where are my Jittery Fliers uhg!

[Happiest mommy]

Well we finally leave this Friday and already my nervs are getting to me I am very afraid to fly this is not my first flight but it's always the same thing my mind starts imagining scenarios so who is with me and why don't I see anybody else when i'm on the plane looking as scared as I am? I often think am I the only one so just to warn you I will be the lady grabbing on tightly to my DH and DD's and praying for Dear life

 

[jeepgirl30]

I gotta say, I don't get it! I'm the one that is sleeping prior to take off or happily reading a novel.

However... my DH is a mess prior to take off. I don't mean just prior to take off I mean the minute I mention a trip that involves air travel. I used to select our seats and purposely put us in seperate rows! He is better sitting by a stranger but with me he will be squeezing my arm until it feels like he is removing it from my body. He has broken out in a sweat before.

The last trip we took I called his doctor and started to explain to the nurse. She cut me off and went on and on how she too is a nervous flyer but not to worry she would talk to the doctor and get him to write a script for what she takes. The doc only gives a few pills, basically enough to cover the flight and any unseen delays. But let me tell you, works like a charm! Although I think he needs them a few days ahead of time but he takes one when we leave for the airport and by the time we are there he is calm to go through security. He takes another right as we are boarding and we are good to go.

I am sorry you feel that stress. It takes away from the vacation.

 

[wendinator]

My friend did a "fear of flying" class through Lufthansa and she highly recommends it. Apparently they explain to you what's happening during flight, what the noises mean, etc.

It might be worth seeing if your airline or some other organization near you offers something similar.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Hi NYer...former NYer here.......what I used to do is be really really tired prior to the day of the flight, and take a book with me on the plane...you'll be fine, think of it this way you'll be seeing palm trees in less than 2 hrs after you leave Kennedy or LaGuardia...now that thought should surpass any fears

 

[Kelrykengab]

We are traveling with my brother who is VERY afraid of flying and almost didn't even go with us last time even though we are paying for him b/c of the plane. Again, he is already stressed this time. His "cure"? Bloody Marys and bringing nips on the plane even though our flight leaves at 7am! It seems to work.
I will admit that I am not a fan of take off or landing, but am nowhere near as bad as my brother. We leave Saturday am. Enjoy your trip!!

 

[jakoky]

HI there, i SOOOOOOOOOO hear you...i hate, hate, hate flying...my kids hate sitting beside me on the plane ...it is so bad that our last two trips i lost close to 10 pounds before we flew...(I am pretty small, so losing this weight for me wasnt exactly good...last trip i was barely over 100 lbs)...lol, one time, my doc even ran heart tests on me cause my heart was racing...we then figured out what it was... My youngest daughter is going to europe next summer with her soccer team...i want to go so badly, but gotta figure out how i can do 9 hours on a plane, when i can barely do 2 1/2 hours to DL....I force myself on,but i sure hate it..., and just not sure i will be able to do 9 hours...

 

[robinb]

Do you really want your daughters to pick up on your fear and become afraid of flying too? Do you and your family a favor and see a doctor who can prescribe some nice drugs to calm you. I don't recommend the Bloody Mary route ... hangovers suck.

 

[mcqueen n' sally]

hi! we are leaving friday morning too!
i am also a pretty bad flyer... i cry on take-off and freak out with every bump and noise... my DH thinks i am nuts!
anyway, last year was my first time flying with kids and honestly it was my best flight! it was like i knew i couldn't freak out because then the kids would freak out so i just stayed calm... the kids loved loved loved flying!

now, i hope i am not jinxing myself for friday!

have a great trip and safe flight! if you are flying out of newark for some reason, maybe i'll see you!

 

[Happiest mommy]

Hi mcqueen we are actually flying out of JFK, the last time I flew my oldest DD was 3 yrs old and this time we will be flying with my almost 8 month old DD so lets see how that goes my DH knows the drill he starts talking to me as soon as the airplane starts to move and his poor hand suffers the rest of the consequences my heart feels as if it's going to pop out. My mom gave me some Ativan for my last flight and that made me very mellow but it's so hard for me

 

[bbangel]

My youngest daughter is going to europe next summer with her soccer team...i want to go so badly, but gotta figure out how i can do 9 hours on a plane, when i can barely do 2 1/2 hours to DL....I force myself on,but i sure hate it..., and just not sure i will be able to do 9 hours...

