I'm scared to fly!!! How am I going to get to WDW and Hawaii????

[letitsnow]

thank you for all your tips and advice. I will definately take it all into consideration. I know I'll get there one way or the other. after 9/11 I never left the city I lived in with the fear of going over bridges. I couldn't be in a car for very long either. I even couldn't go to a shopping mall for 3 years which is unbelievable for the fact I love to shop!!!

I finally made it to Disneyland with my kids! We have been a few times every year since. Once I knew I could do it the first time and survive it WAS definately easier to do it the 2nd then third and now I can just sleep through the 8 hour drive.

I have seeked counseling but they just want to prescribe a quick fix for the flight. My fear is, what if it doesn't work?? hhaha...i'm just all messed up!

one day...i will go and I can't wait to share my trip reports with you all...

 

[sdemore]

Take meds for flight to WDW, but I would definately love a cruise to Hawaii

 

[turkeymama]

thank you for all your tips and advice. I will definately take it all into consideration. I know I'll get there one way or the other. after 9/11 I never left the city I lived in with the fear of going over bridges. I couldn't be in a car for very long either. I even couldn't go to a shopping mall for 3 years which is unbelievable for the fact I love to shop!!!

I finally made it to Disneyland with my kids! We have been a few times every year since. Once I knew I could do it the first time and survive it WAS definately easier to do it the 2nd then third and now I can just sleep through the 8 hour drive.

I have seeked counseling but they just want to prescribe a quick fix for the flight. My fear is, what if it doesn't work?? hhaha...i'm just all messed up!

one day...i will go and I can't wait to share my trip reports with you all...

Ahh, kindred souls, lol. I am also a "what-lf" thinker. Keep going for counseling for the general anxiety if it seems to be a chronic thing (I'm betting it is since you sound a lot like me).

The first time I flew was for my honeymoon. I was paralyzed with fear and couldn't even pack my suitcase the night before. Hubby packed it for me and I took Xanax (prescribed by my doc!). By the time we took off, I was well-medicated. By the time we made our layover and switched planes, I was ready for a window seat because I was having such a good time.

We didn't fly again for almost 10 years and my doc prescribed a low dose of Xanax again for me. I only took 2 doses, one for the flight there, and one for the flight back. I do enjoy flying, but I still have anxiety with it. I don't know if I'll ever get over it completely, but I rarely fly.

When you fly infrequently, the fear of flying is not a chronic problem. Therefore, there is nothing irrational or unreasonable about taking a mild medication to calm your nerves for it. If you had to fly frequently for business, then it would make much more sense to seek therapy to overcome the fear.

Please seek out your options. Life is too short to let something like this keep you from traveling and having a good time with your family.

 

[CrazyDuck]

I am clausterphobic and get really bad anxiety attacks. I am soooo scared to fly that even when I went to the airport to pick up my mom and saw the airplanes I got an anxiety attack.

What do you do get over this? I'm in California and really want to take my kids to WDW and Hawaii!!! We have been visiting Disneyland several times a year and they are still not tired of it...but they have been asking about going to other places.

I would appreciate any suggestions as we will soon be DVC members!! just waiting on the paperwork!

Thank you in advance!

DCL... Save up them points!

 

[lisaviolet]

My sister was the same as you. No flying ever. Wouldn't do it. Said never ever in her life over and over. Nope. Nada. Nyet. In 2005 we got together as a group of 13 at WDW.


I told my sister - this trip was because of some deaths - you have to come. Life is short. I begged. I used guilt. I used soapbox material. I told her that she's limiting herself because you can't drive everywhere. (she loves to travel) I walked her through buying the ticket. She said as she pushed the SW button "I feel sick". And she thad remendous anxiety. And then she flew.

Fast forward five years - her whole life has changed. (She's fifty this year - geez how did that happen?)

She's visited my brother in California for the first time (he's been there since 1984).

She went to the Dominican.

She just flew by herself to Florida!!!

So life can change. That's the wonderful things about it. Sometimes fears can dissolve by facing them head on.

