Just How Scared to Fly Are You?
Submitted by Diane Owens on Sat, 2007-11-03 20:53.
People tell us their fear of flying horror stories all the time. Many times a fearful flyer will email us for help, thinking that they have the worst fear of flying case out there. Maybe they haven’t flown in 20 years. Or they bolted from a plane flying to their honeymoon just before the door closed. Or they drove right past the airport and their flight, continuing to drive to all the way to their destination. Maybe your horror story is unlike any we’ve heard before.
Halloween is a natural time to talk about what scares people. Of the almost 100,000 who participated in a MSNBC poll on Halloween, over 4,000 people chose flying as their greatest fear. Small spaces, spiders, and heights got more scary votes than flying. Fear of public speaking took top scary honor. According to the poll, a lot more people are afraid of spiders than airplanes. So what? You don’t have to ride a spider to go on vacation, attend the next business conference, or visit Aunt Edith, do you?
Fear of flying really impacts people and their lives. It can make them do strange things to avoid flying. You can always squish a spider in your path but that tactic won’t work with an airplane! But what do you do if you're afraid to fly? Avoid flying? White knuckle it and vow never again to get on another plane? Think you can go and then bolt off the plane because you can't?
Flying scares the heck out of a lot of people, and not just on Halloween. So go ahead and tell us your fear of flying horror stories. We’re listening. Send us your stories via the comment section of this blog posting, and we’ll feature some of them in a future newsletter. Include your first name which we'll use if we feature your story. And just for submitting your story, we'll enter your name in a monthly drawing to participate in a free webinar.
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Very Anxious!!!
I also have a horrible fear of flying! I am 27 years old, and have been suffering with anxiety & panic disorder since I was in the 3rd grade! It's one of the most horrible diseases a person can have. I don't sleep well, I am very nervous daily and sometimes get so anxious it throws me into a major panic attack! Sometimes a panic happens again and again, one after the next! The first time I've ever been on a plane, I was 15 and was with my family going to Italy- this was an 8-9 hour trip. I was very nervous to go on but surprisingly did OK. The second time on an airplane I was 23- The trip going, I was nervous, but very excited, and believe it or not I slept the whole way! Coming back was another story... it was later in the day, and getting dark, there was a storm and for some reason I always think "Well, because you had a great time, now it's time something bad should happen"..... this thought makes me so sick! I was so nervous the whole way back... I swear I was the one holding the plane up in the air for everyone's safe landing! So, eventually I made another trip to the same place, I was 25 at the time... From the day I booked that ticket I was getting such anxiety over it! I couldn't function! I couldn't back out either because my friend would have been so upset. Going on the plane I was soooooo shaky and nervous, fear of losing control of myself, and the fact that I don't have control over the entire plane is awful! If I could drive the plane myself, I would feel great! or if I could wear a parachute on my back for safety reasons that would make me feel even better!!! but I made it there in one piece.... though my entire vacation, all I thought about was the plane ride back! What a miserable time! :( I want to help myself so I don't think this way and ruin everything for myself! It was the whole "if you have so much fun, you will pay the price" thinking! Murphy's Law.... ugh.... So my trip was about to be over... we had a 1/2 a day.... I drank myself to oblivion.... and dammit it was not easing my nervousness... then I started taking Klonopin as my doctor prescribed as needed.... well,,,, took one, wasn't working, took another,,,, wasn't working,,,, took 3..... nothing....... I was so nervous that these things weren't going to kick in any time soon! Here I am on the plane... and guess what!!? another storm!!! and when we were taking off, it didn't feel like a normal take off... it was really low to the ground and wobbly.... off to a horrible start! Talk about panic!!! I was crying even before I got on the plane... and worse while I was on it! Hoping to God that we land safely! I wish I could stop this feeling of fear of flying and be able to relax! I do seek help, and all I get is, "Most likely bad things don't happen!"...... but I feel like bad things were meant for me!!! or I have that kind of luck.... I'm so sick over this, I really want to go places, but this is miserable! I have read about others fears and anxieties... but haven't found any answers :( I even went as far as studying a plane and it's mechanics and the whole bit! I just might be that "worse case" that's out there! Please help if there is anything I can do to ease this fear.... Thanks!
