Nervous about flying! HELP!

[don8life]

Oh my, I have butterflies. I am leaving in 2 days. I will be flying alone with my 3 children. I am not a flyer. Not sure how I'm going to do when the doors close. I guess I can hide it from the kids so they don't get nervous, they have never flown before. Can anybody share any calming words of wisdom?
Thank You,
Irene

 

[SeeDisney]

HI DIS friend,


I understand your nervousness...., but keep telling yourself, it's going to be only a 2 hour flight, 2 hour flight 2 hour flight as opposed to the long long long long 18 hour drive with three children.

How about a glass of wine when you get to the aiport?

My best friend was very nervous for her flight to Florida so she borrow 2 xanax pills (an anti-anxiety drugs) from another friend "to get the edge off". (I know this is a no-no without a doctor's prescription). One xanx for going down to Florida, and the other for coming back. She said it works and she was relaxed and fine.

I'll send some pixie dust for you and HAVE A GREAT WONDERFUL TRIP!

 

[iluvtink]

It's an awful feeling to be afraid of flying. Could you check in with your doc and get him/her to write you a tiny prescription for something to calm you? That's what I have done. It really makes a big difference ... I still say to myself, "please God, please God" when we take off and land, but I don't feel panic.

The other thing to do is to repeat to yourself as a mantra... "it is safer to fly than to drive." Think realistically about the number of planes that take off and land, every day, all over the world, and then ponder how many times out of those hundreds of thousands of flights, how many times does one crash? Then think about how many fatal car wrecks there are in the same time period. My dad taught me that trick years ago ... focusing on the fact that air travel really is safer really helps me!

Good luck and have a GREAT TIME!!!

 

[TinkHappy]

I feel your pain!! I DO NOT like to fly either. We drive. But, we have flown a few times. I have found that I am only nervous until I am actually on the flight. Once I am on the plane, I am so busy with the kids and trying to keep them occupied, that the flight is over before I know it.
I am so sorry you don't like to fly, it is horrible being afraid to fly (I know just how you feel)
You are there for your kids and they count on you for everything, so I know you will come through just fine (little pep talk).
My father once told me (he was with American Airlines for 32 years) the first 10 seconds after take off are the most critical. So after we take off I count to 10 and I take that as a good sign (mechanical).
Security is so tight right now, things are going on that we don't really know about and people are so aware of their surroundings. I know it is stressful and I am not making light of the situation!!

Remember...you are going to DISNEY!!! Have fun

 

[airhead]

I really try not to think about it too much. My friend travels for work and is in a plane more than her car!! She's flying somewhere sometimes twice a week! she laughs when i tell her
I'm afraid to fly. She says I should be afraid to drive!!!

 

[MaryKatesMom]

iluvtink is right. Thousands of planes take off and land every day.

How about a trip to the airport to watch the planes? Maybe seeing them take off and land safely a few times might ease your mind?

 

[Disney Ron]

Just keep thinking about the magical time you and your children are going to have, and you'll be touching down in Orlando before you know it!

Here's to a safe flight and a truly wonderful time on your families vacation.

Disney Ron

 

[don8life]

You guys are great! I feel a little better because you all are so right!
Thanks again!

 

[Castillo Mom]

Here's a couple of links you might want to take a look at. I was coincidentally having a conversation with my sons last night about their flying anxiety. To my surprise, my eldest son who will be 15 in July (we leave 8/13) revealed that he's nervous about the flight and then my middle child chimed in too. There's a great website that shows pictures of both exterior and cabin views of just about every airline out there. http://www.airliners.net/
There are pull down menus. Just look for the airline you're flying with. Then choose the view you want, for instance cabin view, etc.

I've also run across a few books on the internet, but I don't really want to spend the money. The following link offers free advice, it's short and to the point. http://www.airlinetraveladvice.com/fear.shtml

I hope this helps. My kids thoroughly enjoyed looking at the pics and that eased some of their anxiety and now they're even more excited!

 

[inkkognito]

I am a very paranoid flyer, but I love www.fearofflyinghelp.com
I am a logical person, and the website is run by a pilot who explains all those strange noises and how planes are built to withstand turbulence and all that other comforting stuff. I highly recommend it.
Barb