I am sooo afraid of flying

[Swan]

My DH has booked a trip for our 14th anniversary without kids. We usually drive but we only have four days, so it is flying or nothing. That is wonderful but, I am terribly afraid of flying. In fact I am already getting nervous and it is 3 weeks away. I don't freak out or anything but I sit in turmoil for the whole trip. I need advice on how to deal with this. I am sure there are people out there as scared as I am. How do you handle this? If we were going any where but Disney I would not do this.

 

[TooBoyz4us]

Plan on bringing something along to do. A favorite book/magazine, or maybe a portable DVD player with your favorite movie.

If you have something to keep you occupied, you may not even think about the flight ;-)

Chris

 

[JinniLynn33]

I like to breath slowly and deeply.
Never leave the blind/shade up on the window in your row regardless of if you sit by it or not.
Think about the fact that you are waaaaaaaaaay more likeyly to get in an automobile accident than a plane crash. You ride in your car every day, you aren't scared about that are you? (this is just what I tell myself, lol)
If all of the above fails I take valium


Have fun!!!!

Virginia

 

[Carrieberry]

Your doctor might be able to prescribe two mild seditives for you -one for each way. My friend also hates to fly and she is going to WDW from here in AZ with a stopover in Dallas in 2 weeks. She always gets 2 valium for the flights, but not this time- she is 5 months pregnant! I am teaching her to do basic knitting so she can keep herself busy on the plane! She will try to sleep and and listen to some classical music to try to relax and of course she will be breathing nice and slow!

 

[thatdarncat]

I just noticed this thread. Yes, I too am REALLLYY afraid to fly. But I got myself a gameboy! HAHA. I love playing this thing on the plane. It takes my mind off of it. That and taking a seditive like the last person said. But I hear ya, I'm leaving in three days and I can't fall alseep right now thinking about it. But it's so worth it to go to Disney!

 

[Carrieberry]

My Dh (32 years old!) just bought a Game Boy too! His excuse? I need it for the plane ride to Disney!! Now he shares games with my son!

 

[palmtreegirl]

Go to this web site and do the free program offered, it's really greatr and worked wonders for me!

http://www.fearofflyinghelp.com/

 

[dreams91]

I am afraid as well. My flight is even longer! This will be my first trip so far away. I never even thought about asking the doc for some med to help calm me. I'm always wanting to be in control, but it would probably be a good thing if I wasn't for flying!!!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I am a nervous flyer too. Our first flight with our kids was 10 days after 9/11 and I almost cried out as the flight attendant was closing the door for the last time "Wait - Let Us Out" - but I didn't. Everyone was nervous and the girl behind me vomited the whole trip. It wasn't pretty, I was a wreck by the time we landed.

But we've had 4 flights since then and I'm actually not too nervous anymore. My secret? Watching the flight attendants. I figure they do this for a living, just like I do what I do. I know I'm good at what I do and have put in 27,000 hours over the last 18 years doing it. So have they. Instead of going to a hospital to work like I do, they fly. And if they're not nervous, neither am I. So try taking your cues from them. Watch them joking and chatting while they work, it makes you realize there's not much to be afraid of. It's a cliche but it really IS safer than driving.

Good luck and don't forget your valium also.

 

[dopeys biggest fan]

I'm afraid too! This time I am really worried though, I am flying by myself for the first time ever! My problem is really three things, take off, landing, and turbulance. I usually squeeze my DH's hand and he talks to me to calm me down. But he wont be there! I am going to check out that webseite recomened by palmtreegirl and I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[ctsnowfall]

I do not like to fly at all. A great distraction I have found is to bring a Walkman and an audio book. Something about being "read to" is very soothing to me...works better than reading. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[treehugger]

I used to be in the same boat, but now flying is actually enjoyable to me. This is what I do. I purchase a jumbo word seek and tell myself that I will finish three puzzles, beginning to end. My flight is about 2.5 hours and I am always wrapping up the last one by the time the pilot announces to prepare for landing. Also when I first started flying I sat up front and also took my cue from the flight attendants, whenever I would get concerned about turbulance I would look at them. They were never phased and that was very comforting. Also, avoid the window seat or pull down the blind like someone suggested. It was much more stressful driving and dealing with terrible traffic and wrecks littering i95 for 20 hours! I feel much safer flying. Once you get this flight out of the way it should become easier and this will allow more short trips to Disney and open up a whole world of travel options for you. Also on our flight yesterday we had a very nervous passenger. The crew at South West was great, they allowed him to preboard and gave him extra attention and he did great! Have a great flight!

 

[Pinnie]

Originally posted by JinniLynn33
Never leave the blind/shade up on the window in your row regardless of if you sit by it or not.
Virginia

FAA regulations require the window shades be UP during takeoff and landings. Best bet in that case is to sit on an aisle.

pinnie

 

[Swan]

I got a lot of great ideas. I called my PA and asked for a script for Xanax(shorter acting than valium). She gave me 20, I must have sounded stressed,LOL. I am going to bring a laptop with head phones, a puzzle book, a book, and take that on line class. I am prepared. I think the head phones are a good idea because I hear every little noise the engines make and I think every change in sound is a problem. I am telling you I am bad. It is a good thing I panic quietly.

 

[ncbyrne]

I too take Xanax. My doctor prescribes it for every flight. It takes the nervous edge off, there are no side effects and does not make me groggy at all. I never fly without it! What airline are you flying? On our last trip we flew Song both ways. It was GREAT! They have individual tv's on the back of the seat in front of everyone w/ free headphones for each seat. You can watch programs, listen to a variety of music choices, but the best was the in flight trivia games! You play other people on the plane. I played the entire flight and it seemed we were on the ground again in no time!

 

[Swan]

Hi ncbyrne,

I was hoping it would not make me sleepy. Will it be strong enough? I am a real chicken. I am flying Delta, I hope they have tvs in the seat. I love trivia so hopefully we will have that if not I will play on the laptop.

 

[AuntRoeRoe]

I also take Xanax when flying. It really does take the edge off and doesn't make me groggy. I also take the newspaper and plenty of magazines to read.

 

[Swan]

palmtreegirl I tried that on line class and it was good. I am not sure if I am brave yet but I did relize it is the noise that freaks me out. I am going to prepare for this and hopefully will have a better trip(still going to try the Xanax).

 

[thatdarncat]

I'm flying tomorrow. I took the Zanex about a half hour ago to sleep better tonight. So far so good. Not that I'm promoting use of drugs.. hah! (Only the prescribed kind!) But I think everyone here who knows how scary it is to fly will do almost about anything to stop worrying. It's physically and mentally draining. Anyway, thanks for all the great comments from everyone on this topic. By the way that website is great and the message boards there are interesting to read! It's good to feel you're not alone.