Who has a fear of flying?

I am literally petrified to fly. There are so many places I would love to go and hubby would like to take me, but I just don't go because of my fear.

I have flown before, and was already apprehensive - it has gotten worse over the years.....

Last time I was on a plane was 3 or 4 years ago. Me, DH, my DS and DD went to florida ( we are in NYC, so the flight was about 2 1/2 hours). My doctor prescribed Zanex (sp) and I slept the entire flight - both ways.

DH has been dying to take me on vacation to Vegas (he has been there numerous times - heck, my kids have even been there...lol), and wants to go this summer......I said I will think about it. I want so bad to say "YES" because I do want to go..........but the fear sets in....LOL - all these plane crashes along with my fear, drives me CRAZY!!!!!

I am missing out on all these wonderful places that DH wants to take me to

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I hate to fly. I do it, but I hate it. I don't mind it once we are up in the air but the take off scares the %^&* out of me.

One flight I was on we went to take off and as we were going up one of the cabinets in the back flew open and all the soda cans came crashing out of the cabinets and were rolling and baning in the back of the plane. I swore something was wrong with the plane and it was something in the engines banging. My husband grabbed my hand and was to the point I think he was about to sit on me to hold me down ( where I thought I was going I have no idea) I was in tears and I was terrified. I was scaring the people behind me. Once we got up and evened out I calmed down ( also took a pill ). I could have kissed the ground when we landed. That happened on the way to where we were going. On the way home we took a late flight at night and I took a pill and I was asleep before take off and I did just fine.

In October I am flying to Turkey and then home from Greece so we made arrangements for overnight flights so I could sleep and keep calm. As scared as I am I refuse to let it keep me from seeing the world or doing things I want to do. I have just learned to work around it.

I was afraid of flying until the first time I did it (when I was in my early 20's -- a LONG, LONG time ago). Now it doesn't scare me at all. But, then again, I don't fly very often. I do remember being VERY scared flying to Hawaii while we were over the ocean and the turbulence was awful! I was sure we were going to drown!

Could you possibly take a train to Vegas? I've never done it, but I've heard that a train trip can be kind of fun. You can see all the scenery along the way. And they have trains with the sleeper cars and restaurants. It might be kind of fun (although I'm sure it would take longer than you might be planning).

Just think of all the car crashes that occur every day. There's nowhere near as many plane crashes. And I remember, many years ago, a hotel in Vegas burning and people dying. I guess what I'm trying to say is, no matter what, you are at risk of dying. You might as well enjoy the time you have here and take advantage of the opportunities you are presented with along the way.

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Linda

I don't like to fly at all. Like another poster said once I am up it the air then it isn't so bad. I have not flown for at least 27 years. The first time I was about 16 and flew with my grandma back to her home in North Dakota. When we were flying out of Denver and still on the ground the pilot came on and said there was a problem with the plane and for everyone to get their stuff and get off the plane. Then he came back on and said for us to sit back down. Right out of my window I saw them looking at one of the engines. Then the pilot said it was ok we were going to take the plane we were on. I don't think I took my eyes off of the engine for the whole flight. lol

The only time I have ever been on planes was when me and my mom went to Hawaii and let me tell you all 3 where possessed !!

Plane #1 :: from Atlanta Ga
Boarded plane before take off the coffee pot went crazy started spitting coffee EVERYWHERE ! had to pull back in and get a new pot, Ok not so bad but was freaky nonetheless..

Plane #2 Tenn :: Boarded the plane, took seat the door wouldn't shut ! Had to shut plane down get repairmen to fix door, delayed for over 2 hrs.. Now I'm getting scared, Mom assured me we will live and door will not open in midair. Yeah Ok, but not totally buying it at that point .

