Nervous flyer What is wrong with me

eDicky

Modern commercial air travel is extremely safe. Turbulence during a flight is completely normal and poses no risk, other than a severe instance that you have an extremely miniscule chance of encountering. The actual problem is within your own mind. Don't continue to allow your anxiety and irrational fear to limit your life, there are remedies.

Giraffe76

Emmia said:

Giraffe76 said:

Mutton_Geoff said:

silvercar said:

Mutton_Geoff said:

It is dangerous to take relaxants on a flight as they can make you more prone to DVT as you're less likely to move your limbs when asleep.

This goes against all those people who fly flat bed business long haul in order to be a able to sleep on a flight.

Not sure what you mean. Even on a flat bed, your body will adjust position in your sleep, particularly if it senses blood flow to a part is restricted. If you're drugged, you are less likely to move to relieve that and then potentially suffer from DVT.

I've been a pilot for over 30 years and have regular appointments (every 6 months) with aviation doctors where this topic has been discussed so I do feel qualified to comment.

The worst thing you can do, especially if cramped into an economy seat on long haul is to take sedatives and/or drink loads of alcohol.

Thank you for your reply. Alcohol does me no favours when flying so I don't do it plus I've only had 1 pint all year so won't be doing that anyway but i need something to relax me so as a pilot what do you suggest? The flight will only be just over 5 hours so I don't consider it long haul

Have you tried meditation and breathing exercises? 

I haven't. Could you recommend any please 

Giraffe76

eDicky said:

Modern commercial air travel is extremely safe. Turbulence during a flight is completely normal and poses no risk, other than a severe instance that you have an extremely miniscule chance of encountering. The actual problem is within your own mind. Don't continue to allow your anxiety and irrational fear to limit your life, there are remedies.

Could you recommend any remedies please as I don't want this to control my life forever and want to get over it once and for all

Emmia

Giraffe76 said:

Emmia said:

Giraffe76 said:

Mutton_Geoff said:

silvercar said:

Mutton_Geoff said:

It is dangerous to take relaxants on a flight as they can make you more prone to DVT as you're less likely to move your limbs when asleep.

This goes against all those people who fly flat bed business long haul in order to be a able to sleep on a flight.

Not sure what you mean. Even on a flat bed, your body will adjust position in your sleep, particularly if it senses blood flow to a part is restricted. If you're drugged, you are less likely to move to relieve that and then potentially suffer from DVT.

I've been a pilot for over 30 years and have regular appointments (every 6 months) with aviation doctors where this topic has been discussed so I do feel qualified to comment.

The worst thing you can do, especially if cramped into an economy seat on long haul is to take sedatives and/or drink loads of alcohol.

Thank you for your reply. Alcohol does me no favours when flying so I don't do it plus I've only had 1 pint all year so won't be doing that anyway but i need something to relax me so as a pilot what do you suggest? The flight will only be just over 5 hours so I don't consider it long haul

Have you tried meditation and breathing exercises? 

I haven't. Could you recommend any please 

Try a yoga class near you or YouTube videos,  you're probably looking for shavsana yoga or yoga nidra.

*Personally I can't stand yoga, much prefer reformer pilates, but reformer isn't really about relaxation, which is what you're after.

eskbanker

Giraffe76 said:

As a pilot what can you tell me to reassure me of turbulence and flying as that's my main concern/worry

I'm not a pilot but to me it's a numbers game - yes, turbulence can happen but the well-publicised Singapore incident had such a high profile because it's so rare, in the context of the 35-40m commercial flights operating every year (i.e. 100k/day).  Do you avoid trains, buses, cars, because they're involved in occasional accidents too?

Giraffe76

eskbanker said:

Giraffe76 said:

As a pilot what can you tell me to reassure me of turbulence and flying as that's my main concern/worry

I'm not a pilot but to me it's a numbers game - yes, turbulence can happen but the well-publicised Singapore incident had such a high profile because it's so rare, in the context of the 35-40m commercial flights operating every year (i.e. 100k/day).  Do you avoid trains, buses, cars, because they're involved in occasional accidents too?

Thank you for your reply and a point well made emphasised really well

ThorOdinson

Might be worth trying out a flight simulator on your computer, or watching some videos by pilots on YouTube where they talk you through how it all works. Once you learn how carefully managed it all is, and how many layers of safety there are, and the basics of how flight works, the mystery is gone and it is less scary.

silvercar

Mutton_Geoff said:

It is dangerous to take relaxants on a flight as they can make you more prone to DVT as you're less likely to move your limbs when asleep.

The point I was making was that 'if you are more prone to DVT ....when asleep', why do so many regular travellers choose business class precisely because they can lie flat and go to sleep? That's before you consider the free alcohol in business class.

silvercar

Giraffe76 said:

eDicky said:

Modern commercial air travel is extremely safe. Turbulence during a flight is completely normal and poses no risk, other than a severe instance that you have an extremely miniscule chance of encountering. The actual problem is within your own mind. Don't continue to allow your anxiety and irrational fear to limit your life, there are remedies.

Could you recommend any remedies please as I don't want this to control my life forever and want to get over it once and for all

Not giving medication advice on the forum, but see your GP. They should be able to prescribe something.

eDicky

Giraffe76 said:

eDicky said:

Modern commercial air travel is extremely safe. Turbulence during a flight is completely normal and poses no risk, other than a severe instance that you have an extremely miniscule chance of encountering. The actual problem is within your own mind. Don't continue to allow your anxiety and irrational fear to limit your life, there are remedies.

Could you recommend any remedies please as I don't want this to control my life forever and want to get over it once and for all

Look around for what's available locally, meditation and mindfulness classes etc. They can help put you in control of your mind, instead of the opposite at present.