Fear of Flying? - Coolidge,AZ

Uggg I am petrified to fly. I have done it, but it sucks LOL I get some Xanex or Valium from my doctor and when I drank I downed shots of vodka ;)

I have tried distracting myself with books/crosswords/magazines but the anxiety wins and I cannot concentrate on those at all. I pretty much sit on the edge of my seat and try not to cry.

Seriously - don't underestimate the power of a shot of vodka in the airport.
I did shots so that I did not have to go pee while we were taking off.

Good luck - I hate my fear of flying.

I'm still afraid at 55-- it isn't a rational fear, but quite persistent. I can just about hold it together for a 2 hour flight. Anything longer than that I ask my doctor to prescribe xanax, which is very effective. I fly as little as possible. Sorry not to be so helpful, but at least know you are not alone.

Yes...I have a fear of flying. But, I finally had to come to grips with it and focus on the fact I don't want fear to keep me from enjoying life.

There are so many what if's that end with my impending doom. But, then I visualize all the fun and relaxation that awaits me..and my family when we get to our destination. Then I think of the thousands of planes that take off and land around the world daily..safely. Then I think of the very few fatal plane crashes that I hear about on the news daily...actually NEVER daily.

Sooo, I do have to have the logical conversation in my head regarding the illogical fear I have.

Baby steps to the terminal...baby steps to your seat. You can do it!! I don't think you will ever "cure" the fear. But the more you fly..and survive...then you get less fearful.

I am heading to Hawaii for two weeks with my family next month. I am nervous..but I am picturing myself in my swimsuit, laying on a white beach, surrounded by my family. That image overrides any fear I have of my impending, fiery doom. :)

Try visualization, watch a movie on the plane, tell your husband to brush up on some fun and interesting jokes and stories to tell you as you are heading to the airport and boarding the plane. I find it helps to keep my mind busy by talking about random things, current events, what Aunt Marge is up to...anything.

Good luck and best wishes!!

My husband's the one that's afraid of flying in our family. He holds my hand, gets sweaty palms, and his heart starts racing if there is any turbulence.

If it is that bad you could ask your doctor for a few Xanax pills to help with that anxiety. Otherwise, perhaps a drink or 2 of alcohol before you board would help you relax?

I was going to suggest Dramamine. Even the "less drowsy" formula knocks me out. But I like Melissa J's suggestion of a shot of vodka.

I'm only half joking. I really don't like flying. It's hard to get comfortable, and it's hard to move around. I don't particularly like tight spaces. But I don't have a fear of flying, so it would be completely unfair to you to pretend that I understand.

I would focus on things you can do that are very relaxing. If you think a book or music would help, great. If you have a tablet, maybe you could download a movie before you leave and watch that. But if you think any of those ideas would just distract you a little and not really do the trick, alcohol is not a back idea!

And don't worry about what the flight attendance are saying during take-off. They're explaining how seatbelts work and where the exists are. You can notice the exits on your way to your seat, and I'm sure you already know how a seatbelt works.

Distract yourself and focus on the great trip you're about to have.

It's hard to talk yourself out of it - fears are not always rational, so knowing the statistics doesn't help you talk yourself out of it. A lot of people have fears, and fear of flying is very common. While it's too late to do anything about this upcoming trip, it's not impossible to get past it. Airlines sometimes run programs to help people (consult a travel agent or AAA if you're a member - they may know), and therapists deal with this frequently. Whoopi Goldberg has long had a fear of flying and was quite public in dealing with it a couple of years ago when she absolutely had to fly - she owns a bus for cross country travel but I think she was going to England and needed to fly. So the fear can be conquered.

And don't listen to anyone who makes fun of you.

Everyone has their fears. Just acknowledge it, and move on. Don't dwell on it or tell yourself that you "shouldn't" be afraid. That just makes it seem like all the more big of a deal.

Ok, so you are nervous and a little afraid. But you know that statistically, you are safer than you were on the drive to the airport in the car. So, take a book you love and can get immersed in, and read. Take a coloring book picture and some colored pencils and draw something that is soothing. A beautiful scene, or an intricate tapestry. Whatever.
And take a deep breath, and exhale slowly... and then talk about something else.

What did you do when you were in labor with your child? Count backwards? Breathe? Relax different parts of your body very intentionally?
Do those things.

See a professional Therapist who deals with phobias.

I hate being all cooped up in an airplane for hours. Cannot.stand.it.
Just hate it to bits.
So I rather not fly. Not that I am afraid, but I just hate, being all cooped up in a plane and just sitting there and it is so boring.
For hours.
But sure, I have flown. Even a few times that was about a 24 hour flight including stops all the way to Europe. Just thinking about it and being cooped up and confined in a plane for hours is something I just can't stand.

Call you doctor and get some Xanax. Pop one as soon as you're seated and almost everyone is on board. That will give it time to kick in. Then distract yourself with a People Magazine.

Good luck.

You are me. Will fly if I have to. My husband and I are train buffs so we travel by Amtrak. West of Chicago scenery is awesome. Train goes where cars can't. Sometimes Ia really cheap airfare will pop up so we opt to fly. I do not enjoy it at all. By the time we land my nerves are shot lol. There are programs out there to help.

Flying is not my most favorite thing to do... HOWEVER, I refuse to allow the fear to keep me from living my life, travel, etc.

We do travel a lot for business and personal. My daughter's first flight was when she was around 4 months old!

For me, I hate takeoff. I had never had any issues with flying earlier in my life other than it not being my favorite things to do. HOWEVER, I was on a plane once when at takeoff and just as we got airborne...the engine blew and we had to turn quickly and land with fire trucks chasing us, etc. NOT FUN.

It was a very scary experience but I did see calmness with the staff on the plane. THAT helped me as I was coaching my daughter on exits.

From that point on, I watch the staff on the plane do their routine business. I HATE takeoff ever since that experience but I have some to have a sigh of relief as soon as I hear the little "ding".... "it is now safe to use your devices". When I hear that, I know we are up and on our way and my blood pressure goes down. I am not bad with landings. I've been in enough turbulence to know what that is like.

So my advice to you is to watch the staff. You see them going about the day to day routine with no worries. That helps me relax a bit until I hear the ding.

It is true that flying in a plane is WAY safer than a car and the accidents are not often. You probably have a higher chance of being struck by lightening.

Keep your chin up and go enjoy your adventure this week!!

Dear AZmom:
Do you know how special moms are?! Before your daughter was born, or conceived, she was in the "mind of God". You have been so "blessed" with your child, know that you have a job to do in caring for your daughter. I don't believe that any harm with come to you. Consider all your blessings and become part of His plan for you.
St. Joseph of Capistrano (Californian Missionary) is the patron saint of Catholics who fly.
I am sure that you made it and are having a wonderful time. Just keep counting your blessings for the way home.
Mom, YOU ARE DOING GREAT.....KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

I wont make fun. I haven't flown in over 10 years. And before that it was probably about 5 or 6.
I have flown about 4 times in my life.
I hate every minute of it.
I cry when the plane takes off, I cry when we land, I cry if there's turbulance. I white knuckle it the rest of the time. I don't cry loudly, but if someone were to look at me they would see a TERRIFIED woman, tears streaming down her face.
I don't think there is a cure. I have two friends that work at Boeing and have given me the run down on how safe everything is, I see TONS of planes every day and they are just fine in the sky, but I HATE flying.
Sorry I can't help you feel better about it! Just wanted you to know that you are not alone.
L.