Plane # 3 :: Cali. Boarded plane, took seat, No wigged out coffee pot, door shuts just fine, I'm feeling better we are not going to drown in coffee or be blown out the door. I'm ready to hit the beaches one we land in Hawaii.. We pull out just about to taxi the runway and IT HAPPEN ! Plane goes completely dead !.. Ok, Now I'm totally freaking out I'm trying my best to get them let me off the plane, Mom is gripping my arm pulling me back into my seat while telling me in a not so nice voice she will KILL me herself if I get off plane ( this was her dream to go to Hawaii all her life ). I'm trying my best to get off, my arm is going numb from lack of blood flow from the grip my mom has on it. The air crew are all assuring me this is just a freak thing and there's nothing to worry about, YEAH RIGHT ! 3 planes 3 oh its just a small problem will not effect the flight. I'm NOT BUYING IT ..I want the hell off this plane !! .. Ok the plane is now started and mom is still telling me to sit down we are not going to die ! and hands me a mixed drink LOL... Ok get taxi and now are over the ocean when we hit air TURBULENCE ! I'm once again freaking out, but now too sick from the bouncing and that drink I'm begging to allow me to get to a bathroom and the seatbelt light in on and I'm being told sorry. My mom in her calm voice says, They have bags you can use if you need too. I'm like God please please landed this plane I promise I'll be good the whole 5 days in Hawaii if you allow me to live . LOL.. We finally land and taking to the hotel , I'm still pretty green and all I want to do is go to sleep, when mom has other plans for us.... ( She so kindly tells me I can be sick on the way back, but right now GET UP and lets go )..

Man did my mom's words ever come true, On the way back to the mainland I was so air sick I didnt care what happen to the planes. We crossed over 3 time zones and every single one of them was in the morning and the smell of greasy bacon wasn't what I wanted to smell !!. By the time we landed in GA I was so sick I couldn't stand up. I had to still drive over 6 hours back home . I swore then that if I ever went anywhere again if I couldn't drive it I wasn't about to fly it !...
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dawnycap -

maybe you could look up the statistics for transportation accidents and fatalities - although, then you might never get in your car! really mile for mile, i believe air travel is quite safe.

the other thing that i tend to think is that the decision of when my time on earth is up is not mine. what is meant to happen, will....and i need to just go on with my life and enjoy it. maybe that could bring you some calmness.

you can do it!!!

cj/

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I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

your thinking about the numbers and not about averages, kinda like a couple of the others said, your more likely to die in a car, a few miles from your own home even, than in a plane. Take ear plugs, maybe those Bose kind if they work like they say. I rode in my first plane last May to my grandfathers funeral, the only thing that bothered me was the noise, otherwise after my first change of planes since it was only about 1/2 full, i was next to the window <actually had isle seats on all four planes> watching the cloud formations from the top instead of the bottom. My kids would have loved it up there.

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Fear of flying, snakes crawling over me, and finding myself in the middle of the ocean seeing nothing but waves all around are my three biggest fears. If I have to fly I will NOT take any medication for fear of being incapacitated if something happens. I would want my wits about me.

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I am petrified of flying but I refuse to let it stop me from seeing places I want to see. I'm better once we are up in the air & level, but, take off is awful! I just keep reminding myself that thousands of people fly every single day without any problems. We just flew to Colorado in April to check out a college for our DD. Boy, am I glad someone warned me of the turbulance coming over the Rocky Mountains! It terrified me but not as much as if I hadn't known about it. I kept watching the wings and praying that they wouldn't break off! I've never been to Europe but I'll have to take something to knock me out if we ever go. I don't think I could make it otherwise.

No fear at all, I put it this way, there are so many places I have visited thanks to God and there are so many more I want too for instance, Ireland, Scotland, Poland , Bulgaria, Tahiti and much more. When you think about the millions of planes that fly every day its sooooo safe. While there are thousand of car accidents every day. I also look at this point I am always with my family so it God wants us he will take us all together. But if you do not take the chance you missing out on so many wonderful places to see that you will keep in your memory forever. If you need just take some medicine to relax, perhaps they have a television or a movie some food and before you know it , you there. Much luck peace. Catherine

Thanks for all the replies....

