Fear of flying, take two

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

I have a flying phobia - I know it is not irrational since it only really came to a head when I was supposed to be on Pan Am flight 103 and changed the date to spend Christmas in Scotland. Since then, I often feel that every time I got on a plane I was living the last few hours of my life.

I was determined to overcome it - not only do I love to travel but my job also requires it.

Hypnotherapy helped tremendously - I also will meditate for about an hour before getting on the plane - and I'm afraid to say I g & ts helped me take the edge off.

I finally got to a point where I was okay to fly - but some things will exacerbate it, and most certainly the most afraid I've been to fly since has been when I moved to the UK and then moved back to the US - I am going to take a wild stab in the dark and suggest your current terror is may be compounded by the upheaval that lies ahead in your life. No matter how much you want it (and some times it's scary to get what you want) you have a lot to take on in coming months. My move back to the US sent me into a tailspin about the flight (which was scheduled on Sep 11, which didn't help - only one I could get) and I had to get hypnotized to get on the flight, which was not something I had to do in 5 years prior. I'm sure at the root of it was the fear of change, especially as I have been fine on every flight since.

[homesick_american 1]

I have a flying phobia - I know it is not irrational since it only really came to a head when I was supposed to be on Pan Am flight 103 and changed the date to spend Christmas in Scotland. Since then, I often feel that every time I got on a plane I was living the last few hours of my life.

I was determined to overcome it - not only do I love to travel but my job also requires it.

Hypnotherapy helped tremendously - I also will meditate for about an hour before getting on the plane - and I'm afraid to say I g & ts helped me take the edge off.

I finally got to a point where I was okay to fly - but some things will exacerbate it, and most certainly the most afraid I've been to fly since has been when I moved to the UK and then moved back to the US - I am going to take a wild stab in the dark and suggest your current terror is may be compounded by the upheaval that lies ahead in your life. No matter how much you want it (and some times it's scary to get what you want) you have a lot to take on in coming months. My move back to the US sent me into a tailspin about the flight (which was scheduled on Sep 11, which didn't help - only one I could get) and I had to get hypnotized to get on the flight, which was not something I had to do in 5 years prior. I'm sure at the root of it was the fear of change, especially as I have been fine on every flight since.

The changes ahead are definitely stressful but I've been wanting to do this for years. I'm nervous because things have changed a lot since I left (pre 9/11) but I'm really looking forward to starting a new life back in the USA with my husband.

I can totally understand your fear; in your shoes I'd feel exactly the same way. The thing that upsets me is I used to really enjoy flying, then all of a sudden one day I was terrified of it. It SUCKS!

[TimsDaisy 0]

I haven't read this whole thread yet - but I'll echo what I said in you last one. I agree with you: booze isn't the answer. And sleeping pills don't aid the anxiety. Anti-anxiety medication, will. I don't know much (anything) about the UK medical system, but I think you need to beat the bushes to find someone to prescribe you some xanax or lorazepam (Ativan, etc). it really does help tremendously. Don't self-medicate and monkey around with valium and whatnot. And you shouldn't mix things without speaking to a doc either - for instance, an ativan is the equivalent of a drink, it can be combined with some other meds, but not too much booze. there's a lot you'll need to get, info wise, from a doctor or medical professional.

As for the noises and what not, I know how you feel with that too. I hate switching between airlines because the equipment makes such different sounds. I dislike Airbus, for example, because I find them FAR louder than Boeing equipment. Learning the sounds can help you control your fear a bit. It helps me sometimes. Flaps out, flaps in, testing the stabilizer, gear goes up, etc etc, the plane always gets quieter when it gets done with the initial take-off. All those sounds can be scary - but they are normal.

Also, I always try to sit toward the front of the plane, as close to where the flight attendants sit as possible. When I'm having a bad panic moment, I try to look at their faces. I figure they will react if a sound is abnormal. I know they would be trained to react professionally, but realistically, if they continue to read their magazines without blinking or making eye contact with each other, I have to figure things are going okay. And sometimes I ask them "so, that noise was just x, right? sorry, nervous flyer." I have yet to find an unsympathetic flight attendant.

It sounds like you're very aware of your level of fear. I would strongly suggest you do your best to find a way to get a prescription for an anti-anxiety medication. I've never heard of this "oooh they are addictive!" fear over here. The doctor won't give you a giant bottle. He/she can give you two, or however many you actually need. I was given 5. That's it. Just 5 pills. Doctors know how to determine if a person is just hunting drugs to feed a habit.

Good luck. You'll get back here somehow - no matter how unpleasant the process is, you're going to have to face it, and you know you'll get through it.

[psho 0]

I hate flying too -- but it's odd -- I prefer take-offs and landings (especially landings, since it means I'm nearly there!).

I prefer flying in the big 747s than the smaller 737s (I guess big planes handle turbulence better).

I do hate hate HATE turbulence, because I hate the sensation of falling (hate rollercoasters too). I know intellectually that even a steep drop in a plane is probably just a few feet, but man oh man!