All the best to you. And I should take my own advice about something I'm afraid of. Flying - I ADORE it. Interviews make me crazy. We all have something.

 

[lisaviolet]

Oh and congratulations on the DVC.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I have a friend who hates to fly, so he gets really snockered in the airport bar before flying.

 

[rock_doctor]

First... I don't like your username.... If you lived here it would probably be letitmelt.

Very good. I am with you. We are in the process of hoping the 3 ft we have on the ground melts...soon.

I do have an answer for the original poster. Train to Florida, ship to Hawai'i. I have the same problem but i can tolerate about 6hrs on a plane before i want to peel off my skin...and even then only one thing allows me to last that long. Listening to Click and Clack (NPRs Car Talk) non-stop... It is going to cost a fortune to take the train to Florida but the ride is amazing...

 

[Tink-n-Belle]

in my teens I loved to fly, then in my 20's & 30's hated it, but I bought the book "flying without fear" and have really improved. I live in Ma and only fly to Florida and I do still get nervous, sometimes more than others. In fact I just flew Sunday and was really nervous about flying home, but when I flew down to Florida 2 weeks earlier I wasn't nervous at all ( I think I was so burnt out that if the plane crashed it would have been a good thing!!! I wouldn't have to go back to work)

The worse part for me is the take off!! Once we are at 10,000 feet I'm good. Also, if the plane has a TV I feel more relaxed as I have something to keep me distracted.

I guess its the whole gravity thing that gets me. How in the world does that plane take off and stay up. But next time you are in your car stick your hand out the window flat. When you are traveling tilt your hand up and your whole arm will rise. The plane travels on air columns (which we can't see) but when you are going fast that's what keeps the planes up. The book also says that turbulence is just like a bumpy road. Next time you are riding in a car, take the time to notice the bumpy road. We probably notice it more on the plane because we have nothing else to do except feel all the bumps. Has anyone ever noticed that when you are in the bathroom it seem the bumpiest. My DD just noticed it herself on Sunday.

Also, I think most people hate to fly because they are not in control. Even when we are not driving we feel like we are in control (how many of us press the imaginery brake on the passenger side). The whole thing is scary but without flying I would not be able to enjoy my Disney & Florida vacations every year and I'd probably drop dead from the stress of working all the time!

Good luck!! and know you are not alone.

 

[jco_direwolf]

So the way it goes down is Hannibal says "we are driving to Disney World" and you say "BA don't fly..." and about then Murdoch sticks you with a needle and you pass out only to wake up at the CR, after the commercial break.



Right that is the way it works.

Seriously, I agree with the others that are suggesting you goto your doctor and see what they say. Some kind of therapy, either drug or psychological, sounds like it's in order. But as they say in the Ads only your doctor can say for sure.

johno

 

[mybabesuz]

I have anxiety issues too...
I actually pretend I am on a bus and not a plane.
I always have an isle seat.
I pretend the tubulence is just bumps in the road.
I try to stay busy reading or something and really just visualize that it is a bus...
Once in a while I'll take benadryl to take the edge off.
This may sound crazy...I know...
But it works for me.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

So the way it goes down is Hannibal says "we are driving to Disney World" and you say "BA don't fly..." and about then Murdoch sticks you with a needle and you pass out only to wake up at the CR, after the commercial break.



Right that is the way it works.

johno

Should I admit that I remember watching this?

 

[dianeschlicht]

My DD had one of the worst cases phobia of flying I have ever seen, and with therapy and a program for fearful flyers that was presented by NWA years ago, she was able to conquer her fear. She now flys all the time, and while she experiences minor anxiety in anticipation of the flight, she is fine once she gets underway.

One of the "tricks" they taught her to use was a rubber band around her wrist which she snaps when she is feeling anxious. Sounds crazy,but it works for her.