I hear what you are all saying, and believe me, I have all friends and family telling me the same thing (about more car accidents, and when it's your time it's your time, etc).....which is why I try to make "Yes" come out of my mouth when DH asks if I want him to book it, but "No" always comes out instead. I think because I know that once he books it, there is no turning back

I guess it is easier said than done - If you are the person with the fear it is not so easy....

I really really want to go and for the past month have been trying to put the fear out of my mind so I can just say "go for it".....told him I will let him know and that I need at least another week to think about it.....LOL

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How about seeing a therapist to help you address WHY you are fearful?

I fly every week so it's not an issue for me....

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oupiglet...addicted to free stuff!

I am to afraid to even try it. 43 years old and NEVER been on a plane.

SCARED, SCARED, SCARED!!!! I have flown twice to LA from Iowa with a stop in Denver. I did it with no medication and I have anxiety, panic attacks, etc... Now I'm on Zoloft and it's a wonder drug for me but I'm still afraid to do it again. It's not the fear of an accident, it's the lack of being in control, claustrophobia, etc...My son is heading off to college in California so I will be doing it sometime in the next year to visit him. I might have to take the sister of two of the girls that are also going to college there to babysit me on the plane!! lol She'd be more than happy to go with me so we might do it. She woudl relax me because she's like family. You do anything for your kids!!

We all should be afraid of flying because of the cuts that all the airlines have made in their maintainance depts. These folk are working short handed and on tight schedules because they are all doing "more with less,"

I hate to sound like doom and gloom but have a cousin that works as a jet mechanic for a major airlines. He was previously in Dallas and then transfered to Florida. These are the guys that really know what it's like behind the scenes. It's scary.

I do not like to fly and I have only flown twice. I guess I do have a fear of flying but I can control myself, or at least I have so far! What has helped me the most is thinking about the many people who fly everyday with no major mishaps.

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I am anxious during take-off especially. I figure if something is going to go wrong, it will be then. I hate to fly, but do it for the kids, who seem to LOVE it. My husband works for one of the major carriers, so we do get flying benefits, but do not use them that much (plus flying stand-by is a harder than one might think).

When I hear of a plane going down, like Air France, my anxiousness gets the best of me all over again. I cannot imagine the nightmare of panic those passengers went through as the plane was going down. I think I would have a heart attack even before the plane crashed. ( Now, I probably can't fly for awhile.)

One thing I do when I fly is tell myself over and over again that the pilot and flight attendants do this everyday, and nothing happens, and they all have families at home and don't want to die. This may sound silly, but it helps me.

***One thing I do know is that many carriers contract their maintenance overseas to save money. That fact doesn't sit well with me. You want qualified mechanics that know their job and are paid well.

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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!

Aww kathy I know that feeling of flying with panic attacks. I was that way and it is so scary and so real I know that for a fact. However like I said since taking Xanax its so much easier to deal with. My thooughts were always if I get a panic attack on the place where will I go in that little bathroom. So I know the feelings . Peace for now.Catherine

I fly a few times a year. The first time I ever flew I was a bit nervous but now I love it! I loathe, really loathe, long car rides so if I want to go anywhere I had to learn to love to fly. And I did. Really once you are in the air, you don't realize you are flying.
I just put my headphones on and sit back and relax for the rest of the flight.

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Insanity laughs under pressure we're cracking

My poor mother was the same way and finally my Dad told her are you coming to Vegas or I am leaving without you. That was 35 years ago and now you can't stop her.
I think we get nervous because we feel that we are not in control.
I would rather be with a professional pilot than on the road with crazy drunk drivers.

Please try to get yourself to go...There is a Great Big World you are missing! Bring an I Pod sit back and think of how much fun you will have when you arrive. Do it for your family.

The problem with plane crashes is that when they happen they are all over the media and usually so many people that die at once but get the Daily stats of car fatalities across the country and you may not drive again.........Good Luck I feel for you.

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