Flying

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Jasonr

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I am off to Fuerteventura next week and despite looking forward to it I am always slightly apprehensive of flying.

I can sort of take the bit in the middle once you are up there mainly because I neck a couple of bottles of their wine but I hate the taking off part and to a lesser extent the landing part.

I have flown a fair bit and it doesn't get any worse but it seems never to get any better. I wouldn't say it's a phobia as I am not a gibbering wreck but it just feels uncomfortable almost like I only let my breath out once the wheels touch down.

I know it's totally irrational and the safety records are impeccable but is anyone else a reluctant flyer and have strategies to make it more enjoyable as I don't want my kids to inherit my apprehensiveness

Thanks
 
I'm like you to some degree, but not as bad. I'm not scared per se, but I feel every last bump with anticipation and how anyone sleeps on a plane is beyond me.

I don't mind take off and landing, it's the rest that gets me. Turbulence is just an awful feeling.
 
I used to fine but had a really bad flight to the US for my honeymoon. Basically the plane just dropped in turbulence. Trolleys etc all abandoned by the cabin crew and even they looked shaken (our seats were by the crew jump seats). Since then I get a bit nervy during turbulence but actually have no issues on take off or landing.
 
I am not a great fan of flying, mainly as I find it uncomfortable due to being tall.

Take off and landing are ok, its the bit in the middle that I don't really like especially when you can hear the engine tone changing.

I tend to put my music on and try to sleep for as much as the flight as possible.
 
Can't conquer the fear anymore so don't bother...

At least, when on the tube, if I have a panic attack I can get off at the next stop and get above ground to recollect my thoughts...
I also avoid lifts when possible...
 
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Had a flight to CDG out of Newcastle a few years back, go to check in with plenty of time, only to be told we've moved up your flight, they're boarding now, legged to the gate, straight through and onto this turbo prop, no sooner had a I sat down, plane was being pushed back. The pilot drove the plane off the stand to the run way and was powering up the engines as her turned onto the runway faster than any other flight I'd been on, we were leaning into the corners as he taxied. Once in the air, the pilot came on the tannoy and apologized for the fast take off, he said a slot had come open at CDG and he wanted to take it.


Landing at CDG was fun, we came down very fast, in steps and there was a strong cross wind at CDG, plane came in sideways like they have to and then straightened up once all wheels were down, only flight I've been on where I've had to hold the seat in front to stop me falling out of my own.
 
Oh aye, back in the day when I was in the Air Cadets, I had a trip in a Hercules. Those from the North East will remember the old Summer Exhibitions on the town moor, the Red Devils would do their parachute displays. Well on this one occasion I was in the back of the Hercules, 10000 feet unpressurised cabin, the Red Devils just walking around, then the tailgate dropped and the back of the plane was open, could see noting but blue sky, then one by one the Red Devils disappeared out the back of the Hercules. Last one to jump stood on the ramp just his toes in the plane, looked at us all, saluted and back flipped into the sky, I can picture it as clear as day.
 
Start by believing that it's not irrational. It's an entirely natural fear. This acceptance alone should start to reduce the ramp up effect that all such concerns are fuelled by.

I've had a licence and have flown a fair bit, even all alone...but I can still be apprehensive- and to put that in context I used to pretty much weekly commute on BA for many years.

So, it's a natural fear and it can't be rationalised. So, like any fear you just have to accept it.

Ps you won't get me on a roller coaster or most fairground rides - I know it's irrational but I wouldn't do it for large sums of money! Fortunately I don't need to do so to go on holiday but it annoys me!
 
A bit of cognitive behaviour therapy on a really small scale, I think I have this right. A bit like Happy Gilmour, find your happy place. You need to work on this before you go, plenty of books on it. My cousin explained it to me, she was getting panic attacks about an incident that happened to her. Sit quietly, think of a calm place, think of everything happening around you, sounds, smells, view etc. (lots of people use a beach with water lapping but it could be anything). Hold that thought and allow yourself to relax. Do this once or twice a day, you will find yourself relaxing more and more, also quicker. Next time you are on a plane, close your eyes, find your happy place. It will help to stop the panic rising. I do this for funerals, hate the damn things and it is how the conversation arose.

