Fear of flying
Discussion
Bit of an odd one, this. I never used to be scared of flying; turbulence, odd smells, smoke (on an Aeroflot domestic aircraft, as well!), nothing used to bother me. Over the past 2 years, though, I have become more and more anxious about flying, which is awkward since I enjoy long-haul holidays and also have to fly short-haul a fair bit with work. I know all the facts, I know I take a greater risk driving to the airport than I do when I get on a plane. I know that the fear is irrational.
But.
Whatever I tell myself I seem chronically unable to relax into a flight. I flew back from a break in New York a few days back, on an Airbus 340, and for the entire 6.5 hours' flight I was acutely conscious of the horrible fate of that Air France A330 and all the people on board. Every slight ripple of turbulence caused an adrenaline rush of "blind corner near-miss" proportions. And coming in to land at Heathrow, through cloud, I was actively having to control the impulse to cry.
What on earth can I do to fix this? Is there anything I can do? Should I just accept that I can only fly with the help of large amounts of alcohol and Valium?
But.
Whatever I tell myself I seem chronically unable to relax into a flight. I flew back from a break in New York a few days back, on an Airbus 340, and for the entire 6.5 hours' flight I was acutely conscious of the horrible fate of that Air France A330 and all the people on board. Every slight ripple of turbulence caused an adrenaline rush of "blind corner near-miss" proportions. And coming in to land at Heathrow, through cloud, I was actively having to control the impulse to cry.
What on earth can I do to fix this? Is there anything I can do? Should I just accept that I can only fly with the help of large amounts of alcohol and Valium?
i aint getting on no plane fool!
I have a similar problem but not quite as acute. I can never relax and always wondering what every little noise, bump and jolt is. I also know the stats but still i cant rationalalise my fear. My mate gets something prescribed from the doc but i have until now managed to resist this. I usually down half a bottle of "rescue remedy" avaialable from chemists over counter. Not sure whether it actually has any active ingredients in but seem to work for me even if it just the placebo effect.
I have a similar problem but not quite as acute. I can never relax and always wondering what every little noise, bump and jolt is. I also know the stats but still i cant rationalalise my fear. My mate gets something prescribed from the doc but i have until now managed to resist this. I usually down half a bottle of "rescue remedy" avaialable from chemists over counter. Not sure whether it actually has any active ingredients in but seem to work for me even if it just the placebo effect.
camgear said:
Can you get meds to knock you out during a flight?
You'd have to trick me by concealing them in a glass of milk, fool. 
As it happens I really want to avoid the medication route. For the entirely irrational reason that if I do find myself in an emergency, being monged on Valium is probably not what I need in order to enhance my survival chances!
I shall look into EFT, shadowninja. Sounds interesting...
I only get to fly about twice a year and for most of them I'm s
tting my pants. Take off is by far the worst, I can actually visualise the impending fireball 
Once I'm up in the air and levelled off I'm fine, until I hear the flaps adjusting for the landing, then I'm cacking it again until we've stopped.
It all started a few years ago, nothing to do with 9/11 but around that time nonetheless. I made the silly mistake of buying a Clarkson book in the airport before a flight. The book was about his greatest ever machines, and had a whole chapter on Concorde, which invariably told of the last flight of said super machine; that being the Air France one that burst a tyre which went through the fuel tank. It managed to take off and stayed in the air (in flames) for 2 1/2 minutes before plummeting.
Flying, for me, has never had the appeal it used to have...
Bloody Clarkson !
tting my pants. Take off is by far the worst, I can actually visualise the impending fireball Once I'm up in the air and levelled off I'm fine, until I hear the flaps adjusting for the landing, then I'm cacking it again until we've stopped.It all started a few years ago, nothing to do with 9/11 but around that time nonetheless. I made the silly mistake of buying a Clarkson book in the airport before a flight. The book was about his greatest ever machines, and had a whole chapter on Concorde, which invariably told of the last flight of said super machine; that being the Air France one that burst a tyre which went through the fuel tank. It managed to take off and stayed in the air (in flames) for 2 1/2 minutes before plummeting.
Flying, for me, has never had the appeal it used to have...
Bloody Clarkson !
I also have a fear of flying. I haven't flown in about 2 years. I just couldn't stand sitting there and feeling powerless to do anything, at least in a car if something goes wrong your not guaranteed to die, whereas in a plane if something goes wrong your hundreds of miles up in the air. That's how I see it anyway.
However I hope you get sorted as realisticilly it's one of the safest forms of travel.
However I hope you get sorted as realisticilly it's one of the safest forms of travel.
Hooray, I am not alone! (I knew I wasn't anyway)
I get quite nervous taking off and landing, absolutely hate it when the plane appears to slow down to descend to land, half an hour of dropping down in height not being able to see where you are going to land is nerve racking.
Cannot concentrate, very sweaty palms, worried about every movement, and usually tense through the whole flight, how people sleep on planes is a way beyond me!
We did an 11 hour flight last year in a 747, didn't even get any sleep, everyone else seemed to be snoring
Never thought of taking anything, but it may make going on holiday easier and more relaxing
I get quite nervous taking off and landing, absolutely hate it when the plane appears to slow down to descend to land, half an hour of dropping down in height not being able to see where you are going to land is nerve racking.
Cannot concentrate, very sweaty palms, worried about every movement, and usually tense through the whole flight, how people sleep on planes is a way beyond me!
We did an 11 hour flight last year in a 747, didn't even get any sleep, everyone else seemed to be snoring
Never thought of taking anything, but it may make going on holiday easier and more relaxing
Edited by missdiane on Wednesday 10th June 21:47
What is it about getting older and becoming scared of this sort of thing? When I was a child, I used to love flying - would be craning my neck to get a look out the window etc.
Now, I am a mess on flights. Like LMC above, my mind plays over the worst possible scenarios, particularly on take-off. The Madrid disaster happened when I was in Italy, and my missus had to forceably get me on the plane on the way home!
It helps a little having a BIL who is a pilot as they can often talk to you about the limits of a plane, how it is mostly driven by computers, very safe blah blah.
Not looking forward to honeymoon flight!
Now, I am a mess on flights. Like LMC above, my mind plays over the worst possible scenarios, particularly on take-off. The Madrid disaster happened when I was in Italy, and my missus had to forceably get me on the plane on the way home!
It helps a little having a BIL who is a pilot as they can often talk to you about the limits of a plane, how it is mostly driven by computers, very safe blah blah.
Not looking forward to honeymoon flight!
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