Scared of flying?

Show all answers

Dan

Understand Your Fear
-Look closely at your fear and attempt to understand it. What about flying scares you? Are you afraid of heights? Does being in an enclosed space cause you anxiety? Does the concept of being on a plane with no option of an exit primarily account for your discomfort? Perhaps you are afraid of crashing, in which case you actually fear death. Try to pinpoint what about flying frightens you.

-Write down your insights on a piece of paper or a journal. You will need this information easily accessible when you begin your exposure-based therapy. Write in complete sentences, such as, â€œI am afraid of flying because I am afraid of heights," or â€œI am afraid of flying because I am afraid of crashing," or â€œI am actually afraid of death.â€

-Clearly identify the single or cluster of phobias that cause your fear of flying. Prior to commencing self-directed or supervised therapy; it is important to understand what fear(s) you are actually facing. If you think you are simply afraid of heights but are also actually afraid of death; you may not find your therapy to be entirely successful.

Virtual or Real Exposure-Based Therapy
-Understand what exposure-based therapy implies. The implications are actually quite significant. Exposure based therapy directly exposes you to your phobiaâ€”preferably repeatedly over a series of several sessions. For example, people who have a fear of lizards and use exposure-based therapy will eventually pick up and handle lizards.

-Know that you do not have to do real exposure-based therapy. There is no need for you to literally board a plane numerous times to overcome your fear of flying. In fact, doing so might be financially impossible. If you have the financial means and courage to attempt this; you may consider it, after deciding whether or not you should receive clearance from a licensed mental health professional.

-Decide whether you prefer to practice real exposure-based therapy or whether you will seek to practice it through virtual means. â€œVirtualâ€ here simply means not real. For example, you could ride a simulator repeatedly at an amusement park. The experience of â€œflyingâ€ in that case is not actually real.

Begin Therapy
-If you have decided to do real exposure-based therapy, get started. A plethora of options await you, depending on what you can afford; hot air balloon rides, roller coasters and airline flights are examples. Remember what exactly scares you about the experience of flying and realize that you are safe from that fear throughout your flight process.

-If you have decided to undertake virtual exposure-based therapy, determine how you will accomplish this and then get started. Check local amusement parks or consider traveling to one. Epcot, at Disney World in Orlando, Florida features a ride called â€œSoarinâ€™.â€ It is a simulator but feels very real. When completing your therapy, remember what scares you (e.g., flying, enclosed spaces or death). Realize that you are surviving the experience of flying, despite your pinpointed fears.

-Repeat your therapy as many times as possible until you feel your anxiety about flying reduce significantly. If you find that your therapy is not working and that your fear is not decreasing; discontinue therapy. This therapy, however, does have a high success rate.

Hope that helps. Good Luck!

winkie 692

Join the mile high club on your maiden voyage ,that should relax you.

Dave

Please don't worry.Me and my family flew for the first time 2 years ago and for a few months before we were due to fly my 12 year old son was petrified.On the way to the airport he was in tears nearly all the way there.As soon as the time came to fly and the plane took off he was fine.When we landed he said to me.Dad when do we go home.I said why whats up.And he said to me i can't wait go on the plane again.Honestly you will be fine.The views out the windows of the clouds etc are fantastic.Enjoy yourself.I bet once you fly you will want do it again.xxx

Miss Spentyouth

I am petrified of flying but I still do ! The doctor prescribes me low dose valium, so you could ask your doctor. It takes the edge off a little. What really helps for me is to take my mind off it completely by immersing myself in a computer game.

I NEVER play these otherwise but find myself engrossed, by say a game like Tetris, where you have to think about where each piece goes. It sounds stupid but it really helps.

I also try to rationalise it by thinking how many planes land, take-off and are in the air and any one point and how often things go wrong. Hardly ever. This may or may not help because I know too well that it's an irrational fear.

On the flight on the way out also think about all the fun you're going to have and all the things you are going to do.

On the way back, think of all the washing you've got to do. ;o)

Good luck.

WarrioR SiN

put it as this, the aircraft is built to endure anything. if you were to look depth into what an aircraft has to offer then u would realize that cars, bikes etc. are far way more dangerous. i had the same problem, but i thought to my self if this was dangerous then y wud ppl b allowed on to the aircraft?? jus make sure u have something in ur mouth to chew wen the plane takes off, that prevents ur ears being blokd. or you can simply jus cover ur ears with something.

Bex

My mum took Kalms before flying as she is also scared and she said that helped.

My dad swears by a glass of whiskey before he flies.. altho I don't really recommend that.

I also find that if you sit near the back of the plane it helps as you dont feel so closed in as you can see the full length of the plane.

Maggs

Not scared of flying, scared of crashing. If you're really that worried, it might help to speak to your GP. But once you're airbourne, really, it's ok. Have a great holiday.

reikilady31

There are several things that you can do.

1. You can try something like calms/rescue remedy/emergency essence to assist you.

2. Take a mp3 player on with you and prior to the flight download some music onto it (calming music) and after the pre-flight demo from the cabin crew, put your music on and drift away with it.

3. If you are really nervous, ask your doctor to prescribe something to take the edge off you.

4. Go to the airport prior to the 20th to see what goes on, go up and watch planes coming in and taking off and get a feel for the hustle and bustle that goes on in an airport. When it comes to flying you will feel a less overwhelmed by this aspect of your trip.

5. When checking in, inform the agent that you are a nervous passenger. That way they will take extra care of you.

6. When boarding, don't rush to get on the plane, I find the longer I'm sitting on a plane in an airport thats when I tend to start to get uptight. However, don't dawdle as you will be offloaded lol! Usually when it comes to final boarding calls I will be on the plane or at least near to getting on the plane.

7. At present, you are scared, but I feel it's a fear of the unknown - how can you fear something that you have not experienced before? Remember, fear is False Evidence Appearing Real!

8. Don't forget to breathe slowly and deeply

9. When boarding, let the cabin crew know that you are a nervous passenger, they will help as much as they can.

10.. Finally, see flying as a start of your holiday, the start of a fantastic week, an exciting thing. When you look at it in a positive way you will love it! Just remember, it's one of the safest way to travel.

Enjoy your holiday

Kerii

i used to think i was scared of flying but then i realised i really liked it! lol
you can get tablets...sleeping tablets and stuff!

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: