Afraid of flying! Ha! Darn!

Forbidden Snowflake said:

Ok, so, what do I hate most? Flying, because those darn planes can come crashing down to the ground and I don't want to be in it at that moment.

I've avoided flying until now. When I was 14 I flew for the first time, from Switzerland to Philadelphia. I kept thinking we're dying and didn't move or eat or drink anything during the whole 8 hours.

Then, when I was 16 to Egypt. I bruised my friends hand during the flight and kept thinking we're dying and didn't move or eat or drink anything during the whole 8 hours.

Now, this year I face 8 planes. 8 times flying. (Zürich --> Sydney ---> Brisbane --> Sydney --> Perth --> Sydney --> Zürich --> Lissabon --> Zürich) Kill me!

How will I survive this?

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Have you won the Lottery? The chances are better of winning the Lottery than getting killed in an aircraft crash.

BTW- If perchance you have won the Lottery, take a boat…

pop a few sleeping pills and fall alseep before the plane takes off. the stewardess will wake you up after wards, thats what they are paid for.

Guess that takes getting drunk out of the question too...

Hmmm.... Try meditating or listening to relaxing music (Buddhist's Lounge is excellent). It's going to be quite the trip, so sticking to what works will be essential.

Forbidden Snowflake said:

I hate losing control. And I lose control in a plane. So, the most horrible thing would be sleeping on there and letting them have the last bit of control I still got over myself. So sleeping pills are out of question.

No, no Lottery, I know you're right but *sighs*

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I Agree with no pills, but for different reasons. You are going to get very dehydrated on the long flights and sleeping pills will only worsen the effects, plus screw up your internal clock big time. Just make sure that you drink lots and lots of water (alcohol is also a no-no on long haul flights), take a couple of good books and the reading alone will put you to sleep better than the pills! Also make sure you get up and move around every once in awhile

I can only assume that you know that the Zurich to Sydney flight involves at least one-stop, usually Singapore – total flight time is on the order of 25-27 hours, depending on direction of flight (East or West) and the winds. There are no non-stop flights for that distance. Do you know what carrier you will be using?

Robert Toy said:

Have you won the Lottery? The chances are better of winning the Lottery than getting killed in an aircraft crash.

BTW- If perchance you have won the Lottery, take a boat…

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No worries. If you win the Lottery and the plane crashes, you and forty others will just wash up on the shore of a deserted island inhabited by polar bears, wispy smoke, and creepy people who wear sackcloth and fake beards.

Forbidden Snowflake, maybe the best way to get over this fear is just to keep consciously facing it, with your eyes wide open and the intention to become a little bit less scared each time (don't forget, every time you step off your plane at the end of the flight is another time that your plane *didn't* crash, or something disastrous *didn't* happen).

Also, perhaps it's a good idea to find someone who helps people get over their fear of flying, and find out some helpful tips for staying calm before and during the flight. I Googled about a bit and discovered http://www.fearofflyinghelp.com/, which offers a free course on getting over the fear of flying. There were plenty more other resources out there too, including books, counselling, etc. Maybe there's something to suit you?

Good luck!
Camilla

I agree with Camilla. You can't just decide not to have an irrational fear.

Airlines also sometimes offer fear of flying "recovery" programs. I know a woman who's fear of flying greatly intensified when she became a mom, as did her desire to show her child the world and not pass that fear on to him. She did one of those airline courses and is a globe gallavanter now (YMMV).

Zanax may help too.

On one hand, I sympathize that you have to do so much of this scary thing, on the other hand, I'm totally freakin' jealous that you get to do so much travelling! Are you going to stop in and have a Foster's with poetinahat?

Forbidden Snowflake said:

Yes, I do. Malaysia Airlines. One stop in Kuala Lumpur. The flight from Zurich to KL is 12 hours and the one from KL to Sydney 8.
I also know that the biggest risk for accidents is during take off and landing, so I'm not thrilled.

And you're right with the dehydrating, it's one of my concerns. I feel very sick when I'm scared and won't be able to eat, usually I even have troubles drinking and with such a long flight that's not good at all.

@Camilla: Sounds like it should work. And thx

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In my previous life, Malaysia Airlines was one of my customers and they have a great record. When you make your booking (or alter it if you already have), just a few suggestions, order the veggie meals/fruit AND tell them you are uncomfortable about flying – they do take notice and will look after you…you may even get a free upgrade…

But, do try and drink a lot of water, and if you can stand it bring a small bottle of Visine or other eye drops to keep your eyes from drying out.

Take candy for the take off and landing, a good book to read in between, and what ever you do, don't forget to bring sinus medication. Don't ask, just trust me!

Buy the fear of flying Cd's my Captain Meryl Gatlain (sp) online.

They worked for me.

I suggest an MP3 player with several batteries and several hundred songs of your choice, or a portable game system if you're into that. Gum to chew during takeoff and landing, or some sort of candy to keep yourself swallowing to keep your ears popping. You want them to pop.

