Fear of Flying!!

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sonja said:
Thanks everyone. It feels better to know other people out there have been afraid too…. I swear when your one the plane you feel as though you are the only one feeling scared!!! At least I feel like that anyway..
I have heard about taking pills to make the fear go away a little, I guess I might look into it, although its hard to imagine it would work…. :)
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Hi Sonja

Since you're located in PER, you might have seen the story in one of the local rags (I don't use the term "newspaper") about a lady who, similar to you had a fear of flying. She did a few spins in a 737 simulator that some enterprising gent has set up somewhere in Northbridge. She claimed it got rid of her fear completely.

Not sure of cost or exact location but it may be worth a try. Good luck.

PS My late M.I.L. had a real fear and this was overcome by her husband booking a flight unbeknown to her and effectively forcing it on her. Easier when it's MEL-SYD, harder from PER.
 
JohnK said:
About 15 years ago I started having panic attacks without real explanation so I was given Valium to relax whenever I had a panic attack or felt like I was about to have a panic attack. I am also claustrophobic. Aircraft or flying never bothered me before and pretty much nothing bothered me before this life changing episode.

I remember getting on a flight SYD-MEL a few months after the panic attacks started and I was in the last row of the aircraft. Waiting for take off my mind started racing and I started hyperventilating just before take-off. I took a Valium but had to talk myself through the panic attack which lasted about 15 minutes when we were close to the top of ascent. Anyway had a return trip to Greece a few months later and that was the last flights I took until 2003 when I started flying for work.

My fear of panic attacks, flying, claustrophobia stopped me from pursuing a passion I loved. Since 2003 I have not looked back and for the next 5 years I was taking 1-2 valiums before each flight. No problems once I am in the cabin as I am relaxed although I notice a lack of fresh air in the aircraft cabin.

Around 12-18 months ago I was chatting to my GP about taking Valium before each flight and he recommended that I try 1mg Xanax before each flight. The reasoning behind the recommendation is that Xanax is quicker acting than Valium and he is right. I fly almost every week SYD-BNE for work and I take 1mg of Xanax before each flight, sometimes if I have been stressed out and still feel like hyperventilating I will take 2mg of Xanax.

And for those people who do not quite understand various sorts of phobias will never understand them. The mind starts racing ahead on it's own. Uncontrollable. And personally I do not believe in hypnosis or courses. If curing panic attacks and phobias was that easy there would be no need to take drugs....
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Hi JohnK,

Are you still taking Valium? I am also claustrophobic but I don't take any medicine. What I usually do is pray and take a deep deep deep breath... I let go and let God. At first, it's really hard to do it.

@Sonja, I understand you. Time will come you will get through it. Take it slowly. Bring your favorite book, or listen to your favorite music during the trip. I can see that you are brave, eventually you can surmount it!
 
Is it fear of flying or is it fear of crashing?
Some people are scared of flying, whereas some are scared of crashing, and others are scared of getting injured/dying. Maybe have a think about this as a starting point to work though things in your mind.

I used to be a rather fearful flyer, to the extent of postponing flights etc.

Nowadays I do about 100 sectors a year, and I'm mostly asleep before I even take off (that is, without drug but I'm in a permanent state of sleep deprivation so I can fall asleep pretty easily). I don't particularly want to crash or die, but I take the view that if that happens, well, so be it - nothing I can do about it since I'm not the driver.

You can get over almost any kind of anxiety - I speak as someone who got over the fear of flying and a complex PTSD.
 
There really is absolutely nothing to be afraid of. There is a reason that when a terrible tragedy such as the Air France one occurs, we hear so much about it. Because they are so very rare, and only happen in very unique circumstances. Remember, in the extremely unlikely event that some scenario does arise, pilots are well trained to deal with them. This was evidenced by the heroic actions of Cap'n Sully - the pilot who successfully ditched a US Airways jet into the Hudson River, saving the lives of everyone on board. Again, this situation occured in some very unique circumstances.

Personally, I prefer flying to being on the ground. I'm more paranoid of people rather than machines - I find comfort in knowing that everyone on board has been carefully screened for weapons or other instruments that could cause me or my fellow passengers harm. It's for that reason that I avoid public transport (busses, trains, ferries) wherever possible - but I feel 100% safe on planes.

Turbulence is a normal part of flying - it's nothing to be scared of. Maybe something as simple as one of those "stress ball" things to squeeze during moments of turbulence could help?
 
I borrowed the Qantas Fearless Flyers' book a few years ago, and found it a very helpful read. Really addressed some of my fears - Although I'm FAR from Fearless! :)

I used to get quite anxious for days leading upto a flight - meaning I would waste part of my holiday worrying about the return trip. I'm much more positive now - and have done quite a few interstate and international trips for work over the past few years.. Although, as soon as the seatbelt light comes on for turbulence, I do freak out a bit..
At the end of the day, turbulence is uncomfortable, but I think it's wrong to link turbulence with the chance of an accident...

