Help needed quickly.....fear of flying!
Discussion
I'm off to Lanzarote tomorrow......assuming I manage to get on the plane that is!
I've never really had a real problem with flying as such, but the last 3 or 4 times I've been on holiday (Tenerife, Canada, Rhodes & Rhodes again) I've got more & more nervous. I spend the entire flight (incl. the 7 hours to Canada), securely strapped into my seat, gripping the armrests. Thing is, I'm supposed to be flying to Lanzarote tomorrow at 2pm & I'm getting worse by the minute, to the point that I honestly think I'm going to have a panic attack at the airport & be unable to get on the plane (losing £500+ in the process).
I've never felt this nervous about anything before & I really do think I'm going to have a problem tomorrow.
Any ideas/help? The missus will kill me if I can't go.
[small]I'd appreciate sensible answers please people as I really don't need putting off any more....i.e. I already searched for "fear of flying" on here & didn't like what I read! :([/small]
I've never really had a real problem with flying as such, but the last 3 or 4 times I've been on holiday (Tenerife, Canada, Rhodes & Rhodes again) I've got more & more nervous. I spend the entire flight (incl. the 7 hours to Canada), securely strapped into my seat, gripping the armrests. Thing is, I'm supposed to be flying to Lanzarote tomorrow at 2pm & I'm getting worse by the minute, to the point that I honestly think I'm going to have a panic attack at the airport & be unable to get on the plane (losing £500+ in the process).
I've never felt this nervous about anything before & I really do think I'm going to have a problem tomorrow.
Any ideas/help? The missus will kill me if I can't go.
[small]I'd appreciate sensible answers please people as I really don't need putting off any more....i.e. I already searched for "fear of flying" on here & didn't like what I read! :([/small]
Hi there
I know exactly how you feel, I hate it too. The sensations ,the noise, the apparent fragility of the plane and all that going on at 31 000 feet in an unbreathable atmosphere!
Get to your doc and ask for a benzodiazapine. It will take all your anxiety away and you'll sleep. Alprazolam does it for me and I used to take four before I flew (I'm getting better now-it's a question of habit). But Doc will recommend what he thinks is best.
I know everyone says it, and I know it doesn't feel like it but it really is safe. They go to incredible measures to keep planes in the air and they have a wealth of experience over the years to back them up. What i used to find reassuring was to go to Orly airport near where I live and just watch the sheer number of planes taking off and landing. Every time one goes you think "it's gonna crash, it's gotta crash" and then it doesn't and it's surprising and then reassuring. The number of plane movements in an hour is huge.
Prepare for the noises the plane will make make. The noises are what freak me out the most. Just after take off you may hear a "bump, bump" that's the wheels going up, and on approach you'll hear a MUCH bigger "BUMP,BUMP!" and that's the wheels going down. (I used to think shit what fell off?!)
Also on the approach when they put the Flaps down the wind noise gets much louder due to the drag, that used to freak me out also.
Another one is sudden acceleration or decreases of speed to (I think) stay on the descent slope.
Also you may hear a screamy type whine from time to time which is the hydrolics system.
You may well be less of a phobic than I used to be (I hope so anyway!) but hope all that helps.
Driller
I know exactly how you feel, I hate it too. The sensations ,the noise, the apparent fragility of the plane and all that going on at 31 000 feet in an unbreathable atmosphere!
Get to your doc and ask for a benzodiazapine. It will take all your anxiety away and you'll sleep. Alprazolam does it for me and I used to take four before I flew (I'm getting better now-it's a question of habit). But Doc will recommend what he thinks is best.
I know everyone says it, and I know it doesn't feel like it but it really is safe. They go to incredible measures to keep planes in the air and they have a wealth of experience over the years to back them up. What i used to find reassuring was to go to Orly airport near where I live and just watch the sheer number of planes taking off and landing. Every time one goes you think "it's gonna crash, it's gotta crash" and then it doesn't and it's surprising and then reassuring. The number of plane movements in an hour is huge.
Prepare for the noises the plane will make make. The noises are what freak me out the most. Just after take off you may hear a "bump, bump" that's the wheels going up, and on approach you'll hear a MUCH bigger "BUMP,BUMP!" and that's the wheels going down. (I used to think shit what fell off?!)
Also on the approach when they put the Flaps down the wind noise gets much louder due to the drag, that used to freak me out also.
Another one is sudden acceleration or decreases of speed to (I think) stay on the descent slope.
Also you may hear a screamy type whine from time to time which is the hydrolics system.
You may well be less of a phobic than I used to be (I hope so anyway!) but hope all that helps.
Driller
I used to be afraid of flying, felt really uncomfortable at air. Do you know what we fear off? The loss of control. I fly more often now that I used to and I have gone used to the engine noises and sometimes bumpy rides on the plane and guess what, it doesn´t bother me anymore. Try relaxing, have a drink or two, get a good magazine to read and if possible music is always a good method.
