Anxiety before flying long haul

Anxiety before flying long haul

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Discussion

Caddyshack

10,605 posts

205 months

Sunday 26th January 2020
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HTP99 said:
Jaybmw said:
The way I deal with flying is if something goes wrong you cant do much about it. Trust the equipment, the highly trained staff and rest assured that air travel IS the safest form of travel
Unfortunately anxiety doesn't quite work like that!

I get anxious before long haul flights, not short haul and only on the way out.

I just have a couple of diazepam which seems to settle me.

I don't know what it is that makes me anxious, I know I'm likely to reach the other end, I don't get claustrophobic and it isn't a not being in control thing, the only thing that makes me wonder is, it's only on the way out, so maybe I'm anxious about being so far away from home.
If you rely on tablets then you give the anxiety permission, I found it is better to learn how to rid yourself of the anxiety in the first place. Learning to breath properly and use regular guided hypnosis recordings means that as soon as you notice anxiety you can cancel it out.

Jiebo

908 posts

95 months

Monday 27th January 2020
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I think some anxiety before flying is perfectly normal.

Don’t give yourself such a hard time. Flying across the world at 40,000 ft at 600mph is absolutely bonkers, but it’s been perfected over decades to a point now where it’s absolutely safe.

Being nervous is fine. Allowing it to manifest into a panic attack isn’t as fine and this is usually a result of something much deeper than just the flight, which is worth seeing a therapist about.

imperium

390 posts

83 months

Monday 27th January 2020
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Pretty normal if you ask me, it’s an unnatural thing to be doing!

I find as I’m getting older I over analyse flying. I have had flying lessons before so I have been comfortable with flying in the past. My wife gets very nervous so I keep it to myself.

Considering the number of planes in the sky at any one time, a disaster is very rare. Just rest assured the statistics are on your side and try and enjoy the flight.

Google [bot]

6,682 posts

180 months

Monday 27th January 2020
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Jaybmw said:
rest assured that air travel IS the safest form of travel
Per mile but it's loads of miles hehe

jinkster

2,235 posts

155 months

Tuesday 28th January 2020
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Lots of places to divert to on the way - Keflavik - Iceland, Sondestrom - Greenland, Iqualauit - Canada and then it gets more populated as you travel along. You might even get a chance to see the Northern Lights if its a night flight.

Just remember that pilots have families and lives outside work (not just the PH forums) so they want to get home and stay safe too.

All the best.

sparks_190e

Original Poster:

12,738 posts

212 months

Tuesday 28th January 2020
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Thank you all for the comments and helpful tips. I'm sat at departures at Heathrow with the wife feeling much better about it, cheers smile