Anyone Scared of Flying?!

[JohnK]

Yeah mate, I was just trying to get across that different strength effect people differently.If you have a petite 45kg lady, two tablets (10mg) would probably make her unconscious.

Of course you are right. I have known people that are knocked out with half a valium, 2.5mg. I am not a doctor but I was just trying to get across that it is a lot easier for a man to take two 5mg valium tablets, due to fear of flying or panic attacks, than to drink 6-10 scotches before a flight and continue to drink alcohol during the flight. That is unless you want to drink that much alcohol.

 

[Commuter]

Yeah mate, I was just trying to get across that different strength effect people differently. If you have a petite 45kg lady, two tablets (10mg) would probably make her unconscious. OTOH, I have given 20mg (4 tablets) per hour to a large 100kg man who was in alcohol withdrawal (up to 120mg).
Hope it all goes well for you
Steve

Also do you find that there are some people who are more benzodiazepine-resistant than others. I'm one of those people - even the first time I was given sleeping pills, I remained just as awake, so it definitely wasn't an 'acquired' tolerance (so to speak) either.

I don't drink, don't do drugs, and I'm of small build. It's always been a bit of a mystery to me why it takes a fairly silly amount to work on me.

Having said that, I don't really need them on aeroplanes. The noise and motion tend to work better than sleeping pills...

 

[newflyer]

Hi all,

Good topic and interesting responses!

I first started poking around AFF (in Oct 2005) as I'd just taken a new job that required a fair amount of air travel. Not bad...unless you were like me and scared sh-tless of flying. Until taking the job, I hadn't flown for some 8 years - instead, I would do things like drive from Cbr to Mel for a meeting (getting up at 2am) and avoiding other situations (like interstate weddings, holidays, etc.) altogether.

Since that time, I have become a Gold FF, and now do about 3-4 domestic flights a month (with a few long-hauls on the holidays). I won't kid you that I am still pretty anxious in the period leading up to the flight (esp. long haul) and during take-offs and turbulence, but on the whole, I'm a lot better than I used to be.

In response to Alanslegals initial question, my tips for making flights a littler easier and reducing anxiety:
- don't be reluctant to let the cabin crew know that you're uneasy. They're usually pretty sympathetic, and will be happy to explain anything that's giving you the heebie-jeebies;
- try and get a seat near the middle of the plane: less claustrophobic, and a little more stable during turbulence;
- travel early in the morning: this is a big one for me as there's usually much less turbulence while the air is cool (I'll almost never fly in/out of tropical regions in afternoon/early evening if possible);
- join the Qantas Club (or equivalent lounge), not so much for the drinks (which you probably should avoid) but in order to relax and escape the general waiting areas, which can raise your stress levels even higher; and
- keep getting back on the horse: flying becomes so routine it's like a bus ride! I keep all my boarding passes (easily over 150 now), and look through them from time to time just to reassure me that flying really is pretty safe!

In regard to a few of the points here (esp. about aircraft type) - I used to read into the type of plane (737-400 vs 737-800) but don't bother now. As my old man says, if the older 737s are still flying, what does that say about their safety except they are awesomely reliable! Where possible, I'll try to avoid the Dash-8s, but not due to safety - I just like the bigger jets better. Incidentally, a mate of mine who is REALLY scared of flying won't go near 737s or bigger, and sticks with the Dash-8s, etc. - reckons they'd be easier to land in an emergency! I admit, tho, that I'm a bit of a Rain Man - I'll rarely, if ever, travel on anything but Qantas.

DON'T get stuck into huge amounts of booze beforehand or during - it'll make you feel worse, more paranoid and you'll get little or no respect from your fellow PAX.

If anxiety and panic is an issue (which, as I said, it still is for me), talk to your GP. I sometimes take 0.5-1mg of Xanax but will avoid this if I'm picking up a hire car or presenting later in the day (which is most of the time).

If you can, track down a copy of 'The Flying Book'. I bought this at the bookshop at Melb QC (they have it at the Sydney one, too) - it explains (really simply) the flight process (including all the noises and other sensations you experience during flight), and is a terrific read for people who are scared of flying. I still often read it before I've got to fly!

Good luck, and PM me if you'd like to discuss further!

Newflyer

 

[GMT]

I have read this thread with interest. No, I am not scared of flying, but I don't like being near the exits. I have no rationale for feeling this, but I don't like it at all.

Like others have stated, I do have a fear of edges and the falling bit. I will be in Ireland in September and I'm not sure whether I'll be able to cross the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.

