Help me with my fear of flying.....

[woodman]

Originally Posted by james

agreed. I think Valium is a little better if you need some help making your seat more comfortable as well.

Keep in mind that if you survive the takeoff, you'll likely be fine. Takeoff is the best chance to lose it. The tanks are full of jet fuel, the plane is heaviest and you are at full throttle and climbing. I usually try to make some jokes and normally remind Anna about the deal with takeoffs. I hope I haven't jinxed myself as I'm flying in two days.

I once had a nice steak dinner with the survivor of a jet crash. It was quite an interesting meal. He was quite a pleasant guy.

I always heard it was the take offs and the landings that were the most dangerous.But is a crash considered a attemted landing.

[horizon200]

Originally Posted by woodman

I always heard it was the take offs and the landings that were the most dangerous.But is a crash considered a attemted landing.

I've always lived by the addage that "Takeoffs are optional...Landings however are mandatory!"

[Tommygurl]

My Mom says to me "I have a book for you to read"...

Then she brings me "Sole Survivor"...

WTF Mom I just told you I am deathly afraid to fly!!!!

[tgd156]

yes, i agree. the most dangerous times are when the plane lands or takes off, unless of course you want to count....er....nevermind!! i won't say it!

[Smudger]

Originally Posted by horizon200

Or the Bugs Bunny cartoon where just before they hit, they run out of gas and stop in midair!

yeah!!

[gingele]

Late to the thread but tommygirl, I am right there with you. I took my first flight before my 2nd birthday and have flown countless times since then (about 38+ years of it), including some long-a$$ nonstop flights overseas.
About 5-6 years ago I had a mild panic attack, for the first time in any context, on a flight to Vegas. (with my entire family, kids included) It came out of the blue as we wer sitting on the tarmac waiting in line for takeoff. I soaked through my t-shirt, my palms were dripping sweat and my heart felt like it was going to come outta my ribcage. It was all I could do to put on a happy face for the kids (who are great flyers, BTW) and not let them know Mommy was about to jump out of her skin for some ungodly reason. Like you, this intense anxiety is at its worst during takeoff, landing, and (god forbid) any turbulence. A wholly unpleasant experience.
But I LOVE to rtavel! And - luckily - the anxiety did not begin days before the flight (like some who say they can't sleep for days prior to boarding a plane).
And so, like many here, I spoke to my doctor about it. He said it was completely natural, since as we get older (ahem) we lose this notion that we are invincible (can you say "teenager"?) and that we are - infact - mortal. Now why that sense of immenent mortality kicks into overdrive during takeoff specifically, I don't know. But like you, Ativan is the answer for me. And if your initial dose stops working as well as it did at first, ask the doc to up it.
Right now I take 2mg 30 mins before takeoff, and that generally does it. FUnny for me, I still mentally go through the thought process that precipitated the anxiety in the past...but on the ativan I just don't care - I ignore myself . That, and a glass or 2 of wine during he flight and I'm usually good for the duration. If it is a longer flight (ie, more than 3 hours) then at around the 3 hour mark I'll take another 2mgs.
And while skydiving probably isn't in the cards for me anymore (wish I woulda done it before having kids), horizon200's response is precisely what I intend to do in the next 5 years...that is:

Originally Posted by horizon200

Fear of flying is many times caused by the lack of control or the unknown. Try taking some ground school classes or better yet learn to fly!
Although after 2300+ hours, I am a terrible passenger now...I'd much rather be at the controls!

Hows the joke go...when I die, I want to go quickly... just like grandpa..not like his 200 screaming passengers!

(and thanks for that joke, BTW. Great little nugget to trigger just a wee bit of anxiety).
One thing I can add - I avoid horror stories about plane crashes, malfunctions, etc. Turn the channel, click away, whatever you can do. Don't wallow in the negative about flying.

[Tommygurl]

Originally Posted by gingele

Late to the thread but tommygirl, I am right there with you. I took my first flight before my 2nd birthday and have flown countless times since then (about 38+ years of it), including some long-a$$ nonstop flights overseas.
About 5-6 years ago I had a mild panic attack, for the first time in any context, on a flight to Vegas. (with my entire family, kids included) It came out of the blue as we wer sitting on the tarmac waiting in line for takeoff. I soaked through my t-shirt, my palms were dripping sweat and my heart felt like it was going to come outta my ribcage. It was all I could do to put on a happy face for the kids (who are great flyers, BTW) and not let them know Mommy was about to jump out of her skin for some ungodly reason. Like you, this intense anxiety is at its worst during takeoff, landing, and (god forbid) any turbulence. A wholly unpleasant experience.
But I LOVE to rtavel! And - luckily - the anxiety did not begin days before the flight (like some who say they can't sleep for days prior to boarding a plane).
And so, like many here, I spoke to my doctor about it. He said it was completely natural, since as we get older (ahem) we lose this notion that we are invincible (can you say "teenager"?) and that we are - infact - mortal. Now why that sense of immenent mortality kicks into overdrive during takeoff specifically, I don't know. But like you, Ativan is the answer for me. And if your initial dose stops working as well as it did at first, ask the doc to up it.
Right now I take 2mg 30 mins before takeoff, and that generally does it. FUnny for me, I still mentally go through the thought process that precipitated the anxiety in the past...but on the ativan I just don't care - I ignore myself . That, and a glass or 2 of wine during he flight and I'm usually good for the duration. If it is a longer flight (ie, more than 3 hours) then at around the 3 hour mark I'll take another 2mgs.
And while skydiving probably isn't in the cards for me anymore (wish I woulda done it before having kids), horizon200's response is precisely what I intend to do in the next 5 years...that is:

(and thanks for that joke, BTW. Great little nugget to trigger just a wee bit of anxiety).
One thing I can add - I avoid horror stories about plane crashes, malfunctions, etc. Turn the channel, click away, whatever you can do. Don't wallow in the negative about flying.

Thanks for sharing! I am so glad I am not the only one!

[gingele]

Originally Posted by Tommygurl

Thanks for sharing! I am so glad I am not the only one!

No problem...and thank you for this thread because it just reminded me...
I need to call the doc right now, I am flying on Friday and I have no "happy pills"!!!

[hrlydavison]

The good points...

Its the lack of control, the mortality you feel once you have children, post 9/11 fears.

My take...watch the movie "Fearless" with Jeff Bridges. Not only an excellent movie with a very under rated actor, but it has an excellent flashback plane crash sequence at the end of the movie. I would force myself to watch this sequence over and over again. Kind of like holding a spider as therapy for Arachniphobe's. It helped...I still sometimes take 5mg of Valium Then a few drinks.