Also try to take along some snacks. The carbs may help relax you. Lots of water if you can. I second the decongestant - take one before you leave and it will help your sinuses fend off the effects of the cabin air. Eye drops are also a good choice. Try to avoid caffeine and alcohol - you will end up feeling like a prune and very thirsty.

Comfy socks to wear when you take off your footwear and try to curl up and sleep. Also a small pillow, if you have room. They never have enough pillows onboard.

And I am so jealous of your trip!! Hope it's lots of fun!

Relax, you'll be fine.

Karen

Forbidden Snowflake said:

Now, this year I face 8 planes. 8 times flying.
How will I survive this?

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Ambien.


Seriously, the odds of being in a plane crash (especially on commercial jets, even less on a transcontinental flight) is extremely small. You're more likely to choke on a pretzel than dying in a crash. It doesn't enter my mind that I would be in a crash -- if only I were so lucky... I should buy some lottery tickets.

Snowflake, the only way to deal with an irrational fear is through counterirrationality.

I recommend a three-pronged approach


a) the magic trinket.

Go buy yourself a magic trinket. I honestly don't care what it is... It has to be MAGIC to you, though. (Oh, and make sure it's not a knife or a screwdriver or something. NOTHING scares the piss out of you more than having TSA confiscate your magic trinket before you get on the plane).

Now, do a ritual. I don't know what kind, just make it up. A "this trinket is airplane-crash-proof" ritual. Burn a picture of a plane, eat ju-ju-bees, whatever.

KEEP THAT TRINKET WITH YOU WHEN YOU FLY -- and you will not crash.

b) the mandatory book report.

You can't crash. Not so long as you've got a book report to do. And buddy, you do. What book? Whatever hell book you buy right before you go. Pick a book you've always wanted to read, or a book you probably ought to read -- but NOT one you've read before.

When you get to your destination, you're going to HAVE to write a book report on it. So you'd best ignore EVERYTHING else, and get that damned book read. Hear me? Ignore everything else, and read like your life depends on it.

c) The Ronin Angel

Not every angel is on assignment 24/7. Many of them offer their services on-call, much like LAPD cops sometimes work as event security for the Rolling Stones. Make a trip to your local house of worship, put a little extra in the collection plate, and communicate with your deity, explaining the need for an angel escort for your trip. Statistics show that no one asking for a Ronin Angel has ever crashed.







There you go. Three counterirrational proposals to overcome your own irrationality. I hope they help.

Peanuts are worse.

By the last flight, you would be fearless.

If you ever survive your first 7, of course. My prayers are with you.

Stay calm. Thinking negatively only makes you more nervous. I was fine with flying when I was way little, but then when I was age 7-10 I was afraid to fly, then, after a while I went back to not being scared of flying, now I'm fine. I love it. Bring something to keep your mind off the flight, something to keep you busy like a book or magazine, since you have 8 flights, bring a lot of things to do, puzzles, paper for drawing (or writing!) and other stuff that will keep you occupied. I've gotten great story ideas from just sitting or looking out the window too.

I have a cure for your fear.

It's not easy.

First you have to give up, first you have to *know*... not fear... *know*... that someday you're gonna die.

Once you accept that you will die. Then there's nothing to hold you back any longer. You'll be free to do anything.


Because, like Chuck said, on a long enough time line everyone survivability drops to zero.

Then you really haven't given up have you? You're still afraid that you could die, not that someday you will die.

Snow, you will die. I will die. So will everyone else.

And there is nothing you can do to stop it. So, instead of spending your life worrying over somethinig you cannot control why don't you do something with your time?

Write. Paint. Compose. Do Something. Anything.

Your life is ending one minute at a time, Snow. It's up to you what you do with that time.

I had a bad flying phobia but being born in new zealand, well, not flying was sure going to limit my options. I also use to get so travel sick I lost my sense of balanace and could barely walk.

Here are some things I did. Strong but low effort distractions for you brain. i found musicals or plays on CD--preferably something I was really interested in. Sometimes comedians can be good too. If you can read or watch a movie without getting sick that can help. save up a bunch of stuff you really, really want to see for the trip. the more it holds your attention the quicker time will pass. But keep in mind that you can;t have electronuic devices on for the worst bits (take off and landing).

Personally I prefer to have a window--yes it's scary but not looking is even worse.

No pills as the effects can be unreliable and it's bad security if you are alone--who knows what perv or theif is seated next to you?

I research airlines with great safety records and use them. It helps to know an airline has *never* lost an international passenger. I mean what are the odds you would be the first? (e.g. Qantas, they maintain their fleets really well).

As for thinking about death--hell, most people are afraid of death their whole lives--I am not depending on having a metaphysical breakthough any time soon.

You are only truly dead when there is nobody left on earth that remembers you.