The Thought Of Flying - Bricking My Pants.

The Thought Of Flying - Bricking My Pants.

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Discussion

boobles

Original Poster:

15,241 posts

214 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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Anyone else literally bricks themselves when it comes to flying?
I haven't flown for a couple of years now, but have no choice as it's a funeral we have to attend.
The thing is, I know it's safe & I know I am panicking over nothing especially as the flight is only across the pond (N Ireland) so it's not like I am sat on the plane for hours. I am even anxious about the drive to the airport which will take a lot longer than the flight it's self or is this just me feeling anxious in general? Any tips to help me feel relaxed apart from alcohol as it's 7am flight in the morning. I don't understand why I have gone from loving flying to being scared of it! Could turbulence be playing on my mind as I tend to panic if the plane bounces around, even the smallest amount. frown

ClaphamGT3

11,269 posts

242 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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Research some stats on the number of aircraft movements every day, then consider that any air incident, anywhere in the world, is so rare that it makes global news. Seeing that statistics are on your side should help

p1stonhead

25,489 posts

166 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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boobles said:
Anyone else literally bricks themselves when it comes to flying?
I haven't flown for a couple of years now, but have no choice as it's a funeral we have to attend.
The thing is, I know it's safe & I know I am panicking over nothing especially as the flight is only across the pond (N Ireland) so it's not like I am sat on the plane for hours. I am even anxious about the drive to the airport which will take a lot longer than the flight it's self or is this just me feeling anxious in general? Any tips to help me feel relaxed apart from alcohol as it's 7am flight in the morning. I don't understand why I have gone from loving flying to being scared of it! Could turbulence be playing on my mind as I tend to panic if the plane bounces around, even the smallest amount. frown
There are courses you can take which explain what every little quirk and noise is. But if time is against you, watch some fear of flying videos on youtube like this;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayXvS5b9jVE

Its often just not knowing what everything is thats scary. Knowledge should help things.

A good statistic to remember is - 'buying a single lottery ticket in an attempt to win the jackpot is the same as trying to commit suicide by flying in a commercial airliner'

Lottery - 1 in 14 million
Death in air - 1 in 11 million

GAjon

3,721 posts

212 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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p1stonhead said:
Lottery - 1 in 14 million
Death in air - 1 in 11 million
It could be you!




steveo3002

10,494 posts

173 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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its crashing you ought to worry about , then burning or drowning

Truckosaurus

11,183 posts

283 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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I dislike flying but put up with it in order to go to interesting places.

As for turbulence, just think of it like a boat going through the sea, it's perfectly natural and safe to have some movement. (and keep your seatbelt on just in case there's a big 'wave')

I also prefer an aisle seat so I don't look out the window and start thinking how far it is to the ground.

boobles

Original Poster:

15,241 posts

214 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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Thanks guys, does help to talk about it.

peekay74

448 posts

223 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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My wife struggles with flying like you. She went to see the doctor was was prescribed Valium which she could take for the flight. It's a bit of a pain for her as he only prescribes a pill per flight so she needs to go in with her itinerary if there are any internal flights when abroad.
She says it just takes the edge off and whilst she is totally aware of what's going on, she is just less bothered. The only 'downside' is that after a couple of hours she feels sleepy which if a short flight and you need to get on when you land could be a pain/problematic. Have to say though over time her fear has reduced a lot and now will only take them for long haul, seems to be able to cope with a couple of hours. Can only assume that is because the crutch of Valium has allowed her to not concentrate on the fear as she knows there is a solution and over time it has just slowly reduced.
Hope that helps...

Sheepshanks

32,531 posts

118 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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boobles said:
I am even anxious about the drive to the airport which will take a lot longer than the flight it's self or is this just me feeling anxious in general?
The actual flying doesn't bother me, but I get very nervous that something may go wrong with the arrangements and I'll miss the flight. - ie the car will break down on the way to the airport or I'll forget some important piece of documentation etc.

Slushbox

1,484 posts

104 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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I used to be flight-phobic as a kid, the media schtick was that flying was smooth, comfortable and refined, but generally, it's anything but. The most terrifying part was take off, from which I presumed there was little chance of returning. If you survived that you could dare to look out of the window and see mountain crests and oceans far below, into which you would surely crash in a burning, screaming fireball.