I've just booked a flight to London next week.. Getting a bit anxious about it.... Oh Oh! :)
 
mysavings789 said:
Are you still taking Valium? I am also claustrophobic but I don't take any medicine. What I usually do is pray and take a deep deep deep breath... I let go and let God. At first, it's really hard to do it.
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Not as often as before. I now take 1mg of Xanax before each flight and it does the trick for most flights....
 
JohnK said:
And personally I do not believe in hypnosis or courses. If curing panic attacks and phobias was that easy there would be no need to take drugs....
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JohnK,

It is a difficult entering a situation where you are not in control, which is what the majority of these "panic attacks and phobias" are caused by.

From personal experience I have seen that they can be treated 'in most cases' by hypnosis or courses and then there is no need to take drugs.

I know I would rather take a course to expand my comfort zone than become dependent upon a drug :!:
 
straitman said:
It is a difficult entering a situation where you are not in control, which is what the majority of these "panic attacks and phobias" are caused by.
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There comes a point in time where one accepts the situation they are faced. The panic/anxiety attacks get easier with time especially being able to detect the symptoms prior to the panic/anxiety attack.

I will leave hypnosis and alternative medicines to those who will benefit most from it....
 
JohnK said:
Not as often as before. I now take 1mg of Xanax before each flight and it does the trick for most flights....
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Congratulations John! slowly you may get through it.

@Wijoma, I am more afraid to your avatar:shock:;)!
 
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sonja said:
Hi everyone!!
...i really want to fly to America this year for my birthday but at this stage i too afraid to book the ticket.. especially now after the air france tragedy...
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There's not too much more I can add that others haven't already said, I do feel for you but as the question has been asked, I will reiterate - are you scared of flying or are you scared of crashing?

Statistics say that you have more chance of being run down by a Sydney bus in Perth than being killed in an airline disaster - but here's a sad note - I know of a whole family killed in an air disaster but know no one ever run down by a Sydney bus in Perth (let alone in Sydney)!

What does that tell you? Statistics seem to be made up on the spot - at least 93.256% of them anyway... ;)

I have flown AKL/LAX, MEL/LAX, SYD/LAX and everytime going across the pacific, the darn pilot seems to find every pothole in the sky at some stage during the flight.

So why the heck do the airlines keep flying this route if there are so many bumps and lumps? Because as mentioned earlier in this thread, the aircraft will handle it and if you follow the basic premise that you will be injured in all turblance if you DONT have your seat belt on, you will come out of it unscathed and suddenly in a new country ready to enjoy your holiday!

I have a couple of tips that will help you get through your economy class flight with some ease...

1. Dont sit next to anyone - after taking off, scout the plane for 2 vacant seats together, make yourself room and try not to have someone in the seat behind you (thats the hard part)
2. Don't listen to the advice about not drinking - get some plonk into yourself before the flight then once onboard! Dont get drunk (!), get tiddly enough to help you sleep easier - don't drink volumes or you will need to pee - go for quality
3. Get an eyemask and some soft high db earplugs (all safety shops sell them for about $1 a pair) - learn how to insert them!
4. Try to have a huge night before the flight - be tired when you get on the plane (also helps if you do crash- at least you had a chance to party with your friends before the event! :shock: )
5. The last crash / party thing was a joke!

I spend more time in Y than J so have developed some tricks in reclining and getting comfy. Also, a quack will provide you low dosage sleeping pills if you explain you are long hauling - these help half way through the flight when you wake up and cant get back to sleep

Good luck

Mr!

:)
 
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Hi Sonja,

I also have an irrational fear of flying. I'd guess there can't be too many Platinum F.F. with this condition.
I've tried the Qantas Fear of Flying Course. Helped a little, and don't get panic attacks any more, but I fly at least once or twice a week and just have to deal with it.

I've had counselling, etc. as well, but the thing that helped most was hypnotism.
I am a complete sceptic on this sort of thing normally, but it did reduce the fear factor. - but only to a just manageable level.

Things to keep in mind are: It is an irrational fear. Therefore all the discussions about how safe flying really is do not help.
Agree that a few glasses of your favourite tipple are enourmously helpful. On longer flights the only way I can get through them is with Sleeping pills or valium. Even if you don't end up using them, having them in your pocket reduces the build up of panic 'just in case'. It may not be helping in the long term as they are becoming a 'crutch', however I have to fly for work, so I have to have deal with it somehow.

I've had some quite bad panic attacks in the past, but I've never not got on a plane because of this, and am quite proud of this.

Good luck
 
Mines a fear of touch down only (after an old motorbike accident).
After years of trying meditation/breathing techniques, now just take a Xanax an hour before landing - easy as.
 
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