OT-I'm nervous all over again...would love some helpful advice

[meloneyb21]

Just when I got over my nervousness about flying enough to go on our trip in April, everything happens all over again. We have plans on going in either March or April of 2007 but I took down my ticker because I'm a little unsure. I've always been a nervous flyer, but now just the thought of it sends me to the bathroom (I know TMI, just trying to give you an idea of how I feel ).....Anyway, I'm also thinking that I have to live my life and I can't let them win, but sometimes it's hard. They've done it once and I believe they can do it again. I don't know.....I sure could use some advice from some of you strong flyers out there.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Wow, I'm sorry you're so frightened. Are you afraid of flying in general or are you scared of terroist attacks or both? You may need to seek professional help, you may need medication to handle the flight.

I know this prob won't make you feel better, but you have a much much much much higher chance of getting severly injured in a car than on a plane.

It sounds like you're dealing with a severe phobia, I don't think a message board can help you. Good Luck, do you think you and your family could drive?

 

[wdwfanva]

First off, here's some Pixie dust !!!!!!!!!!!!! My Dw and I flew to WDW one month after 911 and I never worried. If we all stop with our daily lives
and don't fly or go places, the terroist have already won!!!!!!!! I have always
said a prayer before every flight, even before 911 and will always put more faith in God than what some extremist might try to do. Life is TOO short to worry about what could happen,so I (we) focus on enjoying life to the fullest
Go ahead and fly to WDW and just think of all the fun you'll have and all the memories you"ll be making !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God BLESS !!!

 

[meloneyb21]

I know this prob won't make you feel better, but you have a much much much much higher chance of getting severly injured in a car than on a plane.

This is the way I've always thought about it. I was never this frightened before, but the recent events kinda brought it make to my attention. It was okay for a while, but now it's a little hard knowing you can't trust a lot of people out there.

I'm not worried about something happening with the plane itself, it's the people and how it seems so easy sometimes for someone to slip through security without even a second thought. I guess it's a sign of the times.

 

[meloneyb21]

First off, here's some Pixie dust !!!!!!!!!!!!! My Dw and I flew to WDW one month after 911 and I never worried. If we all stop with our daily lives
and don't fly or go places, the terroist have already won!!!!!!!! I have always
said a prayer before every flight, even before 911 and will always put more faith in God than what some extremist might try to do. Life is TOO short to worry about what could happen,so I (we) focus on enjoying life to the fullest
Go ahead and fly to WDW and just think of all the fun you'll have and all the memories you"ll be making !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God BLESS !!!

Yeah, I love that. It's so true.....Thanks

 

[flortlebap]

I am a terrbile flyer. I am absolutely PETRIFIED of planes, I tried hypnosis - and it didn't work, I'm being referred to a clinical psychologist to try and work out why I'm so scared of the damn things. I shake when they go over my house. Last time I drank half a bottle of whiskey with beta blockers and valium and I still cried and had a panic attack when I got on the plane... but this time I was starting to feel better about it. But knowing that UK to USA planes are going to be bombed at some point I feel I should be cancelling my trip and not putting my family at risk.

There's absolutely nothing anyone can say to you to make you feel better if you have a real phobia! Go and see your doctor, at least they can medicate you to try and make you feel better. I hate the damn things, I certainly wouldn't go on them to anywhere but WDW. Not worth the risk, panics, and 2 months of nightmares I have before I fly (every night I dream about plane crashes). Yuck.

Good luck anyway At least there hasn't been any imminent threat of terror attacks to USA planes - ATM it's all UK based!!!!

 

[Sleeping Becca]

I agree phobias are serious business. They are unreasonable fears. A regular person can rationalize that it's relatively safe to ride on a plane. A person with a phobia can not and gets sick just thinking about it. Many people have phobias, you are not alone.

My MIL has a panic attack when she sees a picture of a snake.

 

[steffali]

I feel for you. I too have a fear of flying. We drive to go on our vacations and I feel bad because it isn't the "easiest way" of traveling but I can't handle going on a plane. The Dr. has offered Xanax to take before flying but I am still scared that I will have some sort of panic attack and then they will have to land the plane and take me off in a straight jacket

When I DID fly years ago I always took rosary beads and prayer cards to read, that seemed to help me get through the flight.