The fear of flying seemed therefore to be mostly a fear of crashing, which aircraft do, but not very often. (When were you last struck by lightning?) I got over the phobia by flying a lot and not crashing, but the background fear is always there. Takeoff is safer than landing for aircraft, so just lie back and enjoy the thrust.

(There's another school of thought which says if you hate it, why do it?)

I learned to fly gliders, then light aircraft a few years ago, not bad for a phobic, and loved it, but there was a phobia-moment on one landing approach where I just froze up and the instructor had to take over.

I had to severely reappraise my skills as The New Biggles, binned the flying lessons and bought a nice car. The fear of flying has mostly gone, leaving only a fear of British airport 'food', deep vein thrombosis, and toxic RyanAir passengers.

The turbulence-thing is mostly unproblematic for aircraft, though passengers equate it with impending doom. The occasional bounce is all perfectly natural. Getting through the airport creates more anxiety than flying, these days.

Edited by Slushbox on Thursday 19th January 09:38

Simpo Two

85,149 posts

264 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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I wonder how much of the fear is not simply 'fear of crashing' (it can't be or we wouldn't drive cars) but the unusual/unsettling changes in G, especially during take-off and landing? In other words 'it feels wrong' to our earth-bound butts.

Slushbox

1,484 posts

104 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
I wonder how much of the fear is not simply 'fear of crashing' (it can't be or we wouldn't drive cars) but the unusual/unsettling changes in G, especially during take-off and landing? In other words 'it feels wrong' to our earth-bound butts.
Fear of heights, for me. Look down into the abyss below-thing. Still a problem even when flying the plane. What if the (single engine) fails? Planes can land with no engines, is the answer. Car crashes are rarely fatal is another.

I was also 'ocean' phobic; scared of the slimy, bitey unseen things that live under the sea. Cured it with a scuba diving course. Still can't do spiders. That one can go unaddressed.

oilydan

2,030 posts

270 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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There is no rationality to the fear of flying.

However, the fear of suddenly not flying....

craig1912

3,273 posts

111 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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wife takes Diazepam when flying which helps calm the nerves!

BoRED S2upid

19,643 posts

239 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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Road trip? It's only NI.

Are they decent planes flying such a short distance? I've only ever been scared once on a plane it was an internal flight in Germany in a crappy little propeller plane. The bigger the better when it comes to planes if you ask me.

boobles

Original Poster:

15,241 posts

214 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
quotequote all
I think a lot of it for me is not knowing anyone else on board or what their motives are. Silly thing to say but It's how I feel.
Road trip would have been my choice but have to be there for tomorrow morning & we are both working today, so not really an option.

p1stonhead

25,489 posts

166 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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BoRED S2upid said:
Road trip? It's only NI.

Are they decent planes flying such a short distance? I've only ever been scared once on a plane it was an internal flight in Germany in a crappy little propeller plane. The bigger the better when it comes to planes if you ask me.
They are big commercial airliners like a A320/737 and the like they are not propeller planes! hehe its not that short a distance its still an hour flight.

Most do 8 return flights a day. They have to be treated like getting on a flying bus IMO.

BoRED S2upid

19,643 posts

239 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
quotequote all
p1stonhead said:
BoRED S2upid said:
Road trip? It's only NI.

Are they decent planes flying such a short distance? I've only ever been scared once on a plane it was an internal flight in Germany in a crappy little propeller plane. The bigger the better when it comes to planes if you ask me.
They are big commercial airliners like a A320/737 and the like they are not propeller planes! hehe its not that short a distance its still an hour flight.

Most do 8 return flights a day. They have to be treated like getting on a flying bus IMO.
That's ok then.

OP never get on a propeller plane!

HoHoHo

14,980 posts

249 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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My wife hates flying and is very nervous however she seems to be and admits herself she is much better when we turn left at the door rather than right........

Personally I find her solution quite attractive hehe

MrLizard

261 posts

182 months

Thursday 19th January 2017
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never flown (34 now) would love to go to Aus etc, for me its lack of control, not a great passenger in a car either. Tried a few courses etc but cant quite get over it. Someone give me some spiked milk?