 

[vandy]

I have those same anxieties but overcame them last year to fly to WDW for my 25th anniversary trip. It was a little uneasy, but I survived. I doubt if I can fly over the ocean though and can fully understand your aprehension! When I think about these things I have always enjoyed this little story:

A man wished to go to Hawaii but had a deep fear of flying or even sailing on a ship. He prayed feverishly to God for a bridge to be built between the US and Hawaii.

God finally answered and said "Do you know how much of the Earth's resources would be used to make such a bridge? I cannot do such a thing, but I will answer any other prayer you may have"

The man then asked "Then give me the wisdom and insight to understand my wife, to feel her emotions, to be as one with her".

After a moment of silence God spoke: "So do you want a 2 or a 4 lane bridge!"

Best wishes on whatever course you choose and keep us all posted.

 

[allison k]

Count me in as one of those with a fear of flying. Mine started when I was 13 years old and flew from LAX to Japan and then to Guam....over water. Up until then, I would fly to my Dad's house every year and never ever have an issue. Something about flying over water really freaks me out and I've done some nice long flights since then. Anyway, I learned about medications for flying anxiety about 10 years ago - didn't know it was an option - and have had different things. There was a sedative that one MD gave that I liked and Xanax has really helped with the nerves as well. I've found that the anticipation of the flight is the worst for me. On our trip last year, we were pretty rushed to get out the door and to the airport, and the stress of the rush helped with the anxiety. So, that kind of helped too.

And, the most recent thing that has really helped me with flying is my friends. They are husband and wife commercial pilots. Knowing that they will both willingly leave their boys several times a month to go and fly their planes - 767's - and do it without fear, has helped bring it to a realistic place for me. On a recent flight, a woman expressed her fear with the current drizzle we were having and the safety of flying in it, and my friend helped her with her fears by saying, "I have my 3 yo and 6 mo boys at home, and I would never leave them if I thought it wasn't safe to fly." Hearing her tell me that really helped too.

 

[Reginak]

My husband has had an intense fear of flying since we got married. I thought that I would list the things that have helped him so far.

First of all, let me say that he is funeral director and at a couple of funerals he has met commercial pilots who have alleviated some of his fears. They told him that the wings are supposed to bend some - otherwise they would break. Turbulence is a sign that the plane is functioning properly. And my favorite:

Every time that there is a plane crash, flying becomes safer because the FAA and airlines intensely study the causes of the crash and make the changes necessary to keep it from ever happening again.

He also has read two books that have helped him immensely: Flying Without Fear by Duane Brown, Ph.D. and The Fearless Flier's Handbook by Debbie Seaman.

Get these books and read them. They have made a big difference for my husband.

Regina

 

[JackandSally79]

I also have a fear of flying. I went to DL for the first time last month...it wasn't as bad as I feared. I didn't sleep the night before we left and I slept most of the way there. I hope it works out and you get to go to WDW.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I hope this doesn't make it worse...

I don't have a fear of flying, but have an irrational fear of terrorism. The warning inside the airports, and removing the shoes, etc. really give me the willies.

 

[Brancaneve]

We live in CA as well, which means two flights with a stop in Texas or Atlanta, and once we even had 3! My 5 year old son is terrified of flying because of that flight to Florida, and my husband suffers from anxiety as well.

My suggestions:

Take just one plane if you can. Even if it means driving to L.A. where they have direct flights to Orlanda.

Also, try Xanax in combination with just talking to someone about your anxieties.

But, we are driving to Orlando next year. Wish us luck on our 3 or 4 day journey!

 

[nunzia]

We live in CA as well, which means two flights with a stop in Texas or Atlanta, and once we even had 3! My 5 year old son is terrified of flying because of that flight to Florida, and my husband suffers from anxiety as well.

My suggestions:

Take just one plane if you can. Even if it means driving to L.A. where they have direct flights to Orlanda.

Also, try Xanax in combination with just talking to someone about your anxieties.

But, we are driving to Orlando next year. Wish us luck on our 3 or 4 day journey!

We did this when the kids were little. It took us 4 days from NM, but we took it slow and really saw the country..great memories of adventures on that trip!