and a couple of drinks will hit you way harder.
4) What if some emergency DOES come up while you're on the plane? If you are impaired, you endanger not only your life, but the lives of your family and everyone else on the plane in teh event of an emergency.

Be safe, be smart, be sober.

If you truly have a phobia about flying, get counselling. There are lots of qualified, professional therapists who specialize in helping people overcome their fear of flying and have a very high success rate. Seek one out (ask your own doctor or your health insurrance company for a recommendation), and you can overcome your fear without drugs, tricks, or booze.

Wow that is harsh! I'm glad you are not in charge of me!

OP--No one is suggesting with any seriousness that you get yourself wasted to the point of coma. Do see you doctor and something that will help you have a safe, happy trip. The fear of flying web-site is great too. It takes a little while to complete, but I recommed you do it. They explain how the plane works, what sounds it may make in flight, and many other helpful tidbits. Have a great trip!