Scared to fly.......

DEFINITELY NOT the latter. Booze & pills ain't gonna help.

Not enough lead time to speak with a counsellor.

My $0.02 - spend some time at the airport between now and then. Look at
all those people, all those thousands of people, getting on and getting off flights every single day. Occasionally a bit late, sometimes even early - but safe and sound nonetheless.

If they can do it, you can, too.

During a lull, you may even wish to speak to some airline personnel for reassurance. They can give you a very good idea of exactly what to expect on the flight so there are no surprises for you.

Best of luck, and let us know how it goes.

Neil

 

Seriously, how scared are you? Can you get through it? If not... drive.
An anti-anxiety drug may help. Check with your GP. Alcohol could make things worse.

 

Part of the fear is lack of control, some of it is claustrophobia.
You will often do better doing a daytime flight- sitting in first class- more room, a little more attention from the flight attendants. You will also do better in a bigger jet, rather than a smaller commuter plane- more room, more speed, more stability. In the pre- 9/11 days, I was often invited to sit in the cockpit briefly after take-off. The visibility there is astounding and takes away your fear. Call special services of the airline in advance and tell them your problem. They are often good at getting you the better seat, a little more attention, etc. Think of it as an airship- which it is- once you take off, you are riding on a cushion of air- the bumps and ups and downs are like the mild turbulence you feel on a boat rushing over the surface of the water. Once airborne, you can relax- very little happens in flight. And, once you get ready to land, you'll be happy, knowing your ordeal is almost over.
I've gone thru flight phobia in fits and starts over the years- those are some of the tricks I use. (And I found that if I hadn't flown for a while, it was more unnerving- when I was on the planes every week, it got to be almost nothing.)

 

I agree. When you fly often, you begin to get used to things like turbulence, sudden changes in altitude, etc. I think a small fear of flying (I still have it) is natural. Flying is not a whole lot different than driving or sailing. Turbulence is pretty close to a road with potholes or choppy water. And believe me, you are actually far far safer in the air than in your own car.

 

How long is the flight. Maybe you can pop a sleeping pill and sleep the whole ride.

Take off is definately the best part of flying btw. Feel all that power. So cool.

 

What happened 6 years ago? How did you get through that? How many times have you flown overall?

 

As others have said, booze is a very bad idea. You might not even be allowed on the plane if you're noticeably intoxicated.

 

You're not alone. My Dad took me on a plane when I was about six to Disneyland. He sat me by the window and told me to look down. It freaked the crap out of me and I have not been on a plane since. I would say the best thing to do would be to go to the airport and watch the planes take off, watch people board, takeoff, etc.. I would probably take an anti-anxiety drug to help. The main thing you would have t do when it comes down to it, would be to just not think about it, it is as common as driving a car. I am afraid of heights, thats mainly why I am afraid to fly. It feels as if I have left contact with the world when I am way up there. Takeoff freaks me out too. It's pretty scary taking off. Yeah, but I just think of it as something you HAVE to do. If you want to see the rest of the world, then you have to fly. It's totally safe, disasters rarley happen, just pop the pill, relax. Flying first class or Jet Blue would also help, it seems more comforting. Take something on the plane with you to help you occupy yourself like a good playboy.

 

I too had this fear. I do not have it anymore. Not even slightest bit scared, even when the nosegear of one of my flights refused to go down at Will Rogers (OKC). The captain declared an emergency on that one. Fire trucks on the runway and news choppers in the air. Needless to say we landed fine. Not even the least bit worried.

How did I tackle this?

I got a pilot's license.

RMX

 

I got to go in the cockpit of a 747-300 back in 2000. It was incredible. You could see the sunset clearly and it was like we were motionless.

To the OP, as asked before, what happened 6 years ago? I'd say try to enjoy it as something else you like to do. Try to get yourself to get that "I can't wait" feeling while going to the airport. Takeoff is pretty fun with the acceleration. Psych yourself. I think I've been flying since around 2 years old and I cannot wait for the takeoff.

 

Don't do It! I have a bad feeling about any flight to or from Chicago.

 

Odds of something happening in the air are something like;
1:8,000,000

wheras something happening to you in the car are;
1:5,000

 

Capone,

Do you know what it is you are afraid of?

One suggestion I have....... I know it might sound a little crazy, but take a flying lesson. Call your local flight school and tell them you would like a demo ride. They should take you through pre-flight and let you take the controls. Once you understand the systems and see the pilots error on the side of safety, you might feel better.

 

I used to fly every week for about 9 years...and I have a mild fear of flying.