This has always been something that I don't understand - however I will try to help. My wife hates flying but found that a herbal remedy which I think was called 'stay calm' worked wonders - its probably (I know not too helpful) available at your local health food type store. Now she seems to be calm enough just holding my hand although I'm not prepared to offer you that service 
Centurion,
I suffer from this occasionally. At the moment I'm OK. (There again, I am sat at home and not flying tomorrow )
A few things that should/could help. Try all or a couple, whichever helps...
1) Drink - providing that you do drink.
2) Imagine the plane as a submarine. Instead of water, it moves through the air with similar principles. Gives a better understanding of why you're up there and why you'll stay up there.
3) Turn some of your car enthusiasm into aeroplane enthusiasm. Imagine that kind of power in your car as you take off down the runway!
4) Try (really try) to enjoy it. Its actually an awesome phenomenon. Its pure power.
Hope it helps a little.
I suffer from this occasionally. At the moment I'm OK. (There again, I am sat at home and not flying tomorrow
) A few things that should/could help. Try all or a couple, whichever helps...
1) Drink - providing that you do drink.
2) Imagine the plane as a submarine. Instead of water, it moves through the air with similar principles. Gives a better understanding of why you're up there and why you'll stay up there.
3) Turn some of your car enthusiasm into aeroplane enthusiasm. Imagine that kind of power in your car as you take off down the runway!
4) Try (really try) to enjoy it. Its actually an awesome phenomenon. Its pure power.
Hope it helps a little.
I get a funny feeling when I get on a plane not sure if it is aprehension (?spelling
) or exitement
Mabey its a control thing, how are you about being driven as opposed to driving your self.
I find just accepting that the situation is out of my hands and resigning myself that this is the only way to reach your destination is the best thing. Just relax take a couple of deep breaths. Dont drink lots or they might not let you on the flight.
Just treat it like somethin you dont like, like an exam, you dont know the result but you know it will be over in a few hours
) or exitement Mabey its a control thing, how are you about being driven as opposed to driving your self.
I find just accepting that the situation is out of my hands and resigning myself that this is the only way to reach your destination is the best thing. Just relax take a couple of deep breaths. Dont drink lots or they might not let you on the flight.
Just treat it like somethin you dont like, like an exam, you dont know the result but you know it will be over in a few hours
Actually I'd stay sober - counter this thing with reason, not alcohol. If I feel nervous, alcohol makes me feel more out of control. I like to stay IN control. Do you play flight sims? If so, pretend YOU are flying the plane. Think of the stats - driving a car versus flying. It adds up, as you well know. Flying is safer. However, you drive but don't worry about it - but that is more dangerous. What is the difference? You're not in control. Realise that the pilot is not an idiot; he doesn't want to kill himself any more than you do.
Thanks all. I think I'm gonna try & get to see my doc tomorrow (there had better be an appointment available first thing!).
It's not the crashing (or destructive goblin thing on the wing) that scares me, it's the fact that at any second during the flight you could hit an air pocket & drop; I hate that negative-g feeling; it wouldn't even have to be very far, just a few feet would do it. I don't have a problem with rollercoasters or stuff like that because you know when the bad stuff is coming, but I seem to be very sensitive to the slightest movement of the plane in any direction so it doesn't take much to make me feel nervous.
I think I'd probably be ok if I was allowed to sit up front & actually see where we're going rather than being confined back in the passenger compartment having to look out the side.
It's not the crashing (or destructive goblin thing on the wing) that scares me, it's the fact that at any second during the flight you could hit an air pocket & drop; I hate that negative-g feeling; it wouldn't even have to be very far, just a few feet would do it. I don't have a problem with rollercoasters or stuff like that because you know when the bad stuff is coming, but I seem to be very sensitive to the slightest movement of the plane in any direction so it doesn't take much to make me feel nervous.
I think I'd probably be ok if I was allowed to sit up front & actually see where we're going rather than being confined back in the passenger compartment having to look out the side.
centurion07 said:
Thanks all. I think I'm gonna try & get to see my doc tomorrow (there had better be an appointment available first thing!).
Yep but valium and beta-blockers don't stop the brain from worrying, which is why you need to deal with the fear at source.
centurion07 said:
I hate that negative-g feeling...I don't have a problem with rollercoasters or stuff like that because you know when the bad stuff is coming
Good point - imagine you're on a roller coaster (ie attached to the ground on a track).
centurion07 said:
I think I'd probably be ok if I was allowed to sit up front & actually see where we're going rather than being confined back in the passenger compartment having to look out the side.
Yep, that's why you need to learn to relax, trust the pilot and go with the flow. It's a roller coaster, it's just not fixed to the ground
One thing that really helps is a breathing/relaxation technique. With practice you can use it to switch off irrational fear.lazyitus said:
But I seem to be very sensitive to the slightest movement of the plane in any direction so it doesn't take much to make me feel nervous.
Does nervous know he's going with you?
>> Edited by lazyitus on Tuesday 4th October 21:42
This is how rumours start!
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