You can do it! I am another terrified flyer. I just decide that what I'm getting on the plane for is so worth it to me that I'll put up with the panic. My biggest problem is I can't sleep on the plane (even with pills) so I make sure I have stuff to keep my brain occupied. I take my mp3 player so I have music that calms me. I have a book of crosswords or sudoku to try and distract myself. The great thing about overseas flights is most of them now have individual screens so I catch up on my movie watching. If you are like me and have trouble undoing the seatbelt to walk around on the plane I once did a 9 hour flight to London and didn't get up once. It was my first long flight and I seriously didn't think I would make it. But I did and you can do it too!

 

[disney_family_1247]

I am terrified of flying too. I went years without doing it. When we did it again, I thought the anticipation would be worse than the flight, but I was wrong! I don't drink and have three kids, so I couldn't take a sedative or anything. You are not alone.

 

[JESW]

We just got back and lately I have minor panic attacks when I fly. This trip I called my dr. and he gave me a script for Xanax - just 10 pills. I took one at the airport about a half-hour before loading and I was ok for the flight. It didn't knock me out but it did calm me down. On the flight home I even slept for over an hour so that was nice.

I HIGHLY recommend talking with your dr. I didn't even need to go in - they just sent the script to the pharmacy.

Good luck!

Jill

 

[dzaharchuk]

Hello!
My dh was NOT a nervous flier, in fact, he can name his ww2 planes, and had a room full of models/posters, etc. We took several trips together with no problems, then he suddenly developed a fear of flying?!!!? We had no incidents or horror stories, he just had a minor (is there such a thing?)panic attack (sweating, could not speak,etc.)

He gets 5-10 pills from Dr. , it might be Xanax? not sure. It takes the anxiety away, but does not make him dopey/drowsy.

I actually feel awful for him, but luckily he is not so phobic that he cannot fly. We are flying in Oct., but will prob. drive next time (2012 or 2013).

Go for the pills, it will make it much more bearable.

 

[vester]

After 9/11 I became a fearful flyer - never was before that.

There is a fear of flying forum on the web that REALLY helped me. Also I have a fear of flying CD that I listen to. You can also ask to board early and talk to the pilots who are always SO NICE. You just explain that you are a fearful flyer and you would appreciate boarding early to chat with the pilots. You can ask if there is going to be a lot of turbulence, etc. It always makes me more calm.

Statistics never help because they dont work on the same part of the brain as fear does, which is why it never helps when people say that there are more car accidents, etc. All that stuff you can find on the forums - its really awesome.

Good luck - if you want more info PM me.

Vester

 

[KBCL]

Hey there- I will also be flying next Wednesday 5/5/10. I have flown all of my life and suddenly am terrified . I called my doctor as well and was able to get 10 pills of Xanax just to take the edge off . This will be the first time my DS 8 and DD 6 will be flying, so I do not want them to be scared....I just keep thinking that in 2 1/2 hours I will be at the happiest place on earth.....WDW!!!!

Good luck!

Karrie

 

[Happiest mommy]

Thank you all so much I really like the idea of speaking with the pilots and asking about turbulance never thought of that, i'm hoping since I am traveling with my DD's 4 yrs old and 8 mos they will keep my mind occupied especially the lil one, my mom has Ativan and I have used that before I will see if she can give me atleast 2-3 of those for the trip

 

[El&Asmom]

Right there with you all. I get anxiety for about a month before a flight, and am really bad in the week leading up to the flight. I hate taking off, but am not too bad after that. Before and during take off, I'm just shy of an anxiety attack. Dh won't let our girls sit with me, b/c they were starting to develop a fear of flying as well. When they were away from me, they were calm and having fun. In the flights where they sat next to me, they were scared and crying. Even though I said nothing to them, they could feel my tension.

I look back at all of the amazing trips we have taken in the last 7 years, and what I would have missed out on if we hadn't gone because of my fear of flying. I just think about the amazing time we will have, and that I don't want to let fear control me. I am however, looking forward to the day that I don't have a small child to take care of during the flight, so I can get some happy drugs. Safe flights to all.

 

[Happiest mommy]

well I leave tomorrow and just writing it makes my heart pound out of my chest

 

[thepollaris]

My fear of flying is so bad I started whimpering on our recent flight out of Vegas (the plane banks so much it feels like you could tip over). I thought my husband was going to ask to be moved! We flew directly to Boston so he also had to deal with me gripping his hand and arm the whole time! Fortunately we had chosen JetBlue and with the TV and Satellite Radio (and a couple of Tylenol PM) I was able to relax enough to let him sleep.
I have to agree with another post though - flying with my kids was easier! Except for not letting the window shade be up I couldn't show fear!

 

[Happiest mommy]

well all packed up and ready to leave in the morning to all my DIS friends say a prayer for me and thanks for all your words of comfort.

P:S got my Ativan packed too