Extremely bad phobia of flyng

bagand96

Another poster above mentioned that airlines run fear of flying courses. The two main ones are British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, and both airlines officially endorse the courses they partner with. I've never been on one (fortunate enough not to need to) but I am sure one of the "Airport" type TV programmes a few years back featured one, and it seemed quite good. They use current airline captains and cover a wide range of things; and culminate in a flight that has specially been chartered for the course, so has supportive staff on board.

They both claim very good success rates, and seem to have good reviews so who knows. They aren't cheap (£250 a pop) but worth looking at.

http://www.britishairways.com/travel/flying-with-confidence/public/en_gb
http://www.flyingwithoutfear.info/

richardw

Go on the train to Disneyland Paris in high summer and enjoy that holiday.

Ich_2

As has been mentioned, often, knowing the cause of the fear is the first and biggest step. My OH has never been happy flying but after we discussed it the problem is more about claustrophobia than fear.
We have found she is more comfortable on the larger wide-bodied aircraft used for trans-Atlantic flights than the smaller narrow bodies used around Europe.

RedNWhite

I too am scared of flying. I think Ich is correct about working out what the actual fear is, then go from there. For me, it's the fear of the plane falling out of the sky. I also feel a slight claustrophobia, but strangely, I find I feel better when in a window seat. Mainly because I can see where the plane is going and when it is turning. I think it also takes the mind away from the negativity by taking in the stunning views.

I tried Diazepam, but I found that alcohol actually works a lot better for me (apart from the de-hydration effects!). One drink up there is the equivalent of two down there. Just don't get drunk or you'll get thrown out!

The only real way of conquering the fear is by facing it head on and finding the routine that makes you feel positive.

trolleyrun

First, you need to identify what your fear is about. Everyone is different, so this could be unique to you. Once you've figured out what worries you, then you can start dealing with it. There may be more than one thing that you worry about.

Most people don't like giving up control. Fair enough, we all like a bit of control in our lives. However, when it comes to flying, it's better giving the pilots the control of the aircraft. They know how to fly and how the aircraft works. What you do have control over, is how you feel.

Learn some relaxation techniques and breathing excercises. These can be used for all kinds of situations and nobody around you need to know you're doing them unless you want them to know.

Worried the aircraft will fall out of the sky? Why would it do that? This just doesn't happen. A two-engined aircraft can easily fly on one engine if needs be. An aircraft is designed to fly. They go through vigorous testing (very often) and each and every thing that has been fixed/replaced is logged and double checked.

Pilots. Initial pilot training is 18 months of intensive studies. Then, they build up flying hours and experience from there. Usually, they fly with a training pilot (usually a Captain) for a certain amount of time. Everything pilots do in the cockpit is checked by both pilots, via an array of checklists. Not because they can't remember what needs doing, but to avoid any mistakes.

For now, I'll leave you with this: There's no way on this earth that pilots and cabin crew would go flying every day if it wasn't safe. They don't have higher insurance premiums due to their job.

Have a little time self-analysing. Where did the fear come from? Why did that change? What do you fear? How do you think you can change it? Please remember - you're the only person who can change this, but there is lots of help out there to help you along the way. There are no miracle cures, but you can learn to be comfortable with flying.

mandi_moles

Can I recommend you visit
http://www.anxietyalliance.org.uk/
They are wonderful, very supportive and you can phone them and talk to them and they understand EVERYTHING !
I got myself to Spain ALONE !! With their support
They Have forums too if you dont fancy phoning. But phoning is VERY beneficial !!

2sides2everystory

EllaBeagle, you sound quite forthright in your beliefs and I think we all thought that was a great smack-down for our dearly beloved antenna

I am sure that those who say perhaps you need to discover exactly what it is you are afraid of are quite right in that it no doubt will be the key to controlling your phobia.

We all have our fears (my worst sometimes creeps into nightmares and involves me seemingly being too large to escape a tunnel or a building via narrow winding staircases or something like that. In the nightmares I can remember, I even think I do not have to go that way but decide to do so and get stuck!). It is maybe all about having choices, and whether we want to do something or simply think we don't.

I have never tried pot-holing but I imagine that there are places I should not try to go, but when you think about it, it is all a question of "is it possible/does it work or doesn't it?"

If someone says well actually yes it is possible and moreover it is totally normal and very straightforward then surely there is a lot to be said for first understanding why it is possible and straightforward, and then second, trying it, even though it puts you outside your comfort zone ?

That's how we all learned for the first time how to do what we do anyway. We all cried the first time we walked off alone round the supermarket aisle and thought we were lost but we came to realise that some things can be relied upon like Mum or Dad not leaving the shop without us!

Taking a sedative drug to slow your mind might work but surely if you have the intellect to knock down antenna with one punch to the extent he still hasn't picked himself up again, you have the intellect to understand a little how an aeroplane flies and perhaps a little about how aviation has changed since you formed your bad opinions about it.

I am sure if you can't teach yourself through it, someone like trolleyrun could lay out a plan of action that gets you to Paris and to Florida without any major upset. It's surely one of those things where you could tackle it this year and sail through it such that in five years time you will be flying every year and wondering what all the fuss was about

Your Paris trip might be the ideal shorter experience to try after you have sat down and found out a bit why aeroplanes flying in a completely controlled fashion through thick and thin is just very normal.

I love flying mainly because of the views. I understand pretty much every noise I hear and I don't suppose my heartrate raises even a beat after I sit down until I get off. I do remember being less easy about it when aeroplanes where a bit more rudimentary, but thesedays the ones you will encounter are machines as slick right thorough as an iPad2 or a Rolex. The pilots are not constantly fighting any big bad forces of nature - thesedays they can take anything mother nature throws at them without even adjusting their stride. They are totally in control and you there's no reason you can't be too ! There is still a little turbulence which you might notice for short periods in maybe one in five flights but aircraft wings are designed to flex to deal with it so you feel a little vibration but there is really no need for any OMG moments

Good luck with fixing your phobia for good!

spadoosh

EllaBeagle wrote: »

I really want to take the kids to Disney world Florida in years to come having just landed the perfect job. But I´m terrified of flying and can´t see me doing so many hours on a flight without scaring the kids. Me and my partner are off to Paris for his birthday later this year so will have to endure an hour and a half. Its been over 6 years since I went on a plane and the thought of it makes me feel physically sick.

Is there any help out there for it? And has anyone had hypnotherapy and it worked?

I know people say being in a car is more dangerous than being on a plane but once its in the air I don´t feel stable like its just going to drop, I listen out for every noise change of the engine and have panic attacks as soon as the door closes.

These feeling most people have when they go on a plane, its a natural feeling from not being in control.

You say your going to disney world, there rides are more likely to break down and injure people than problems with a plane and youve evaluated the potential risks and will allow your children on them (aswell as the plane) Its not a nice feeling but youve just got to deal with it.

Whatever you do when boarding dont look at the frame of the door. I always struggle with the 2mm aluminum skin a plane has! :P

I heard a stat (probably bs) that your more likely to die putting your trousers on than in a plane crash.

With regards to the not feeling stable and feeling like your going to drop, well you do. During turbulence a plane can lose 200 ft in altitude in seconds (hence the swallowing your stomach feeling you can get during turbulence)

Anytime i get the scared/horrified/worried feelings i tell myself its excitement and my bodies reactions to the thrill of the situation at the end of the day the only thing you can do is not go on the plane to stop those feelings but could imagine the guilt of not taking your kids to disney world would be worse.


Sorry for not being unhelpful and probably making you a little more scared but essentially your scared of it and no matter what i say would make you not scared, so your going to go on the plane scared wether you can deal with it or not.

The aprehension of the flight will also increase the bad feeling you have on the plane.



Another thing i like to do is convince myself that the plane is going to crash then at least when you land you have the euphoric emotion of being alive.


Hope you have a nice holiday, good luck in paris!

Gloomendoom

spadoosh wrote: »

I heard a stat (probably bs) that your more likely to die putting your trousers on than in a plane crash.

Hmmmm... my wife quite often puts her trousers on while travelling on a plane.

I didn't realise how close to death we've come. :eek:

Tarry

I'm a little afraid of flying. We all have things that scare us, and flying gives me butterflies. But I don't want to not be able to fly so taking myself *gulp* to Jersey. I wish I wasn't, but heck some people are scared of what I do a few times a year, so it's the same idea really.