I have a really bad fear of airplanes and flying has anyone got any ideas of how i could get over this fear?

Question

I have a really bad fear of airplanes and flying, a plane has just got to fly overhead and i run inside panicking, I really would like to get over this fear because i would like to go on holiday with my best friend soon. Does anyone have any suggestions on how i could try getting over this fear.
Any help would be appreciated

Answer 1

Yes, your fear of flying is real and can be acute. We had a good friend who lived in Houston, and because of her fear, drove round trip 6 times over the years to San Francisco to see relatives. NOT FUN! Pay a visit to your physician, explain how critical your fear is, and let him know you don't want anything that will totally Zonk you out, but if he understands phobias, he will prescribe medication for you which will take the edge off of your fear, allow you to relax, and probably allow you some needed sleep en-route.
It worked wonders for our friend, and she is now a confirmed flight passenger! PS- I liked the answer, "take a boat," but whoever wrote this never tried to get from Houston to San Francisco by one.l Good luck....it will work for you too!

Answer 2

Read about Aviation Phisiology so that you can get a better understanding about what happens inside an airplane while you are flying and why none of these things will be harmful or do any bad to you. If possible, go to a local airport and find a flight instructor. Take a couple of flight lessons and ask the flight instructor to teach you some basic maneuvers like turns, climbs and descends. The strange feelings you have while flying are normal basically because your body loses sight of its natural references, such as roads, buildings, cars, mountains or even the horizon. This lossing references causes anxiety because you do not continue connected with the ground. Try also to understand it is just temporary and will not last forever, and also keep in your mind flying is almost the safest way to go from point A to B

Answer 3

One of the reasons you might not like the idea of flying is that you are not in control and do not have the skills to take control if necessary. There are courses available that teach you the basics of how to land an aircraft (nothing more) which a lot of people find reassuring. Ask your local flying club if they do one, it really does help a lot of people!

But the fear of aircraft going overhead I assume is due to the noise? Inside an airliner it is a lot quieter! The only noisy or scary bits are take off and landing (maybe 20 mins in total). Stewards and Stewardesses are very very used to this and can help to reassure you. Ask the airline if you can either join a course that they do for nervous fliers or at least as when you get there if you can board early, talk to the pilots and cabin crew about what's going to happen. This way you can take your time and can know what's expected to happen and get settled and relaxed.

A LITTLE drink might help but personally I don't recommend it. Your friend will be supportive no doubt regardless of what they say now!

Answer 4

Your fear is of the unknown. Flying is great, the best feeling ever when the plane is taking off. And once you are in the air, you can't feel a thing. Its just like sitting in your chair at home, honest! Don't let this fear hold you back. Relax and enjoy flying. Planes are very strong structures and safer than travelling in the car. The planes get checked over after every flight before take off, and if there is something wrong, it will get fixed first. You have nothing to worry about, trust me.

Answer 5

There are a lot of us out there!

I flew for 10 years, (mid 80's to mid 90's), then gave up!

I drove the car from the midlands to the Algarve. It took 3 weeks in total including the two week break, and cost about £150 more,but was worth every penny!

No fear and a true adventure, mixing with the people of France, Spain and Portugal on the way. Many stories to tell, a real hands-on way to get on holiday!

I would recommend it to anyone....forget the flying....it's too fast and scary!

Answer 6

In the paper there was a report about a girl who was scared of heights so she booked a flight on a light aircraft.It crashed,she died.
Another story last week was about a 9 year old who on his 1st ever flight said that it would crash his father assured him that flying was the safest form of transport.It crashed somersaulted 3 times and all survived and the lad,well he was photographed laughing pointing at the plane saying"I told you so".He is now on Holiday with his dad in Spain.
The point being stop worrying it might never happen.

Answer 7

I was petrified of flying until my best friend took me to Disneyland Paris, I was crapping myself but my mate was an absolute diamond, she held my hand all the way, i know how u feel, but now I love it, forget the plane just think of whats at the end, and u and your friend will have a brilliant time, if she is a true friend she will give you so much support! Mine did, and coming back i didnt even think about the flight back, its not that bad at all! Good luck!

Answer 8

Are you old enough to remember the A Team? B A was terrified of flying so they always gave him adrugged glass of milk to knock him out. He fell for it every time.

Seriously, try a flight simulator game on your PC. They are very realistic and teaches you about how an aircraft stays in the air. It's probably the lack of understanding of aerodynamics that makes you nervous about flying. I have flown to Australia, all acroos Europe and so on. I am still here.

It's much safer to fly than to actually drive to the airport. Get on-board, strap in and enjoy it.

Answer 9

Your fear is rational, bow to it. i answered a girls question, nervous about doing a parachute jump, for charity, with positive things...a few days later, and hopefully not her, i saw on the local news, a girl doing exactly the same thing...shoot didnt open, and in a comer, severely mashed up. I dont "know" it wasnt the girl, But i suspect, and hope its not, but i said not to worry !...Worry girl, god did not give us wings. Cars break down, planes?
My aunty had a fear of flying, so she went abroad by boat...but it sank!....a plane hit it! ok, i made that up, but it shows millions of people fly safely, and some, have died in ferry's. some, in motorway crashes. Maybee you should fill youe head with disaster movies, until you think, fu*ck, there is a real real risk, but if i dont do it, ill miss out? Its Hard to give, a realistic answer, the one i gave the "jumper" was voted best, and put me off, being overly positive, when i saw the news article. Its a real world, but it is unlikely you'll come to harm.

Answer 10

My first flight was 2 years ago, I went to England by myself (from Italy). In a way I thought it was good so that if I was very scared no one I knew would see me panicking :-) I just got on the plain and thought to myself "Mummy says it's like a ride at the fun fair"... and it is!! It's fun if you think of it like that. Plus you see all sorts of people: the guy next to me was really comical... When the plain landed his hand luggage (that he cleverly left open) went flying everywhere and he was literally under the seat in front looking for his pen, blocking the other people from getting off with his bum in the walkway! He was even loosing his house keys! I was pissing myself laughing, and so was he, still bum up! We got the coach to Victoria Station together, and all the way we were laughing our heads off, even other people were laughing just 'couse we were! What fun!
Sorry, I missed the point... :-) Just take it easy, and think it will be fun, and you'll see it will!