Fear of flying?

Question

My entire family is going to be flying to a wedding in Hawaii in a few months. It's going to be really neat w/ a wedding on the beach and the entire family spending the weekend at a nice resort. I live in Georgia so that's a pretty good ways away. I am absolutely TERRIFIED of flying, just the thought of it makes my stomach hurt. I've been seeing a doctor about this but it really hasn't helped that much. I'm not afraid of heights I'm just scared to death of the thought of the plane crashing. I even keep having nightmares about it. Has anyone else been able to beat the fear of flying and if so how? I hate to be the only family member not there =(

Answer 1

I understand. But logically you are more likely to have an accident when you are driving down the road than on the air. If you must, here is some suggestion for you. Focus on good positive fun things instead of worst nightmare that is less likely to happen everyday. Second, there are few things you can do such as get drunk, or take sleeping pill as soon as you get on the plane. By the time you get to the destination, you would not know how you got there~!

Answer 2

Better than the logic of how you drive down the road and have a better chance of getting killed there, better than any other regular way of dying. Imagine this. If you have ever been to the Grand Canyon you know that they offer donkey rides down to the canyon floor. Would you ever ride the donkey down the grand canyon? More people die riding the donkeys down the grand canyon every year than do in small prop planes. Taking that into consideration you are going to be going in a DC10 or a 767, those planes are designed to travel across large tracts of ocean. The stastical probability of the plane going down at all is negligible. My dad has been a pilot of a personal plane for about 20 years. Never had a problem and likely never will. Another way to look at it is if you have ever riden rides at a local carnival, those get taken apart and put back together by people that you don't know, that barely could spell there name if they had to and certainly aren't educated. Every jetliner pilot has to have several thousand hours logged in flight time before they can even be a copilot of the plane. What does that mean for the head pilot? If he is flying the plane that means he has made several hundred 12 hour flights and he is just fine. There is no reason to worry you are building up for nothing. Take a vallium go to sleep and have someone help you off the plane.

Answer 3

I know it must be hard, everyone has some type of fear. I have a close friend that is the same exact way and she still hasn't been on a plane. She is getting married in a few weeks and will not even travel on a plane for her honeymoon. So, you aren't the only one. Try to remain calm. Like everyone else has said, you are more at risk in a car than a plane. Long flights can be boring. I have been on a few and I usually take a sleeping pill and sleep the whole time. Since you are very nervous about the flight, taking a sleep pill would be best.

Answer 4

I don't like flying either. I just get over it and deal with it, though. Seems like that's not an option for you.

The most dangerous times in flying are when the plane takes off and when the plane lands. Both of these last only a few seconds really. Once you're up there, you're pretty much safe. I'm sure you'll feel claustrophobic, though. Maybe you can take a Dramamine - it's for motion sickness but has a drowsy effect that may help you.

I don't know if doctors prescribe sedatives for phobias like yours but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Good luck and don't miss out on Hawaii. You'll regret it when you family comes back ALIVE. LOL.

Good luck.

Answer 5

I was once afraid of flying.

The trick is to be honest about it. Show up hours before the flight. Definitely fly with a relative (their being calm helps you be calm). If you have trouble admitting things, make a flash card with a short prepared statement: "Hi, this is my first flight and I am scared of flying. Please help me if you can." A stewardess who is sympthetic will know just how to put you in the right frame of mind.

Ultimately, remember, it's a matter of trust, and you have to give yourself over. You're in less danger than in a car on a 70 MPH freeway.

Keep only those things on board that will help you establish normalcy. A pillow that smells the way your body believes a pillow should smell, will help relax you. Have someone (even an old boyfriend/girlfriend will help) make you a mix CD of songs you don't know but will like, and then make one of the songs you find most comforting for yourself.

I don't recommend using drugs or medication. It can create problems and cause odd behavior. The best calms are sober ones.

Answer 6

Try going to your local airport and speak with general aviation pilots or even an instructor. Not only can they sit with you and explain how a plane works but they can help you get by the fear and you could even get some free flying in. Start with sitting in the plane. Then sit with the engine running and maybe get them to taxi you around. Then go to the end of the runway and take off and land without getting more than 10 feet off the runway.

Do all of this in small steps. In 5 or 6 weeks I bet you would want to get your own pilots license. It is amazing.

Answer 7

Here's what you do - you have to suck it up. I am the same way. But don't miss out the trip. You're family will all land safetly in Hawaii. I went to Ireland last year and yes I was nervous. My mom was really, really nervous, but her logic was - Now if my entire family is in that plane and if something happens, does it matter that I'll be the only one left???? Think about it, you'll be ok and you'll have fun!

Answer 8

I, too, have had a fear of flying in planes. The only thing that works for me is to get some Atavan, Xanax or Valium from my dr. I take it about an hour before take-off. I wish there was some other way, but that's the only thing that works for me!

Answer 9

I use to be. I just realized if it's my time it's my time so be it. It sounds a little simple but that's all I did. I still cringe a little when the plane takes off but I'm not white knuckled anymore. I went to Hawaii last year and you will have a beautiful time there.

Answer 10

In today's world, the unwillingness to fly places a tremendous limitation on one's activities. I know this is hard for you, but try to get over it. Keep in mind that, statistically, it's a far safer mode of transportation than driving. Bring a good book on the plane.