Here's one thing to keep in mind when you encounter turbulence. Think about when an airplane lands. That is one of the most jarring impacts any aircraft will ever encounter and yet the wings don't fall off. The engine thrust reversers and brakes put an incredible strain on the airframe so that everything torques and rattles...yet nothing bad happens. So, no matter how bumpy it gets in the air, the chances are very slim that something's going to break from any turbulence or rapid manuevers.

Also, check out the book "Flying Without Fear". It's a quick read and was written by an airline pilot. He tells you everything that can and might happen at each stage of a flight...even what different noises you hear might be.

 

Get a ipod or portable dvd player to keep your mind off of it.

 

There's no real danger that turbulence will physically break the airplane. Modern day aircraft are designed to withstanding the strongest known turbulence, and most turbulence does not approach that type of force. I cant remember specifics, but a typical wing can bend in the realm of 20 feet (basically 45 degrees) from the tips before it is in danger of breaking. They are fairly indestructible.

This alleves some common fears about flying...

http://www.thisistravel.co.uk/travel/health/Flying-in-the-faceoffear-article.html?in_article_id=44606

 

I'm also afraid of flying. I would never let it stop me from flying, but I do encounter fear. Learning some of the basics, in terms of the flight is good. Knowing that "ding" about 5-10 minutes into the flight is passing the 10K ft. barrier, or knowing that turbulence is not going to bring down the plane helps. Knowing the feeling of slowing down and descending about 30-40 minutes before landing is beginning initial decent helps too. Try a book, or even a couple websites have helpful info. Getting a ride in a plane at a smaller local airport would help immensely, if you have the time/opportunity. Essentially, the more you fly, the better it gets.

Hope some of that helps.

 

A bit morbid, but if what occurred on 9/11/2001 happened once a year, every year, flying would still be the safest way to travel... It is, by far and away, the safest way to go...

The new season of Lost starts on Wednesday - don't watch it...!

 

Join the mile high club.

That should keep you busy during part of the flight, and the anticipation should keep you distracted during take off.

Failing that, my doctor prescribed a medication they use for anxiety for me. Once I got back in the swing of flying, 3 or 4 round trips (I had about a 15 year hiatus) I haven't had to take it since.

Either way, good luck.

DM

 

I've never been afraid to fly, but personally I've always felt that an hour or so in the pre-flight bar made the experience much more enjoyable. If you already live in the Midwest, the flight can't be much more than an hour. But if you're really that scared, then take Amtrak. You'll never be scared to fly again.

 

Theres nothing to be afraid of man. Your something like 30 times more likely to die driving to and from the airport then flying.

 

I feel your pain! I have been getting panic attacks for about 6 years now. BAD ones....I've been everywhere from the Mayo Clinic to UIC looking for help. Recently I have been flying on planes more often, and everytime I seem to be having a hard time. I take Xanax and it helps, but is still not a cure and being on it for so long do not recommend anti-anxiety meds like Xanax! They are addictive and become part of your daily life. Here are a few things I have done to help it over the last year of flying on planes.

1.) Daytime flight!!!!!!!!!
2.) Don't eat before you get on the plane (kinda strange, but a full stomach can give a false sense of anxiety)
3.) Try and get on a bigger plane (alot of it is the clastrophobia like stated)
4.) Bring so much crap on the flight you don't have time to think about it...dvds,music,games, for me taking pictures has helped me through alot of ****!
5.) Enjoy it!

When I was young I flew everywhere and loved it! My favorite part was the takeoff, and now I just want it over with. Don't let it happen to you......Planes are amazing pieces of equipment. Enjoy them before they all go bankrupt and are grounded.

 

None of those distractions ever worked for me. The worst part was always takeoffs and landings. In fact, most aviation accidents occur during these periods because the aircraft is relatively slow and close to the ground.

iPods and DVD players are strictly prohibited under 10,000 feet, so none of that ever made any difference to me. At 10k feet, I was a lot calmer.

I was a white knuckle flyer for years, flying 75k miles or more every single year. It just got worse and worse. I actually enjoy flying now.

My advice is to learn how an airplane works, understand it, and you'll be fine.

Good luck.

RMX

Edit: I was a Xanax flyer for a long time. That's really no way to deal with it.

 

You dont know what turbulence is until you fly a single engine cessna over the desert during the afternoon. Not to make things worse, but they do x-ray the spar/other parts and a certain amount of fatigue cracking is allowable, but it never compromises safety. There are countries where it can be a little questionable. For example when planes have flown many many hours (50,000+) and thousands of pressurization cycles. Mexican airlines often buy them and continue operating them for years.