This will be my first flight since 9/11...YIKES

[Kim&Chris]

I am starting to panic. I was really scared to fly prior to 9/11, then vowed never to fly again after the tragedy.

HOWEVER.....my husband has vowed never to take the AutoTrain again, so my choices were: fly or skip Disney.

Well, I made my choice to fly. I cannot begin to describe the fear I'm feeling, and my stomach is in knots just typing this!

Any suggestions from other Disers who are frightened to fly? I'm hoping to convince my doctor to give me some Xanax, but am open to other suggestions (I'm not really one for taking narcotics).

Thanks!

 

[maraakl]

I understand your fear and I had it after 9/11, we flew the Friday after that tragedy. I was very much on edge, but, realized it was probably the safest way to travel and security was at a max. at that time.
Security is still very tight and I would rather fly than drive any day.
I don't know how to remove your fear except to say, many have flown since that day and it is still the safest way to go.

 

[gallaj0]

See if your airport or airline has a program for fearful flyers. Even if they don't, maybe you could stop by the airport before you leave and just check the place out. You won't be able to get past security without a ticket, but you can watch security, get the "lay of the land" in the terminal you are using, and get familiar with the place and procedures.

Usually the most fearful things are the things we don't know.

 

[ckret01]

Unfortunately it is not something you can just "Get over"!!!!! Not for me anyway. I am in the same boat you are. I have flown for the past 3 years since 9-11 and I still feel the same fear with every flight it just nevers seems to feel better.

 

[dancemom3]

We're in the same boat, as well. The last time we flew was late August 2001, right before 9/11. I'm doing my best not to think about it. Besides, it would only scare my kids if they knew I was nervous, and so far non of this has occured to them.
I just keep thinking of the fun we will have once we are there!

 

[cigar95]

Perhaps the first question to consider - and no, the answer isn't obvious - is what specifically are you afraid of?

Given your answer - next question - given everything you know about flying and your fears and the likelihood of whatever you're afraid of, is the fear a rational one?

Some fears are irrational, but that doesn't make them any less real. I've found that taking the time to calmly think about things like this can help calm the fears. It's not a guarantee, but it's a start.

 

[GJM]

I have always hated to fly, but did. I did not fly since 3/2001, this year my DH surpised me with a cruise leaving out of FL, we live in NJ. I was a wreck thinking about flying. I had to take a valium this past year for a MRI, so I went to the doctor & asked for valium to fly. I hate taking any medication. I was so worried about even taking the valium the lst time, I didn't know how it would effect me. It did calm me down, I was still kind of scared, but if I didn't take the valium I don't think I would have even been able to get on the plane. We are flying again in Oct. & I will take it again, I wish I could be like my DH walks on the plane sits & can just fall asleep!

 

[jadedNYer]

Count me in. I am paralyzed with fear. Nothing to do with 9/11 but mechanical failure, the short LGA runway, birds in the engines,... I could go on and on and on.

 

[Kim&Chris]

Thanks everyone!

Like jadednyer, I too am afraid mostly of mechanical stuff. Something inside me always says "who the heck is checking this thing for safety?". I always envision something horrible, like the wing falling off .

I know that sounds rediculous, but extreme fear and anxiety play tricks with your ability to rationalize situations.

In addition, I always think I hear 'sqeaking' or 'grinding noises' on the plane. In fact, when we flew home from WDW after our honeymoon, I cried during the entire flight. I was sure we were going to die .

I'm going to ask my doc for a Rx of valium and wash it down with a glass of Jack Daniels (only kidding). That should calm me down!

 

[AStarOnMars]

I have never flow in my life ... and never wanted to, fearing the plane would crash.

I even talked my family into driving cross country to get to wdw ... until I figured out if we fly we can spend an extra 4 days (added to our 5 days) at wdw ...

I do not know if I'm going to freak out on the plane or not ...

But I'm more concerned now with my luggage and souvenirs being lost after seeing the show Airline

 

[disneyfreakk]

maybe a few drinks before you fly and then 2 more on the plane. being smashed is the Only way to fly!

 

[chicknoodle99]

I also dont really like to fly but it gets me where I want to go and its faster. I take a good book, I learned some good relaxation techniques when I get upset, and usually a dramamine (although I cant take it now as I am pregnant). A good friend once told me that I have a better chance of getting in an accident driving to the airport than I do flying to my destination. Its true...look at how many people die in car accidents every year in comparison to airline crashes (9/11 excluded of course). I have been known to let the flight attendants know if I get really upset and they have helped to calm me down a bit..most of them have seen it before many times and are helpful.

I wish you good luck on your flight. Also, the fearful flyers program is a good thing too if your airline offers one. As said before, something unknown is scary to us and getting familiar with flying will make it not so scary. Good luck to you and enjoy your trip to WDW!