Well, Good Luck and just keep thinking of your wonderful trip at WDW

 

[Lynne M]

meloney,

I'm flying to WDW in about 5 weeks. When I heard the news the other day, I had about a microsecond's worth of nervousness, and then I realized that the security is going to be SO extra tight for the next several months that we'll all be MUCH safer than we would have been.

That's how I rationalize it to myself, though, and it many not be helpful to you. There are all kinds of medications to help you get through this. Please, talk to your doctor. Life's just too short to be so miserable when it's so easy to get something that will help you.

 

[justplaingoofy]

More pixie dust

Here is my thinking..

1. My husband is an airtraffic controller in the tower at our airport so I've always felt amazingly safe. (especially knowing alot of them and what intelligent, professional controllers that they are)

2. Think about all the flight crew they do this all day....every day.... I can't imagine any of them taking jobs that they thought they were unsafe


I've heard that there are some help groups out there that help eachother with fear of flying. I think they start in the class room, then sit on an empty plane, then I think they fly.

When all else fails... there is always Benadryl and wine

 

[Micca]

There are thousands of flights in the US every day that are completely uneventful(except they might run late and lose your bag). How many flights can you think of where anything went wrong, much less anything tragic? Maybe you could drive to WDW, but you'd be wasting precious time on site.
The mouse awaits your visit

 

[DJ Disney Kid]

Two things to think about:

1. Look into the most recent news about that plane making a landing when that woman freaked out. The passengers interviewed said she was eventually "tackled" by flight attendants and two men casually dressed, then handcuffed. That goes to show you that there are people on the plane to protect us that may be sitting right next to us and we'd never know it. Not only that, the passengers also said that upon looking out the window of the plane, there were two F-15 fighter jets on each side of the plane. Just realize that America is ALOT more prepared for this type of stuff than you think.

2. Your flying to Disneyworld. Terrorists are looking to cause major damage to our economy, they don't care about destroying some theme park. Thats not what this "holy war" is about for them. Its terrorists vs. our government, not terrorists vs. americans. Yes, there willing to kill themselves and americans to prove that point, but just remember that Disneyworld is not something that they would waste time on destroying as it wouldn't make this huge impact on peoples everyday lifestyles in America.

 

[flortlebap]

Its terrorists vs. our government, not terrorists vs. americans.

That's not entirely true. They don't seem to care WHO they kill, surely the London bombs being in the middle of the tourist district showed you that?

Unfortunatley we in the UK are now targets too. It's so sad.

 

[DJ Disney Kid]

That's not entirely true. They don't seem to care WHO they kill, surely the London bombs being in the middle of the tourist district showed you that?

Unfortunatley we in the UK are now targets too. It's so sad.

I dont think your helping our friend here.

 

[hidmickey:myantidrug]

I agree with previous posters that there is nothing any of us can say that will make you less frightened but I leave you with a thought that I tell everyone who comes with this problem: If you're afraid of terrorists, don't be. What are the chances that they're going to do the EXACT same thing again? Then again, maybe they'd like me to think that...but anyway, I wouldn't let fear ruin your vacation unless it is too extreme and have a panic attack, in which case you may need to see a phy.

 

[meloneyb21]

Thank you lots for your encouraging words. It HAS made me feel a little better about the situation.

 

[flortlebap]

I dont think your helping our friend here.

It wasn't aimed at the OP, and as previously stated, a thread on a forum probably won't do much if you have a real phobia, nothing anyone could say to me would make me feel any better!

It's so unlikely that anything will happen... particularly with the added security! But it doesn't stop you worrying all the same.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

Have you ever flown with your DD before? I was always a VERY nervous flyer before we had our kids, but now I find that I am so focused on them during the flight that I have no time to focus on me/my fears.

I spend my time being the entertainment/snack provider/diaper changer and negotiator (that is a big one with 3 kids), and before I know it, the plane is landing.

Good luck!