 

[Mal]

Like others have stated, I do have a fear of edges and the falling bit. I will be in Ireland in September and I'm not sure whether I'll be able to cross the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.

Just looking at it makes the inner fears in me come to the surface re falling. Good luck crossing it Next time I'm in Ireland, I'll visit and see how I go on it. Maybe I'll be one of the ones 'rescued' from the other side of the bridge!

 

[kate07]

Re the issue of Cabin Staff being sympathetic to people having problems flying. Well our flight was a Qantas flight and the cabin staff I approached were very unsympathetic. They just said I'll feel better later which I didnt.

I still believe Singapore Airlines staff are much better.

 

[NM]

This video may change your view of fears:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tzga6qAaBA

 

[serfty]

Re the issue of Cabin Staff being sympathetic to people having problems flying. Well our flight was a Qantas flight and the cabin staff I approached were very unsympathetic. They just said I'll feel better later which I didnt. ...

mrs serfty is slowly getting over her fear of flying, but in the early day NOTHING would make her rush to board or even board early. Back then I found it very heard to understand, but when you see your beloved start crying when the aircrft hits some bumps or have your write crushed whenever landing you begin to understand. :-|

I found it was always worth it to make a point of mentioning her fear to the CSM/Purser whenever entering the aircraft. I found Qantas FA's in this respect nothing short of outstanding - quite the opposite to kate07's experience.

 

[Alanslegal]

Just reviving/bumping up my old thread when I saw this article in The Australian......

Jet seat position a life-saver | The Australian

However, my last 12 months and around 40,000miles later, I still haven't fully overcome my nervousness of flying.

Guess it's something that I may not get over but hey it won't stop me from flying

I still dislike:-
1) any form of turbunlence!
2) and those fluffy clouds on approach just scares me!

With a DCIR22 already ticketed to start in Sept08, then a DONE4 'in the works' to commence at the end of the DCIR22 I guess I'll be up and up in the skies in the future to come......

 

[pauly7]

I beleive youtube has a whole section of clips of WLG landings.....shock: )

Oh yea, done a few of these!
YouTube - Wellington Airport, New Zealand

 

[Miekk]

heh you must have some some painful issues if you're afraid of flying and you're posting in a frequent flyer forum.

 

[Evan]

I like the pilot who put the 146 down nose wheel first
I have been in a Caribu doing that but never a commercial plane ! (That i have been aware of anyway)
E

 

[trooper]

After my most recent trip - 19 flights on 8 airlines - I have come to the conclusion that the fear of flying is reduced by being in a premium cabin... and the better that premium cabin is, the less fear...:mrgreen:

Six surprisingly pleasant flights in "F" (domestic) on US... Mild apprehension

One long haul in C on FJ.... Mild apprehension

One regional C flight on CX... Quite relaxed

One regional C flight on OZ..... Very relaxed

3 NZ flights in the old 767 C seats (I like those! Go figure!).... Very relaxed

One each long haul in NZ's flat bed and SQ's new C.... What? - we've taken off??? I didn't notice...:mrgreen::mrgreen:

 

[rhjames]

Years ago I figured I was used to flying when I slept through a landing and take off somewhere in Europe, and that was economy. These days I'll sometimes get on a plane, fall asleep, and miss the take off. I'm probably never so relaxed as when I'm on a plane. No-one can reach me - no phone or blackberry. If there's a disaster, I can't be called back to work. Bliss.

 

[JohnK]

heh you must have some some painful issues if you're afraid of flying and you're posting in a frequent flyer forum.

I consider myself a frequent flyer yet still get nervous and suffer from anxiety before/during a flight. Not painful, not serious, just claustrophobia. Still manage to enjoy most flights but next time may just stick to direct routings.

 

[HardieBoys]

'The Flying Book' by David Blatner is an excellent book for people with a fear of flying. It goes through the usual mechanics of flying (the Venturi effect) and more. It's very readable, not overly technical, and very useful. Highly recommend it.

 

[Alanslegal]

'The Flying Book' by David Blatner is an excellent book for people with a fear of flying. It goes through the usual mechanics of flying (the Venturi effect) and more. It's very readable, not overly technical, and very useful. Highly recommend it.

Thanks! I'm going to find this book and read it, and re-read it if I need to

I'm not exactly chicken such that I never fly, its just that I get nervous when it gets bumpy or fly through clouds esp on approach. (hope the book works!)