Pilots are getting better about telling you what to expect -- on my return flight from Maui, the pilot announced (before we even got on the plane) that it was going to get a bit choppy about two hours into the flight. And when I flew back from Seattle just this past Wednesday, the pilot told us that we were running into some turbulence for about 10 or 15 minutes. It wasn't fun (it wasn't that bad, either), but knowing there was a limit was very helpful.

I also know that when I fly from the Bay Area into SoCal, it's going to be a bit bumpy on the descent, since we're flying over the mountains.

When I fly, I give myself 15 -20 minutes to be really, really nervous. After that, I can relax. i also think of the episode in "Cheers" where Dr. Crane explains Clear Air Turbulence ("CAT") and when the plane gets a bit bumpy, everyone starts meowing madly!

Not that any of this is helpful to you, but I do feel for you. The day they invent the Star-Trek Transporter won't be a day too soon for me!

[Dan&Tiffany 0]

I don't like all the unexplained engine noises; I know that if the sounds increase or decrease during the cruise it means that we're probably changing altitude but nobody tells me anything so I get nervous...I don't like landings either because of all the noise and the constant tweaking of engine speed and control surfaces...I'm hyperaware when I'm flying and every sound, sensation, or smell makes me think that something has gone terribly wrong.

Duuno - this may be a ridiculous suggestion. Thankfully, I don't have any trouble with this. Have you tried the noise canceling headphones? Bose has some really snazzy ones. Maybe not hearing would be worse than hearing, but if it IS the noises - you could make those go away.

As it was, as we were taking off I had a pillow over my face and I was screaming into it that we were all going to die. The other passengers were less than enthusiastic about my presence.

Oh bless. Shouldn't be funny, but I just got a mental image on that one.

Well...when the nightmare is over with, you'll be in Good Ol' TEXAS! It's hot as hell already and will be worse by then, but hey - won't have to worry about anything getting rained out during the summer. No rain from June to August, remember.

You're moving to Dallas area, right? EDIT: of course you are - just read your siggie!

Edited June 11, 2007 by Dan&Tiffany

[Dr_LHA 3]

If your fear of flying is actually a fear of death, then perhaps you should read this:

http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/toptens/acc...identsfull.html

Guess what: Air travel isn't in the top ten ways to die accidentally in the USA. I'm sure you've been told this many times before, but you're really safer sitting in an airplane than you are in your house right now.

[Ban Hammer 13,110]

don't look now but there's something......out there.......on the wing!

[broma25 2]

don't look now but there's something......out there.......on the wing!

go on make things worse why dont ya.....lol lol

[kisschick1976 0]

don't look now but there's something......out there.......on the wing!

What a weird place to put an insurance advert.

'But can I save a lot of money by switching to Geico? Just how easy is it? '

[Kat And Russ 0]

Not sure if this will help... I am a very very nervous flyer... Russ being in america caused a big problem hehe. Anyway I found out flying alone was easier then flying with someone, I get very scraed, crying etc when im with someone but if im alone, I kind of close my eyes and think of england!

Before i moved here I flew over several times alone, and each time got easier.

Good Luck... I know whats its like

[homesick_american 1]

don't look now but there's something......out there.......on the wing!

go on make things worse why dont ya.....lol lol

That's vintage Charles! I laughed at it, don't worry...not upset. It's so absurd.

[Trompe le Monde 1,107]

Duuno - this may be a ridiculous suggestion. Thankfully, I don't have any trouble with this. Have you tried the noise canceling headphones? Bose has some really snazzy ones. Maybe not hearing would be worse than hearing, but if it IS the noises - you could make those go away.

this is an excellent suggestion - I have a pair and they are worth every penny of the $300 they cost. They won't get rid of everything, but they do help.

[homesick_american 1]

Update: My GP wrote me a prescription for 16 1mg tablets of Ativan...or however you spell it. Let's see if it actually works!

[TimsDaisy 0]

Update: My GP wrote me a prescription for 16 1mg tablets of Ativan...or however you spell it. Let's see if it actually works!

Excellent! I hope it helps.

Did he recomend you use it just on the plane or in the days leading up to it? I have a friend with a similar fear and she starts dosing a few days before had to quell the fears in the run up to the flight. I take one just when I'm on the plane.

In case it comes up - for anyone concerned about the mix of booze and pills, etc - my doctor friend says to think of Ativan as the equivalent of one drink. So don't push your limit! She also told me that it is safe to combine one ativan with one ambien - but anyone should, of course, always consult with his/her own physician before playing around with medication!!!!! Body types and personal medical issues can alter the ways drugs take effect, of course.

With the ativan, I didn't feel too loopy and wondered if it was even working. Though it must because I know on at least two flights the captain came on to apologize for the turbulence and I *wasn't* crying or panicking. So something was working!

[Mags 112]

Update: My GP wrote me a prescription for 16 1mg tablets of Ativan...or however you spell it. Let's see if it actually works!

Excellent news. I hope that it helps you to, at least, take the edge off of things.