any ideas on how to help cure fear of flying?

Answer 1

Hi Owen,
I was fine with flying up until about 2 years ago. I then suffered some sort of panic attack at an airport in Portugal and only just managed to board the plane. Since then, I was not able to even think about getting on a plane without feeling nervous and couldn't even watch the airline programmes on TV. I used to be worried that if I needed the toilet I wouldn't be able to get there in time. I even started to transfer my fear to other areas of my life such as car travel, & I love driving, so it was really starting to concern me.

Don't worry - there is a good ending to this so keep reading!!!

I went to the Doctor for advice, but he wasn't very good, and just wanted to prescribe me some sort of anti-depressants which I definitely wasn't going to start taking.

I was starting to get really fed up and I have always wanted to go to Hawaii, so this year, in February, I plucked up the courage (and the credit card!) to book a holiday there, and travel between 4 of the islands. This involved about 8 flights in all, so I knew it would have to be make or break but I wanted to beat this. I concentrated on the destination, and how much I knew I was going to enjoy it once I got there. As soon as I started to worry about the flying, instead of just trying to block the thought out and ignore it, which may have led to a build up of panic at the airport, I just transferred the feelings of excitement about the holiday to the flight as well. I trained myself to look forward to taking off, to the flight information you get on board(such as speed and time left to arriving) and I even started to look forward to the airplane meals! I found that when I got to the airport, I was looking forward to getting on the plane, and my fears had gone. As soon as I stepped on board, and the air hostesses smiled at me, I knew everything was going to be ok - everyone is on your side and nothing bad is going to happen. Because I knew I had been worried about needing the loo in a hurry, I booked aisle seats so that worry was no longer there and I could get up quickly & easily.

I just returned last week, and everything went fine. Just try to concentrate on the positive - there is no negative. Just think about whatever it is that is actually bothering you, and then think logically about how you can get around that, and it helps get your brain in the right frame of mind. If you give yourself plenty of time, then you can plan for everything, and have the time of your life! You can do anything if you really want to!
Hope this helps - let us know how you get on!

Regards
Sam

Answer 2

Believe it or not, the best way to overcome your fear of flying is to go your local "Fixed Base Operator" at a nearby airport, and go take a flight lesson.

Your first reaction will be "oh there is no way that I would ever do that". But believe it or not, if you learn the basics for piloting an airplane, you will overcome your fear.

I just finished a tour as a military flight instructor and I had a few students along the way that were very afraid to fly. They very quickly overcame their fear as soon as they started flying themselves. Much of the fear of flying that people have is the fact that most people simply do not understand what is happening. People form their theories as to what they think is happening, and I often get a kick out of some of the answers that people come up with on this forum, but the fact is, they still don't REALLY know what is going on. They form their theories, and they believe their theories, but their theories are often radically incorrect. If you go take a flight lesson or two you will have a much better understanding as to what is happening in the cockpit.

Another reason why people are afraid to fly is because there is an element of not having control. The fact is, you aren't the one flying. Some people, such as my father, are very uncomfortable in a car unless they are the one driving. There is an element of control that my father has to have in a car in order to feel comfortable. I can't hardly stand driving with him in the car because his discomfort makes me uncomfortable. Often times people don't like not being in control of a situation, whether it be in a car or an airplane.

Every single time I suggest that a person who is afraid of flying go take a flying lesson I get absolutely staunch resistance from that person. DO IT!!! I guarantee you, it will work.

Answer 3

This isn't meant to sound 'piss taking' but you are not afraid of flying, you are afraid of crashing! Now that I hope hasn;t made matters worse but the reason it grabs everyones fear factor is because when a plane accident occurs its big headlines and sadly there are a lot of casualties, but when you add up all the road accident victims in say a six month period they probably come to 10 times the number of air passenger victims and yet you dont bat an eyelid at getting in the car or bus etc. Just do it and when you get off at the other end, which you will, you will feel 10 feet tall.. .. go on book it now dont sit thinking about it & book a trip somewhere at short notice so you dont sit fretting as the date gets nearer!

Answer 4

For 59$, you can usually get an introductory flight in a small Cessna with an instructor for an hour. This can help quell some fears as you can actually see how an airplane works. In fact, you should be able to control it and fly it- with the assistance of the instructor, of course. Besides, once you can conquer those little planes, you can fly in anything! Perhaps if you get afraid of flying, you should learn to skydive so you can jump out of one in an emergency.

Aviation is one of the safest means of transportation ever created!

Answer 5

Hi owen, most airlines do a fear of flying course. this involves the pilots explaining how the aircraft works and flies so you get to understand that it really is super safe and enjoyable (take offs are great!) they then sit you on an aircraft and if your ok they fly around a little, trust me you will enjoy it. Friend of mine did one at manchester (uk) and he would s hit a brick if you mentioned the word plane! he flys all over now.

Answer 6

Well you do have many options
But this is what i would do when your picking up your tickets ask them for seat that are not near the window. They will surely let you sit in the middle of the plane. If that does work close the window of the plane. If that doesnt workd go to sleep. and wake up when you get there if that doesnt work listen to music. If that doesnt take a boat or train or rent a car .
I hope you have a greaT flight and if you listen to theswe option youll have ther best flight ever:)

Answer 7

I was hypnotised for severe arachnophobia and (much to my surprise) it really worked! The trick was that the hypnosis was accompanied by exposure - in my case, it happened at the invertebrate house at London Zoo. The guy who hypnotised me also did dentist phobias in a dental practice and fear of flying at one of the UK airports, where at the end you got to go on planes and in a flight simulator to see if you could overcome your fear. Worth a try if you can enter it with an open mind, I think!

Answer 8

therapy, there are subconcious reasons for irrational fear and fear of flying is a really bad one cuz we tend to fly a LOT.
you may need to see a phyciatrist (can't spell, lol!) and your friends and family really need to help you, emotional support. Think about how you'll be able to go to other countries.
Don't watch Lost... lmao!

Holidays...holidays

I hope you cure your fear, good luk hun =D

Answer 9

A couple of Vodka's, is a good answer ( as one of the other guys said), but to truly resolve it, you need to trust in one unavoidable thing. You are going to die, one day, and the place, and time, is already written. Do you think about being eaten by a shark, when you go to the beach? Do you think about being run over, when you go for a walk? Airline pilot's aren't paid a shedload of cash, for nothing, you know. Relax, enjoy the experience, and let God take care of your destiny.

Answer 10

Im scared of the dentist and we did compliance it involves baby steps ie go in the waiting room next visit sit in the chair and talk next visit open your mouth let the dentist look but not touch and so on it takes time but I just had a filling done with no external help (gas and air injections ect) there soon going to release me to a regular dentist that normal people go to.