Anyone with real issues, you have to do more than this. The above is a simple exercise written on the back of a beer mat and can help at a low level.
 
duncan mackie said:
Ps you won't get me on a roller coaster or most fairground rides - I know it's irrational but I wouldn't do it for large sums of money! Fortunately I don't need to do so to go on holiday but it annoys me!
Click to expand...

There is NOTHING irrational about not getting on rides. I'd need Bill Gates levels of money to get me on one and half would need to go on therapy afterwards. I'm off to Florida next week, we will be doing all of the parks. I'll be sat at the exit to each ride waiting for the family to come off them. You are not alone.
 
Lord Tyrion said:
There is NOTHING irrational about not getting on rides. I'd need Bill Gates levels of money to get me on one and half would need to go on therapy afterwards. I'm off to Florida next week, we will be doing all of the parks. I'll be sat at the exit to each ride waiting for the family to come off them. You are not alone.
Click to expand...

My daughter was the same when she was younger, wouldn't go near a roller coaster, then on a trip to Blackpool we managed to get her to come on the old wooden derby one, not sure of it's name and she loved it, by the end of the day she was on the brand-new blue coaster they had and now she loves them.
 
I first flew in the mid 70's, and was flying twice a week for a couple of years. Started out loving it, but by the mid-noughties I hated it. FEAR!! I dreaded every single second, every knock and bump. Eventually I resorted to seeing the doc. A couple of flights, aided with a very mild sedative and I was tons better, but not great.

A big step forward was buying noise cancelling headphones. From the start of taxiing to pulling onto the apron after landing, everything is drowned out by my favourite music played loud. Honestly, you wouldn't believe the difference its made. Now, a flight is just a painful waste of 2-3-4 hours of my life.
 
Lord Tyrion said:
There is NOTHING irrational about not getting on rides. I'd need Bill Gates levels of money to get me on one and half would need to go on therapy afterwards. I'm off to Florida next week, we will be doing all of the parks. I'll be sat at the exit to each ride waiting for the family to come off them. You are not alone.
Click to expand...

I could have written this^^^

No way would I go anywhere near one of those things. If I wanted to be frightened I'll watch the wife in a clothes shop!
 
duncan mackie said:
Ps you won't get me on a roller coaster or most fairground rides - I know it's irrational but I wouldn't do it for large sums of money! Fortunately I don't need to do so to go on holiday but it annoys me!
Click to expand...


Nor me normally... When my lads were small and more recently with my grandsons and they've needed an adult to accompany them on the rides I've managed to get over my issues so's not to spoil their day out...


But, as for flying there's not enough of a 'happy place', in my mind, to even get me to the airport...
 
It's weird I'm OK on rollercoasters and with heights etc I have even done a few bungee jumps and I would probably have a go on a hang-glider, all of which are far more likely to get me injured. I don't think it's a control thing either as I'm ok on other forms of transport and I'm Ok when I am up there but it is just every noise and the worst during take off and that point where they throttle back when they reach cruising altitude (maybe headphones will help).

I haven't had a bad experience either per se I have experienced turbulence on a flight and bad weather but that didn't really trouble me as much as I thought it might

I think I'll blame the first final destination film a bit too realistic that one.
 
Someone made a good point early on, nothing irrational about a fear of flying. Irrational is seeing how those big planes stay up in the sky. Accept it is normal and you are not alone and that is a step up. Good shout by Hobbit about the headphones. Cheap ones are no good, you need them to block out the noise properly.

Good luck by the way. Holidays are meant to be fun and working yourself up about the flight before you go and then whilst you are away is not good.
 
Anyone who has flown into or out of Wellington, Melbourne, (the old) Hong Kong or Athens will either never fly or have no problems with any of it! I'm told Madiera has similar attributes!

However, you'll never catch me on a rollercoaster! The Todd-AO intros to movies put me off that 'recreation' for good many years ago!
 
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