Massive Fear of Flying!?

Question

Hi guys! I have a massive fear of flying - i get on a plane and I am a mess, think it got like this after 9/11 cause I loved flying before hand. I know people say its the fear of dying not the fear of flying but i cant get it into my head. I also know that you have a hell of a lot more chance of being killed by a donkey... but still dont like it. Give me snakes and spiders anyday! Dont get me wrong I do fly and did a 6 glight trip in america last year, but i loose weight, dont eat and panic days before i fly. Any one with the same fear or have ideas of how to get over it, minus the hypnotherapy. THANKS

Answer 1

Hello,

(ANS) First of all, you have my sincere sympthies about flying, I get fearful to before a flight too. The way I see it is that the fear of flying is an irrational reaction to the experience but why!.

Ask yourself why you are fearful? my conclusion was that its because I have to let go of total control in the flying situation. I'm no longer in control of what happens to me, & I know I'm not in control too!! Look the trueth is most of us like to be in control of ourselves & also we like to think we're in control of a situation we find ourselves in (weather its true or not).

When flying we literally have to trust 100% totally the pilot with our lives & also we have to take our feet off the earth. Both of these things make us feel extremely vulnerable to say the least, feel fearful, strange and weird. After all flying isnt a natural condition for most human beings I think you would agree.

**So the fear of flying isnt about death or dying, no! its about the "letting go" we have to under go when we fly!! Its the irrational reaction to that letting go where the BIG fear & anxieties come in, its the fear of fear almost in the letting go, we anticipate whats going to happen even before its happened to us. In some people the fear of the letting go is so acute, so powerful it completely stops them from flying at all.

**Face your fear, feel it anyway and fly anyway!!

Best Regards
IR

Answer 2

Hey there! I know exactly where your coming from. Before 9/11 I always loved flying. It beats being stuck in a car for a day or 2...or more. But, since that tragedy occured, I hated it. I haven't flown on a plane since then. I wish, I could help and tell you how to get over it, but since I haven't been on a plane in like about...10 years, I wouldn't be the best candidate for that. :] Do you think having someone you know go with you while your on the plane would make you feel better? I'm pretty sure it would help me.

Answer 3

Yes I understand. I was the same. I had a holiday booked in Jamaica 2 weeks after 9/11 and got so worked up I cancelled 4 hrs b4 i was being picked up. I have flown since and use Bach rescue remedy from health shop. Its really good. A few drops on the tongue b4 any stressful situation will help you through

Answer 4

knowing you have an irrational fear is the first step. ways to overcome it: try to find out which aspect of flying it is that now scares you and confront it.

Main Possibility: lack of control, previously you trusted the pilots, now you realise they could be replaced by people who dont have your safety in mind.
Solution: get a seat near cockpit when you do have to fly, then you can watch over the pilots to make sure they have control.
Also try flight simulators, this may help by dulling the fear of flying by repeated exposure to something similar.

is it only commercial flights you are scared of? Try booking a small private flight in a training plane (with plenty of notice and no cancellation fee) do you get nervous then? if not start taking flying lessons, this may help commercial flying by letting you think you could take over in an emergency.

Answer 5

You need to chill. I have a couple of psychological tips that will crack it for you. The first is this: think of a plane as just a car going down a bumbpy, gravel road. When you turbulance just think pothole. It takes the fear out of it. Planes are built to take turbulance. Now on take-off I want you to say to yourself this phrase: 'I got the need for speed!!'. Just say that over and over: you are willing the plane to accelerate and not fighting the experience. You will feel better and embrace the experience.

Answer 6

you can't be THAT scared if you had a "6 glight trip in america" so what is your problem.

Planes are not dangerous when they are up in the sky, but when they get near the ground thats when it gets dangerous. By attempting to shift the blame on to 9/11 you are admitting that the terrorists won. Try taking responsibility for YOUR OWN behaviour.



I bet your journeys were unnecessary too.

Answer 7

Although your fears are very valid, and it's a good question, why not search on some of the past answers before posting your own question? This question has been asked a million times already.

Answer 8

Why blame it on 11th Sept? Just because 3 (or 4 if you believe the conspiricy theories) planes were hi jacked out of MILLIONS of flights? Anyway, it's not flying that's a problem, it's landing. Every take-off is optional, every landing is mandatory

Answer 9

I take 10mg Diazepam (valium) half hour before boarding and am calm and unable to panic.Ask your gp for some but don't forget the return journey.Taking these occaisionally and ONLY for flights will not do you any harm.I could not fly without them.

Answer 10

You could just do something to keep your mind of the trip before you get onto the plane...like say a new computer game?....thsi would mosyt likely have you relaxed...good luck..