i fear flying...?

Question

hi, i want some help overcoming the fear of flying...i get nervous while i'm in the plane or even just thinking about flying gets me nervous...can anyone help please, and please dont tell me "just stay calm" it never works....thanks for the any help...

Answer 1

Fear of flying is perfectly ok. Flying is for us an unnatural act. It stands to reason that it might create some anxiety. But the real issue is control. You can control your car, you cannot control what the airplane does. You may feel trapped and helpless, at the mercy of a large complex machine and a handful of skilled crew. You have to start by acknowledging the fear, accept the anxiety, and also forgive yourself for feeling nervous. Then make a promise to yourself to get through it and reward yourself after you arrive.

Advice about distracting yourself is sound. Have something to keep your hands busy, sit in an aisle seat, and have something to sip on. You may also find striking up a conversation with someone nearby helpful. No one wants to talk about flying when you're on the plane, right? It will also relieve the lonliness as usually you are fixated on yourself and your fear alone. Human contact can be valuable.

When you start to feel anxious, do what I used to do. This may sound a little silly but bear with me. Before I got on the plane I would always look at it through the window at the gate for several minutes. I would give it a name and think of it not as a complex machine that might fail, but as a freind that would never let me down. I would think of it as the toughest,meanest, smartest freind I had. Someone who would always protect me and never let me down. Somehow that always worked. Seated inside I would feel protected, not vulnerable. And when I started to feel a little anxious I would think outloud "how's it going, Phil?" Imagining the plane would answer back "going great, don't worry about me.". It was a little trick I played with myself but it always worked. And eventually I found myself not needing to do that anymore. Might be something you want to try.

Answer 2

I also have a fear of heights and flying used to be terrifying for me, but you can not let some fear stop you from enjoying life. I now fly without any fear whatsoever and you can also if you just face your fear. The more you fly the less scary it will become, so I say just go without even thinking about it. The more you think about it the less willing you will be to go. Once you face this fear you will be able to enjoy life and have fun with your husband. Also, you do not want to take any pills, since that will only make your perception on flying all the worse. Good luck to you and I hope you have fun in Florida!

Answer 3

I have a fear of flying as well. It is bad to the point that I will start losing sleep over it days, even more than a week before the flight. This fear developed recently over the past 4 years or so, I was fine with flying before that.

There are many many people that have this problem as well and plenty of places for support as well. There are web pages and books all over the place that can give you methods of coping with your fears and may answer some questions that settle issues that are frightening you. However, if these do not work, you can always consult a physician who can prescribe anti-anxiety medication that you can take before the flight (but I would not recommend this be your first choice).

the source link has a list of websites and online communities dedicated to coping with fear of flying.

Answer 4

I was a paratrooper for three years in the 82nd Airborne Division and I am still not comfortable with flying.

I actually jumped out of the first airplane I ever flew in. This was about fifty seven years ago and flying was not as common then as it is now. I had grown up in a poor family. So, I had never flown in a commercial plane. In the final week of jump school, one has to make five jumps and the first of those was from the first plane in which I had ever flown.

The foregoing probably does not help you with your fears but there is a bit of a point to it. To conquer any fear one must confront that fear. if flying is important to you, what you need to do is fly in spite of your fear. That will not completely erase the fear because, as I indicated, I am still a nervous flier. What it will do is make it possible for you to deal with the fear. The more you fly, the more you will be able to cope.

Answer 5

There are many things you can do.

Distract yourself--Read a book, listen to an ipod, bring alond a DVD player and watch a funny movie. ect ect.

If you are old enough, having a drink or two before you fly can really settle your nerves.

If all that fails, talk to a doctor and get a presription of something that will calm you...

Answer 6

You can always take something to make you fall asleep for the flight.... especially if it's a longer flight.

Just remember.... flying is safer than driving or most other types of transportation.

Answer 7

well just think of the fact that there are thousands of airlines, with thousands of flights a day. every day a new airline is born, or a new route, or a new plain. people that flights the airplanes (Pilots) do it every day, several times a day, cabin crew comes to work every day, so, why would anithing happen the exact day YOU flight. it;s kindda too much HUH?
think of turbulence as when you take the bus and the road is not in it;s best conditions and you jump for a bit.
next time, enjoy your flight and if it helps you may take a muscle relaxer to chill a bit during your flight or to help you sleep a litle and try not to think about it so much ok?.

Answer 8

ok well when you go on the plain just think of something else. get music! that works! i am soooo scared of flying. i had to go to canada once to visit my dad. but whenever i go i get music and listen to it and just day dream. take a few sleeping pills. make your self go to sleep. thats what i did. it worked. before i knew it i was there. music does get your mind of alot of things. and daydreaming does to. GOOD LUCK!

Answer 9

Flying is safe - it's those unscheduled stops that will kill you.

Answer 10

so do not fly, take a train, car, bus, boat, transporter, etc.,