 

[krafty]

I've flown a few times since 9/11 (my folks flew out of NJ on 9/10/2001, and they're still a bit freaked out about it) and it's generally without any sort of aprehension. I do tend to get a bit frustrated waiting in line for security checks, but once I realize it is for the best, I can calm down. I do notice that I"m more 'aware' of the other passengers on the aircraft. I note what they're doing and how they're behaving, and I always carry my cellphone with me even if it is turned off. I don't like being paranoid, but just careful and prepared.

As far as mechanical problems, I've got an advantage most people don't... Years ago I got a tour of the big maintenance hangars at Lambert International in St. Louis. I saw them pulling engines off of aircraft, replacing windows, making safety inspections, the whole works. I've also known several people who have done aircraft maintenance and they certainly know what they're doing. I have confidence in the process... now I just hope they don't find any leftover screws or bolts once the plane is back together!

 

[disneybella]

I've flown once since 9/11 and it was in May on my honeymoon. I've always been a nervous flyer. I actually fear mechanical failure, not terrorism.
there's a web site created by a captain of a major airline and she offers this free online course for those who fear flying. I've read parts of it and I must say I feel better about flying.
Of course, now I'm scheduled to fly out of Philadelphia early Sunday morning and that's when hurricane Charley is expected to be impacting the area!
The web site is www.fearofflyinghelp.com

 

[KikiNJ]

I am also terrified to fly, since long before 9/11. For me it's gotten to the point that the anticipatory anxiety that I experience from the time I book a flight to when I actually fly is worse than the flight itself - once we get to cruising altitude, as long as there's no turbulence, I'm ok. If there's turbulence, forget it, I become a basket case. I actually had someone yell at me to shut up on a plane once because I screamed when the plane dipped during turbulence LOL. I've tried everything... I did take a fear of flying course which did help me fly without medication for a couple years, until I flew when I was pregnant. I think the control being taken away from me, that I COULDN'T take any meds since I was pregnant, combined w/a bumpy flight, sent me back into total terror. Then I tried phone counseling with Tom Bunn, a retired pilot. That didn't help. Last year I tried hypnotism (I really want to overcome this thing!) and THAT didn't work.

So for now, I take Ativan. I tried Xanax but instead of being like "OH MY GOD WE'RE GOING TO DIE!" I was like "Dude, we're gonna die"... I was still scared, just mellow about it LOL. Ativan works great though, it does sometimes make me loopy so I wouldn't want to drive after a short flight, but it helps mellow me out. Sometimes my adrenaline gets going so much that I think it fights the medication, so those times I add a drink or two LOL.

Another thing that's helped in the past is a book called "Flying Without Fear" By Duane Brown. I try to read it before I fly, and refer to it through the flight if I start to get scared. I am also going to try the SOAR program by Tom Bunn, but I just didn't have time to do it before our flight to Disney (leaving this Tuesday!).

Sorry this is so long, but I feel for you. My dh isn't at all scared to fly, nor are any of my friends, so nobody close to me understands how I feel. ((( hugs )))

 

[CrazyChristie416]

I am an extremely nervous flyer since 9/11. I have a perscription for Valium which I take with me on the plane. I have never had to take it, but just having the bottle with me makes me feel a little better.

My advice, just relax. Flights to orlando are always filled with happy children on their way to Disney World. Just looking at them makes me feel a little better. I always think to myself if theyr'e not scared why should I be? Just seeing families with children wearing Disney tees, and singing Disney songs alawys makes me feel better, and helps me to relax.

Make yourself a relaxing CD with some of your favorite songs, close your eyes, and just relax. Know to yourself that in a few short hours, you will be in the happiest place on earth.

You have nothing to fear!

Crystal

 

[erikthewise]

I know it doesn't make sense to try to reason with irrational fears, but I don't know what else to do.

ONE MILLION Americans fly EVERY DAY. As far as I know there hasn't been a single crash on a commercial airliner since 9/11. The truth is that if you WANTED to die in an airline crash, you could spend your whole life trying and never succeed.

You are far more likely to die driving to the airport than during the flight. The only safer form of transportation I know of is the escalator.

Does this help? I didn't think so.

 

[enchantedpixiedust]

I'm in the same boat. I haven't flown since before 9/11, but my anxieties about flying started a couple years before then. I used to love to fly. I take Xanax and Phengren - I know they'll make me feel ok on the flight (passed out), but from the time the ticket is booked till the flight it makes me physically ill and emotionally edgy to think about.

We are planning on driving next month, but I'm trying to get myself up to flying instead for the extra time. I just don't know. It's not the mechanical thing really, it's being trapped in there with people all around, no control, etc. Ugh.