Were flying I'm frightened. What

[Donald is #1]

Daisy,
If you like to do crosswords or other puzzles, then I suggest that you pick up a couple of puzzle magazines and do the puzzles during the flight. Another suggestion would be to take an MP3 player with your favorite music or a handheld game. Although you can't use the MP3 player or handheld game during take-off and landing, they will help you pass the time during the flight.

 

[daisy duck]

Why cant i use anything when take off or landing?

 

[Donald is #1]

During take-off and landing, you can read or do puzzle books as long as the tray table is up. But they don't let you use electronic devices during take-off & landing. I am not sure why the rule is that way, but they definitely check.

 

[graygables]

Why cant i use anything when take off or landing?

radio. they can't risk the possibility that a radio signal might interfere with flight instruments/communications. It's a very slim chance, but a chance nonetheless.

 

[Hannahsmom]

I rarely fly, but when I do I don't fly without my good friend Xanax. I slightly nap on the flight and when we land I feel fine. I honestly don't know if I could make it through the 2 1/2 hour flight without it. Napping is better than having an anxiety attack on the plane. It also helps that my husband flies a lot on business, so he talks me through take off and landing. Not to mention he holds my hand.

 

[steffali]

I rarely fly, but when I do I don't fly without my good friend Xanax. I slightly nap on the flight and when we land I feel fine. I honestly don't know if I could make it through the 2 1/2 hour flight without it. Napping is better than having an anxiety attack on the plane. It also helps that my husband flies a lot on business, so he talks me through take off and landing. Not to mention he holds my hand.

I suffer from anxiety attacks and since they started I have not been able to fly. My Dr. said that he could give me Xanax to take so I MIGHT think about flying instead of driving this time around.Does it really knock you out?? How much do you take? I know all about the dangers of driving instead of flying but I just can't bring myself to get on that plane. Plus I feel like if something does happen on the road you have a chance to survive but up there in the air ............ I don't feel to sure about.

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

Daisy Duck,

I can feel your pain. I put off vacations to places I really wanted to go simply because I was afraid to fly. Last summer I was offered a free, once in a lifetime trip but I HAD to fly. So I bit the bullet and went. As soon as I got back quess what.... I booked flights for our trip scheduled to WDW for later in the summer last year! I even flew to Las Vegas this past May, my husband had been trying to get me to go for 12 years.

Once I realized how EASY it is to fly and how CONVENIENT it is, I am a sold flyer now. You will probably be too, especially when you see how easy it is to get to Orlando from NC... much easier that driving!!!!

My suggestions are as others have suggested.

1. Take reading material-- especially brochures, etc for WDW. That will get you more excited to get there. Before you know it you will be preparing for landing. Look in the airport gift shops, buy a new magazine you wouldn't normally buy.

2. Take a snack and a drink on board. Drinking (swallowing) chewing gum etc helps if your ears happen to hurt a little.

3. Once you get in the air... look out the window. It is beautiful on a pretty day. The clouds ....they look like cotton, I think it is relaxing.

4. Personally I would avoid medication if at all possible (although I have wanted some in the past). You might be sleepy when you get there and you want to be ready for fun!

Most of all... try to enjoy it. Think of it as an adventure and have fun. You really will see it is much more convenient. My son (20) is even an avid flyer now and he was in your shoes before our trip last year. He is really looking forward to our trip this year.

Let us know how your trip goes.

 

[Cass]

daisy, what is it you are frightened of?

 

[skyfire1982]

The best thing I usually do is to find something incredibly wonderful to bring with me on the flight to distract myself. I'm not terrified of flying, but I do admit to a few twinges of nerves here and there. For example, I love to read, so a month ahead of time, I bought a book and I was highly looking forward to reading and put it aside for the plane. I started reading while waiting in the airport and I was hooked enough that I read all throughout the plane flight.

I love planning for my trip, so I brought all my printouts with me. I reread through everything - hotel confirmations, layout/map of the next airport we'd be at (for connecting flights) .... whatever gets you hyped for the trip. This obviously doesn't take up much time, but it'd be a good distractor for takeoffs and landings.

Or, simply find a very early/very late flight, bring a pillow and a blanket, perhaps a bit of a drug to help you relax/sleep, and simply sleep through the flight. Worked for me - one minute you're taking off, the next minute I'm yawning as the plane's wheels hit the runway in the next city. I'd bring my own pillow and blanket though - the plane's blanket was a little small and there was no pillow. I slept through most of our second connecting flight, and was raring to go for the rest of the day at Epcot. Brother who didn't sleep was looking very sleepy around 6pm.

 

[skyfire1982]

Why cant i use anything when take off or landing?

Daisy, the current thinking is that electronic devices (especially those with wireless access) might fudge up the plane's instrumentation somewhat. That's why they ask you to shut off cell phones for the entire flight. It hasn't been proven either way, but the airlines prefer to be safe rather than sorry. That's my understanding at least.

 

[champagne27]

Ok - I hate to fly and it's gotten much worse with age and having kids. My fear is not being in control plus the fact that it must be terrible for the minute or two that you know you are going down (sorry to put that but I can't be the only one!)