Reply to the Fear is starting to build
I'm sorry I didn't reply sooner but it looks like your trip is still a few days away. I hope by now you've ordered and received the Fearless FlightKit. It makes such a difference for people. Many people see the "Chicken Soup" label and don't really understand what exactly is in the Kit. Yes, there's a booklet of Chicken Soup style stories about former fearful flyers. But the most important thing isn't part of any other Chicken Soup Product. It's the Flight harmonizer CD and it is just what you need to help distract you from all those horrible things you're thinking before you fly and during the flight. You're so right--you're not in control and that's what scares you! The Flight Harmonizer CD will help keep your mind busy and keep you from worrying about not being in control. Try it!
The FEAR is starting to build!
I can relate
It's all about the lack of control for me, too. And the fact that we are several tons of people, metal, and luggage hurtling through the air. Most people (at least others that I've talked to about it) say they fear the take-off and/or landing the most. Not me. Strangely, I enjoy the take-off and landing. I enjoy the adrenaline rush of that kind of speed. However, once in the air, I flat out panic. I listen to EVERYTHING going on. Every little creak, pop, thump, etc. sends me into an attack. I watch the flight attendants the WHOLE time so I can judge from their expressions whether or not I should worry. It's completely insane! I swear everytime we are in the air that if we can just make it back down to earth in one piece, I will NEVER fly again. The sad part is, I am a highly rational, reasonable and analytical person. I know the odds are in my favor and that flying is by far safer than driving. But that's the nature of a phobia... the fear has no rational basis. So the last time I flew, I did breathing exercises to get me through waves of panic and just accetpted the fact that if we crash, we crash. There is nothing I can do about it. It is what it is. It seemed to work fairly well (much better than the full-blown sweaty, wild-eyed and nauseating attacks I'm used to). My adult son also has this phobia. The last time he flew his flight was delayed so he spent some time in the airport bar. He called when he landed and said that it was the best flight he's ever been on. I may give that a try next time.
Fear of Flying/Phobia/Anxiety Attacks
My name is Ann, Although, I lived in Germany for 7 years, in the mid 80's, Visited home several times, vacationed in Las Vegas, visit a classmate in Baltimore, and flown many times to Atlanta. However, since 911 my fear of flying has taken over my life, and I'm not sure it's just flying, I'm also afraid of elevators, small places, and I Also, check door knobs and handles before I close restroom doors. My daughter works for Delta and I can't enjoy trips with her, or visit my companion who just relocated to Norfolk, because I don't fly. He comes home once a month to vist me, because it's a 10hr drive from Cincinnati. I've been really researching what I could do to get over this fear. With so many restrictions now, I can't even go to the Airport and have a opportunity to face my fear prior to flying. I think may help me and my fears of the door closing and locking. I have meds that I could take, however, I think I need some hands own help to get through this, I want to start enjoying my life again1 Thanks
Fear of Places and Other Small Places
Ann,
Sorry I didn't answer sooner. Most people don't comment so I forget to check. That's a bummer not to be able to have flying benefits and be grounded by your fear! Capt. Ron and I believe that all cases of fear of flying are different and that some of the "tough" cases need to be tackled with a combination of information (through our webinar and Fearless FlightKit) and therapy. Fear of flying CAN be overcome--but unfortunately, you have to do the work to get it to happen. Sometimes you need a professional to help you walk through your fear or as you refer to it "hands-on help." Capt. Ron often accompanies people on flights, but it doesn't help that you're not in Phoenix! You're right--practicing sitting on a plane would help but you need to find someone who can help you with your claustrophia where you are.
Ann, you deserve to live a life without the limits this is placing on you! Good luck and let us know if we can help you further.
Diane
Fear of Flying
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