Fear Of Flying?

[chilli]

Over the years, I have grown a fear of flying. Years ago, it used to be the best part of my holiday. Hundreds of holidays later, I actually panic of the thought of getting on the plane. I've watched every Discovery programme on flying, so much so, that I think I could probably fly one! I also understand how a plane flies, and what the pilot is doing, and when he should be doing it.......I appreciate that is far safer that "crossing the road", however, this incredible fear still exists.

I've tried pills and drinking to excess hours before, but all this seems to do is exaggerate my fear, and bring on a panic attack.

Any suggestions? I thought about hypnotherapy, but not sure I like the idea of someone messing around "upstairs".

Cheers,

Chilli.

ps - 3 weeks to go till Vegas!

[grass widow]

I have a friend who is just like you, everytime she flies is worse than the last.

Unfortunately I dont have anything to help, she has tried everything, she even went on one of these courses where you go for a fly round with all the pilots and cabin crew helping you. She is still a nervous wreck.

I would have to check on the hypnotherapy though, I know she did it for stopping smoking and that only worked for the first 24 hours.

You would never get her on a flight to Vegas, she can just about manage 3 hours to Europe.

[westy04]

I had the same problem. Used to love flying etc. Untill one night I had a really bad nightmare about crashing, which seemed very real.
Every flight afterwards got progresivly worse.
Then a friend of mine took his PPL and took me out a few times in what can only be described as an old classic mini with wings. Then I had no troubles with flying.
I'm know finding that the more I fly the more relaxed I get. So now the opposite.

[eccles]

there might be some useful info on these forums.....although they a primarily do do with crashes and their causes, they have a whole section on fear of flying.

www.airdisaster.com/forums/index.php?

[chilli]

eccles said:

there might be some useful info on these forums.....although they a primarily do do with crashes and their causes, they have a whole section on fear of flying. www.airdisaster.com/forums/index.php?

Cheers for this....I'll try and review the fears, and leave the disasters!!!

Cheers.

[KITT]

eccles said:

there might be some useful info on these forums.....although they a primarily do do with crashes and their causes, they have a whole section on fear of flying. www.airdisaster.com/forums/index.php?

I've not clicked the link, but had to laugh when a guy posts about a fear of flying and you point him to a website titled airdisaster.com

[simpo two]

Panic attack/phobia - fear that you know is unreasonable but can't stop...

Somehow you have to get the rational side back in control, which is impossible when the other side takes you over. If it's affecting your life, I would suggest you learn relaxation (mind control if you like) and find someone who can teach it to you properly.

[danielson]

i dont have a fear of flying..i do however have a fear of falling to earth in a sodding great lump of metal

watching one of the holiday progs a few weeks back that had a bit on the courses already mentioned where you meet the pilot and sit in a mock aircraft etc before going up for real..one of the fellas on it said the best thing he did to overcome his fear was to wear a rubber band on his wrist and if he really started to panic he would snap back to reality..might be worth a shot?

[Cossie.]

chilli said:

Over the years, I have grown a fear of flying. Years ago, it used to be the best part of my holiday. Hundreds of holidays later, I actually panic of the thought of getting on the plane.

I'm okay with flying (atm) but have developed an irrational fear of heights (luckily this doesn't apply to being on planes high up in the sky!). Say, for instance, I was to visit the Empire State Building or Eiffel Tower, I'd want to go up but as soon as I'd attempt to do so, my legs would go shaky and I'd feel nauseous, dizzy and unsafe. I also hate deep water. I guess it's only a matter of time before the height issue starts to interfere with flying (I've had a ride in a helicopter and that was a big mistake!).

[DanL]

I'm not fond of flying, but can put up with it. Partly, I find it's unfamiliarity with the whole thing - the "should the plane be doing that" angle. It's also certainly not been helped by the vast number of plane crash documentaries that have been shown over the years - I was fine with flying until I saw the black box recorder programs (I think that's what they were called, on channel 4, IIRC - was a few years ago).

The fact that an engine can fail catastrophically due to an undetectable manufacturing fault is something I really could have done without knowing. In my case, it's a question of a little knowledge being a dangerous thing.

What helped me rationalise it is the following, extracted from the Jeremy Clarkson programme on jets as part of his "Inventions that Changed the World" series. JC said something along the lines of "more people in the UK are injured by their trousers than on jet planes". All the other stats haven't made me feel any better, but if it's statistically more likely for me to injure myself putting on my trousers in the morning, I an feel a little safer about flying.

Dan

>> Edited by DanL on Tuesday 6th December 10:32