Anyway - with kids 3 & 5 it was time to go to Disney and DH stated he would not drive - only fly. After much debate and research I went the drug route. I was actually leary of this as the last flight I tried Valium and it did not help at all. Thanks to these boards - I got Xanax from my doctor.

It made all the difference. Kept me very calm. It can make you sleepy and I honestly do not remember putting my kids to bed the night we flew home - it's like I lost a few hours of my life - but would do it again in a heartbeat. I functioned well, just don't have a recollection of things. With your DD being 16 she is responsible enough that you do not have to "worry" about her staying with you. If you go that route - just plan a low key first day - maybe just dinner and downtown Disney.

It also helped me to look at the pilots and crew and remember that they willingly do this everyday and they do not have a death wish so try to have some confidence in them.

Good luck!

 

[daisy duck]

daisy, what is it you are frightened of?

I think my seat is just going to fall out and there is nothing down below but the ground. i think of bad things because of all the movies i watch that has plane crashes.lol

 

[sameyeyam]

Sit next to children. I used to hate flying and then had kids. Now I don't have time to think about my fear of flying, I'm to busy taking care of them!

 

[TruBlu]

VALIUM!!!! I flew down 2 weeks ago when the tropical storm was there. I have an insane fear of flying, but after a 5 mg valium I was fine. I didn't feel drugged or sleepy, just not scared out of my mind anymore.

Believe me BETTER LIVING THRU PHARMACEUTICALS!!!!

Just tell your doc that you are scared. My OB/Gyn gave me my scrip!!!

 

[TruBlu]

I think my seat is just going to fall out and there is nothing down below but the ground. i think of bad things because of all the movies i watch that has plane crashes.lol

Are you a "Lost" fan? The pilot episode gave me nightmares! Don't watch that before you go!

 

[steffali]

Ok - I hate to fly and it's gotten much worse with age and having kids. My fear is not being in control plus the fact that it must be terrible for the minute or two that you know you are going down (sorry to put that but I can't be the only one!)

Anyway - with kids 3 & 5 it was time to go to Disney and DH stated he would not drive - only fly. After much debate and research I went the drug route. I was actually leary of this as the last flight I tried Valium and it did not help at all. Thanks to these boards - I got Xanax from my doctor.

It made all the difference. Kept me very calm. It can make you sleepy and I honestly do not remember putting my kids to bed the night we flew home - it's like I lost a few hours of my life - but would do it again in a heartbeat. I functioned well, just don't have a recollection of things. With your DD being 16 she is responsible enough that you do not have to "worry" about her staying with you. If you go that route - just plan a low key first day - maybe just dinner and downtown Disney.

It also helped me to look at the pilots and crew and remember that they willingly do this everyday and they do not have a death wish so try to have some confidence in them.

Good luck!

I am terrified of the same exact things you are !!!!! How much Xanax do you take and when????

 

[momrek06]

How much Xanax do you take and when????

Bumping for the answer to this ? as well....suffering with the fear of flying.

Flying to London at Xmas and need so serious help in getting there from Boston......

 

[maddhatir]

i dont take xanax- i take ativan- pretty much the same thing.

i usually take 1 5mg when i am leaving for the airport and then i take another 5mgs maybe about an hour before the plane is scheduled to leave.

i know some are saying they dont want to be doped up-- but i feel fine when i land. i guess its all the adrenaline being in disney!

 

[daisy duck]

Thank you guys, i dont really like taking meds but i maybe will just have to.

 

[hambirg]

Ok - I hate to fly and it's gotten much worse with age and having kids. My fear is not being in control plus the fact that it must be terrible for the minute or two that you know you are going down (sorry to put that but I can't be the only one!)

Anyway - with kids 3 & 5 it was time to go to Disney and DH stated he would not drive - only fly. After much debate and research I went the drug route. I was actually leary of this as the last flight I tried Valium and it did not help at all. Thanks to these boards - I got Xanax from my doctor.

It made all the difference. Kept me very calm. It can make you sleepy and I honestly do not remember putting my kids to bed the night we flew home - it's like I lost a few hours of my life - but would do it again in a heartbeat. I functioned well, just don't have a recollection of things. With your DD being 16 she is responsible enough that you do not have to "worry" about her staying with you. If you go that route - just plan a low key first day - maybe just dinner and downtown Disney.

It also helped me to look at the pilots and crew and remember that they willingly do this everyday and they do not have a death wish so try to have some confidence in them.

Good luck!

LOL! That's exactly what I'm thinking! I used to love to fly, but 3 kids and 9/11 later, it scares me. I never thought about xanax, I actually have some from before I had my gallbladder out. I think it would work great for me, because we take a red eye from Seattle. It's always turbulent too. What I normally do is get a couple of trashy magazines that I would normally never read and catch up on all the Brangelina, TomKat, Ms. Spears gossip. Then I'll watch movies the rest of the way. Something light, funny and entertaining; last time it was Dodgeball.
HTH