| 26 Nov 08, 11:00 PM fdghdfkhjgk 6 yrs |
i know how you feel. i felt the same way about flying too. worse thing you can do is drug yourself up tho. in fact, i began to realise it made the situation worse. ive read so many books on the fear of flying but the best thing i did, and it helped me no end, was to go to duxford air museum and study everything possible about aviation. i spent time on the planes, doing the experiments and arming myself with all the knowledge needed to understand fully what happens when a plane takes off and lands. i've never had a problem since. as a quick fix tho, try acupuncture. that was a huge help too. "you dont ride a boat, you row a boat" "oh boat, i thought you said goat?" | ||||
| 26 Nov 08, 11:09 PM fen_fatale UK(CB), 8 yrs  |
I am terrified of flying too, thankfully i managed it last time, but only because letting down my Master at that time would have been toooo huge a deal. My mum always had a far worse fear than me, she would shake and shake for days before, not sleep, not eat, and was so terrified on the plane, if we could get her on there at all! the doctor prescribed her a short course of tranquilisers for both journeys which worked fine for her, she was very relaxed having taken them and had no problems with flying on them at all!
Before you cancel and ruin your partners holiday as well as losing all the money.. try seeing your GP to see if he can suggest anything before you lose out, there is still lots of time to get something sorted before then! nuqDaq yuch Dapol? | ||||
| 26 Nov 08, 11:34 PM krystle UK(NE), 8 yrs |
I wouldnt normally recommend drugs, but in this case agree wholeheartedly! I was prescribed diazepam a few years ago for panic attacks, and they work! They make you feel a lot more relaxed, calm, even floaty, your heart rate slows down, so that even if your mind wanted to panic, it finds it very difficult and takes the edge off it. I recall spending a very relaxed afternoon sitting watching bits of dust floating in the sunshine..... Once you are home you could then start looking into therapy, or some of the other techniques recommended so you can beat it for next time. I also hate flying.. my better half has had his hand clenched so hard it was bruised. But a couple of glasses of wine also takes the edge off it too. And dont forget, Barcelona is only a 2 hour flight as opposed to 7, and it would be such a shame to miss it. Ive heard it's a beautiful city.
Good luck, hope you make it | ||||
| 26 Nov 08, 11:57 PM Kapital UK(NW), 4 yrs  |
Not sure if it helps but I saw this thing on that Airport programme, where if you actually contact some airlines they arrange some familiarity stuff. In essence, firstly you can get used to the cockpit, while still on the ground; then in a flight simulator; slowly, slowly building up to the actuality of a flight. sing out your reply; it will improve it by between 37 - 64%. | ||||
| 27 Nov 08, 1:43 AM El_Presidente UK(G), 4 yrs    |
Are you afraid of being in a car? You should be, because it's far more dangerous than flying. The difference is that (even if you don't drive) you can relate to what's happening on the roads. In contrast, it's very difficult to work out what's going on when you're being jossled around in a big baked bean tin with tiny windows, especially when you probably know next to nothing about planes, compared with what you know about cars. Crazy though it sounds, I'd suggest that you have a couple of flying lessons. Go up and see what it's all about. Get a feel for it - you might even enjoy it! I've always loved flying, but I must admit, I don't like to not know what's going on. Once you have a bit of an insight, then when it comes to passenger flying, you can be a back-seat pilot and mark all the landings out of 10, etc, and it won't be just a big scary horrible noisy shaky around thing any more. Combining past and present to make something not quite as good as either. Edited 27 Nov 08, 1:44 AM by El_Presidente | ||||
| 27 Nov 08, 9:01 AM Sweetiejar UK(S), 11 yrs |
I feel exactly the same way and fully understand. Sweetiejar | ||||
| 27 Nov 08, 10:16 AM JJBoy UK(SE), 11 yrs |
i try to turn it into a game. My anxiety is at it highest imedaitely afetr take off, and so i just try to think i am the pilot and driving (flying) the plane myslef; its gives me back some control. i try to judge when the brakes will be let off to start takeoff the arc the nose of the aircraft will take to centre at end of runway etc, etc. Perhaps i can do this cos i am boy, i dont know. I think my problem is i cannot see where i am going and so oddly i like to choose a window seat by the wing so i can see things working etc and know what stage of flight we are at. Once at cruising height i just try to marvel at the beauty of the clouds and the scenery and just relax. When i do feel a little anxious i always glance over to look at the hostesses, (any excuse!) and if they are cool, i can relax again. I flew ryanair earlier this year and on both the outbound and return flights i have never been so shit scared in my life. i know from pilot friends that they employ pilots at the lowest rates so get trainees and less capable pilots...i will never fly Ryanair again....apart for the fact that in my experience their service is rubbish also. Good luck, enjoy the marvel of flight and reflect that flight is fun and sexy and safe.
