how do you stop worrying about flying

[misspickle]

i hope someone can help i'm not keen on flying but i'm willing to do it but for the past 4 months i can't stop thinking that somthing bad going to happen.

am i the only one that thinks this, i think thats making it worse is the news at the moment.

hope so one can help with adivce to get over it .

 

[Tinker74]

I feel the same way! I hate hate hate flying. Its the reason I chose travel city direct instead of the more expensive Virgin.

Because its going to be nine hours of hell for me...so Iam not going to pay more for things like seat back tvs and more leg room....I will literally be on the edge of my seat biting my nails the whole way.

Take off is the worst for me .....i pretend to look calm and look like Iam reading a magazine but really I can't speak for about 10 mins after take off.

Iam also constantly looking at the air hostesses faces for any signs of panic!!!

But I refuse to let it stop me going anywhere. And I just tell myself the facts.
How many thousands of flights have taken part just that week...and all land safely. It uts it into perspective.

Also try rescue remedy from boots! Or a stiff vodka before take off!

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

Ativan?

j/k Actually, I'm considering it - I don't want to freak out in front of the kids

I'm sorry I don't have any helpful advice, but I'm interested in any replies also, as flying completely freaks me out!

 

[Boo Boo Too]

Being on board a plane is CONSIDERABLY safer than being in a car - the chances of something happening to you are far less. Do you panic with fear every time you get into a car? Probably not...

Saying that, I do generally say a little prayer just before take off (although I am not religious!). Air travel is just a cross that you have to bare if you want to see the world (you could cruise the world, but that would take a lot more time and be a lot more costly!)

I would always choose major airlines like BA and Virgin over charters, because they have higher "maintenance ratings" - a better maintained plane is a good thing...

You could look for some herbal calming pills or, if you haven't flown before, look at taking a "fear of flying" course (Virgin and others offer them).

This October we fly Gatwick to Orlando, Orlando to LA, LA to Dallas, Dallas to Houston, then Houston to Gatwick... a lot of flying, but it should be a great trip

Best Wishes,
Boo

 

[carolfoy]

and yet you'll happily jump in any taxi at any time? it takes years and years to become a commercial pilot, most of them get their hours up by doing cargo flights, how many cargo flights go every day? how many crash? exactly! and these are the ones with the 'inexperienced' pilots. fear of flying is a control issue, it freaks you out because you're not in control - take a look in the cockpit and be grateful you aren't in control, theres hundreds of dials and switches.
sit back relax and let someone else do their work.
unless as tinker74 says the air hostesses are panicking then you've no real reason to.

failing that kalms or other herbal remedy will help but don't take anything too strong you really don't want to be knocked out.

 

[Deedee]

Focus on what you have to look forward to at the end of the flight, although its easy for me to say i love flying. My DH thinks i am sick because i don't even mind the turbulance.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

Hate flying but love Florida = I put up with it.

Just try and concentrate on Joshua and make sure he is ok, tends to make me forget about my own concerns.

 

[Queenie]

I'm a bad flyer and it's been getting worse for me (especially as we had a bad experience on the way home last year that I won't mention on here.) I've bought some books about flying off amazon and they're very good. They take you through every part of a flight explaining the noises, there's also chapters explaining the safety proceedures on every little tiny thing, how air traffic control works - everything. I found myself laughing sometimes because of how they have contingency plans for contingency plans for contingency plans - it was insane but great to know!

I also highly recommend kalms, they're great and don't make me drowsy which can make me more frightened as I feel even less in control. I'd buy them in advance and try them at home before the day though in case they affect you differently. I take one about an hour before we are due to take off and another once I'm in my seat on the plane and we've just begun to move (that gives you about 15 mins for it to kick in before take off.) I also make sure I have rescue remedy to hand in case of a panic attack that needs something immediate. Last year I was throwing up in the toilets at Manc Airport through fear but once I'd done my routine and we were taking off I was basically fine

 

[misspickle]

queenie whats rescue remedy ?

 

[kazd]

I regularly travelled back and forth from the US to Uk without a fear, despite some heavy turbulence. But!!!!!!!!!!!! since I have had my children I am not as calm. I am not terrified but I am not as comfortable with it as I was. I am frightened of them being frightened and this is not crashing. No my over active imagination has us on a hijacked plane etc

 

[jaberwocky]

A quick trip to the Docs and a good stash of Diazepham later i am fit to fly. Well not quite i am forgetting the several JD's required to top up the aforementioned pills all consumed in the 2 hours before boarding. Suprisingly enough i am quite calm and even manage to sleep. No matter how many times i tell myself that i have an irrational fear, I still have the irrational fear.

Steve

 

[Cochise]

Why not look at some of the fear of flying courses online, they are quite good.
Its funny how tuned in you are to the slightest change in pitch, noises etc. Just a few of the thing that used to upset me.

Loud bump on rotation- This is the front wheel leaving the ground and the shock absorber reaching its extended position.

The "fall backwards" about 15-30 seconds into the flight- This is the reduction from take off throttle from climb throttle

Whirring Noises after take off and before landing. One of two things, gear retracting or deploying. Then either the extending/retraction of the flaps, also you lose lift on the climb as the flaps are retracted so you get a feeling of falling back. Also when the flaps are deployed on the descent it gives a real feeling of slowing quickly.

Rescue Remedy isn't bad but try some travel sickness pills, they are ok. I can't agree with taking things such as drugs and alcohol together, I hope you sit in a window seat because you will be a hazard for the escape of others in a potential emergency.

If you take the Online Courses all the flight makes sense, you can forget about the technical side of how the plane flies and how brilliant they really are. I still get nervous when flying but it is more a nervous excitement as i know we wont "fall" out the sky.

 

[gilld]

I can't agree with taking things such as drugs and alcohol together, I hope you sit in a window seat because you will be a hazard for the escape of others in a potential emergency.

I agree with you. These drugs shouldn't be taken with alcohol, particularly as the effects of alcohol are trebled at altitude. Sorry, but it is dangerous.

 

[traceycooper]

I cross my fingers on both hands for the whole flight - even eat my meal with them crossed cos everytime i uncross them the plane judders!!!
I wear my 'lucky' cross & say half a dozen prayers in the run up to flying, its worked so far!!!
If there are camera views from the plane on the seat back tv that helps cos everytime the plane judders i check the pilots view to make sure everything is ok, then i check the view from under the plane & if the ground is not rushing up towards me it calms me ...a bit.

Seriously though it is not nice i am usualy convinced i am going to die by the time we take off, I try to focus on the actual holiday & all the wonderful things we are going to do when we get there, & keep reminding myself of all the positive info already given on here. I think life is too short, if i were to die tomorrow what would i regret, & it would be not having the nerve to visit the places i want to see, i want to look back when i'm older & be able to say wow i have done some wonderful things in my life!

 

[gilld]

Apart from not understanding the physics of how the aircraft actually stays up in the air, I don't concern myself at all. I actually really like flying - provided I'm in a comfortable seat - no economy!

 

[misspickle]

thanks for everyone's info its all been great !!
i laugh at myself because my dh is in the raf and he works on the jets so he has some knowledge on how the work etc, and i constantly ask him questions.

i'm away to look at the online course thingy ma bob see how i go with that.

thanx

 

[wifey]

Rescue Remedy is a Bachs product, it's herbal in origin, which you can get at a health food shop or chemist. You can add a couple of drops to a drink to help relieve stress (its also good for animals in smaller quantities)There's also other oils etc available for anxiety and restlessness (also by the same company) which many people find very helpfull!!Lots of mums I know at work have used one for their kids taking exams which seems to work very well Hope this helps