I THINK i am AFRAID of FLYING on an AIRPLANE ---help---?

Question

I am 15 and i am going to visit my uncle in Los Angeles.
The flight is about for 5 hours. I had a little panic attack 2-3 months ago because i was scared that something is going to happen to me. Anyway, since i am thinking right now that, if i go on an airplane, maybe i will feel scared and have some kind of panic attack. So, WHAT CAN I DO?? What positive things should i think??
Have something like this have happened to you before?
Like, u thought going on an airplane will be scary but when u got there, it wasn't bad.

Thank you soooo much for your help :)

Also, i think i am only scared about being high.

Answer 1

Just remember that plane wrecks are very rare and if they do happen, death is instantaneous and painless.

Answer 2

Don't sweat the small stuff. You are thinking to much about it. Flying is a blast. Ask for a window seat and you will get to see all kinds of things from a new perspective. Remember that you can order different meals with your ticket. I like to try the Veggie some times or you can order low carb etc and no extra cost. If you really are freaking out over the flight talk to your parents about it. a very mild sedative should help you with your fears or just some Dramamine which is a motion sickness pill. It is also a mild sedative and is over the counter. But... I think that once you get on the plane you will have a great time. You can watch movies or listen to tunes. you'll be fine. Have fun!!!

Answer 3

Like you I am VERY affraid of heights. One of the most humbling moments in my life was on the observation roof of the Carrew (probably spelled that wrong) Tower in Cincinnati. I'm 23 years old with my girlfriend nearly in the fetal position not wanting to leave the door to the exit making an obvious embarrassment of myself in front of 25 odd tourists. I remember when I was very young, I wouldn't go on a building more than 3 stories high... I guess I've made progress.

When I was 8 I took my first long commercial flight, a 9 hour haul. I was worried to that I'd be freaking out the whole flight. Guess what? I LOVED IT! I loved it so much, right then and there I decided I wanted to be a pilot. Today I'm a pilot with hundreds of hours logged. I have no problem getting in an airplane and climbing to 10,000 feet, but a 10th floor balcony is a whole other story.

I read once that 90% of pilots are affraid of heights other than what they experience in an airplane. Get this, every pilot I ask, and I ask everyone I know, is a baby when it comes to heights. I went to DC with a former Fed Ex pilot with thousands of hours and I could not for the life of me convince him to go into the Washington monument with me. Believe me when I say something about airplanes, it just doesn't seem like you are as high as you really are. Really to me it surpasses what my fears are and puts it into an almost absurd level of heights, that well it is almost funny. Really it is a rush knowing I'm cruising at 30,000 feet and being OK with that all the while knowing 30 feet it enough to make me sweat.

If you get panicy on the flight, read, deep breathe listen to music, close the shade and try and nap. All great ideas. Best thing I ever did as a kid was tell the flight attendant I was a little scared way back as a little kid. FA's I'm sure see thousands of shaky passengers in their careers. I'll never forget, this FA 16 years ago smiled, handed me a drink and said the sky was her office and she'd never have it any other way. That is when i knew it was OK. That someone would willingly spend their working lives in an airplane and not fear. Hopefully you end up feeling the same way.

I'm not going to sugar coat it. Flying would be extremely dangerous if it was handled like we handle our cars and driving. I know though what inspection the airplanes go through and what training the pilots and controllers recieve.If you wanted to apply the same regulations to driving as we do to flying every car would get torn down and inspected bolt by bolt every couple of years. Anything that could possibly fail before the next inspection would be replaced regardless of the expense before the car would be allowed back on the road. One wrongly installed part would cost your local mechanic his or her job. Every driver would spend hours practicing at a simulator where every drive was a nightmarish series of blowout after blowout. The entire industry trains so that a worst case senerio is routine even though worst case senerios are so rare.

Sit back, enjoy the flight and have fun with your family. Knowing what I know I'm more worried driving to the store for milk than I am flying.

Answer 4

I've been travelling on airplanes since I was six (I'm now 55), and I've never been scared. Concerned, yes; scared, no.

Just remember that more people die in automobile accidents each year than in plane crashes. The airlines have to be so *very* careful, and go to extraordinary lengths to make air travel safe.

If you decide to go, stop by your local health-food store and pick up a bottle of Rescue Remedy. It's an all-natural flower remedy by the Bach company. Four drops in a small cup of cool water, sipped slowly, will help you relax.

Bring along some books you like to read while you're in the air; check out the in-flight movies/tv shows; if you knit or crochet, bring that along. They will all help take your mind off things.

Have fun!!

Answer 5

Don't be afraid, just relax since it is 99.9% safe in the plane. There's research some years ago stating that traveling by pane is safer than driving a car. More importantly, those ground technicians will definitely NOT allow any defective plane to take off, this is internationally required for the safety of travelers. Don't worry too much, after a meal, you might drink a little beer or wine. It would be good for you to get less nervous and have a nap soundly. Good luck.

Answer 6

Like many other's have said, flying gets easier the more you do it! I fly to California all the time, plus, I fly to other states, all over the U.S ,monthly.

I always have an interesting book started and read much of the time. They always show a movie about a half an hour into the flight. It lasts for almost two hours and keeps your mind off of flying! If you have a portable CD player, take it! You can watch the movies of your choice.

Also, take some snacks and fun magazines in your backpack!

Remember, if you feel turbulence, it happens all the time and means nothing! I have flown through all kinds of storms in all kinds of weather. It's amazing what the planes and pilots can do! Not to worry!

Answer 7

It's not so bad. Just practice some breathing techniques. The airlines are very safe. Bring a good book, an MP3 player, or if you can, a portable DVD. I watched Big Lewbowski almost the whole way to Chicago. it was nice. No worries:)

Answer 8

Take some inflight activity with you. Do u like games, music that sort of stuff? Keep occupied.Just relax, think happy thoughts. Everything will be fine. Have a nap too, it shortens ur flight lol.

Answer 9

I used to fly to texas 2-3 times a year, every year.

Then I moved there.

Now Im moving back to Maine.

So after flying about, i don't know...
28-34 times, and having nothing happen
to me, I guess I've gained the right to
say, that the likelihood of ANYTHING
happening to you, is very slim.

So don't worry and just
try to think about having
fun when you get there.

Answer 10

u do have a reason to be scare but like plane tragedies are rare now with technology and think of the great fun u will have when the fight is over . Breath and stay cool

Answer 11

Its no big deal at all. Its actually up to 7 times safer than riding in a car. Seriously