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| 27 Nov 08, 10:41 AM Bathsheba1 6 yrs |
Thanks for the fantastic replies. I'm still very down this morning but you helped make me feel a lot less ridiculous. Thank you. | ||||
| 27 Nov 08, 1:12 PM fawn4n UK, 8 yrs |
You are not ridiculous, I have been through the same and at the moment couldn't fly anywhere. It isn't always the same though and I have flown to Japan which was a hell of a long flight.
Sedatives really do help, go see your doctor before you make the final decision.
If that decision is that you can't do it then remember it doesn't change who you are and that person is the one your hubby wants to be with. xxx | ||||
| 1 Dec 08, 10:28 PM Notasquick UK(WC), 10 yrs |
I would point out that Fear of Flying is a very common phobia from airline statistics. It can effect both virgins to flying and those that are frequent flyers. Even experienced pilots can inexplicably suffer from it. Not all apparent Fear of Flying is Aerophobia though. It could be something else. I would therefore reiterate what others have being saying on this thread, go and see your GP for a consultant appointment rather than attempting to self-diagnose.
People could not understand how a Bee might fly but we all know that it does. Do we need to know how it flys, to know that it does fly? http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8382-secre... http://mr.caltech.edu/media/Press_Releases/PR127...
In "The Village", a nineties fly-on-the-wall documentary about life in the village of Bentley in Hampshire, one of the women of the village had Aerophobia. I think it was the fiancee of Dave the Plumber who had Aerophobia, and it was certainly going to effect their proposed honeymoon plans. It was sympathetically covered by the narrator Nigel Farrel, who seemed to show some genuine concern and impetus in helping them solve their problem. It was then covered over several episodes resulting in them eventually attending a travel clinic together including short flight, and successfully going on their honeymoon. I think the travel clinic part was then covered on Airport from a slightly different viewpoint, and maybe also their honeymoon flights to show her recovery from the phobia. Channel Four TV then ran a series on Phobias much later, which covered this in much more depth including the treatments. The program also has an excellent webpage which gives the British Airways and Virgin Atlantic approved programs in the links under Fear of Flying: http://www.channel4.com/health/microsites/0-9/4h... Why do airlines provide such a service? - because it is expensive in both terms of flights delayed and potential bookings cancelled. I would point out that not all those offering "Travel Clinics" are bonafide. The costs can also vary hugely and you might not get "cured" but to most people in your situation it is worth a shot.
If you have bought your flights separately from your holiday villa, then it might be worth ringing your airline and explaining your predicament. They might be sympathetic with your situation and either refund, delay to a later date, or even suggest a Fear of Flying course program that they run. The same might be true of your holiday company. Another alternative may be to to think laterally and go to Barcelona via other means. If you get a refund from the airline consider travelling by train. If money is tight you could always consider hitchhiking. Your internet friends might help out in crucial places with lifts and other assistance. You might not get there but the potential for a memorable travel adventure is huge. Take a chance on life?
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