Flying nerves

G-Money

A little background I suppose first would help. I've never been a fan of flying. I don't freak out uncontrollably and go into spasms or anything about it, but I really don't like it. I can't relax and I don't really enjoy it that much. I've been to America and back twice, and been to Australia and back so I've done the long haul flights more than once. Plus I've been to a few places in Europe too so I've done the short haul flights.

The thing is that I think my dislike of flying is getting worse. I was away a few weeks ago, first to Belgium and then a while later to Italy. The flight to Belgium wasn't too bad, 1hr 30 mins going over and 1hr 15 minutes coming back. The flight to Italy was a bit longer, 2 hours going over, 2 1/2 hours coming back.

For some reason on the flight back from Italy, I was incredibly tense and unable to relax. My senses are always somewhat heightened and I feel like I'm listening out for every little noise or thing that might seem off with the plane. I had a group of lads behind me on the flight back from Italy and I'm sure once or twice I heard one of them say "oh what was that, that didn't sound good". And this just made me feel more tense. Normally all these thoughts are in my head but hearing someone else say the same thing made me feel more uptight.

The thing is that now I think it's beginning to limit where I can go. For example I wouldn't mind going back to America but the thought of sitting in a plane for 8 hours just seems like too much. I literally feel like I would go insane being cooped up there for so long and it would make an 8 hour flight seem much, much longer.

Before I was somehow able to get through the flights but now I feel like I couldn't hack it. It's not so much the fear of flying. I just feel like I'd go stir crazy for some reason being on a flight for so long. And I don't just mean feeling a bit bored. I mean literally feeling like my head is going to explode as I'm so fidgety and restless and desperately want to get off the plane.

I think perhaps I'm developing some sort of anxiety thing which I guess I should talk to the doctor about. But at the same time I have this feeling that it's all just in my head and if I could just calm down, I'd be fine.

I'm not looking for medical advice to diagnose if I have anxiety. I just want to know if anyone else has been in the same boat as me and if so, what happened.

coolcat63

I'm not a fan of flying but refuse to let it stop me traveling. I use Xanax (on prescription - 1/2 a tablet 30 mins before take off and 1/2 once on board) as necessary for short trips* and 1/2 a Stilnox (also prescription) to sleep through boring flights to the USA. I might get shouted down but I don't have a problem with using chemicals - rather than booze! - to deal with a specific anxiety.

* for most short trips I simply engross myself in a good book and ensure I sit in an aisle seat so that I ignore what's going on around me.

Hope that helps.

Edited to add: on a flight last week to Sicily the pilot aborted landing due to side winds which frightened the life out of me but I stared at the attendants who carried on with their nattering - I figured if they weren't bother than I needn't be either!

LegacyUser

Hi OP,

Am exactly same as you with regard to flying maybe not quite as bad but close. As soon as I book a flight the anxiety started and a few days before the actual flight would be unable to sleep. If a friend suggested a spontaneous weekend in London I would find excuses not to go. As I have gotten older it has gotten worse!

I guess some things I can share with you about my fear flying. Firstly, I think it's a very common problem - I don't think there is many people that love flying but they just got on with it.

I am naturally an anxious person and tend to presume the worst in general - I think this links into my fear of what could happen on a flight. I think this is some kind of cognitive distortion or cathastrophic thinking pattern. if you think about it pilots and attendants fly everyday as their job. Yet. I presume the one or two flights I take a year will be the ones that will be problematic.

I also discovered I have issues around control in my life in general. Being on a flight you are handing your control over to another person and being out of control for me creates lots of anxiety. Does this ring true for you? Do you have issues with control in your life?

I think for me the fear of flying can represent some deeper underlying fear.

Before I take a flight, I take stock of my life and presume something bad will happen. I make promises with myself that if the flight goes ok, I will quit smoking, eat healthy etc.
Maybe this is some fear of death and I think about all the things I would change in my life.

When you think about it logically if something goes wrong on the flight there is very little you can do so worrying is not much help - its just a waste.!

maybe book a few sessions with a therapist. I think its symptomatic of anxiety and control plus the fact that being cooped up in a sardine tin in the sky goes against our natural instinct!

Sorry this is rambling - hope it made some sense.

kamituco

what exactly is it that is bothering u?

if its safety then realise that flying is the safest form of transport. the airplanes are services thoroughly regularly.... the regulations on those things are so strict these days... theres no such thing as a shoddy mechanic.... the company who owns the planes are liable to get shut down if something goes wrong and its a mechanical issue with the plane. they wont risk anything less than top aircrafts.

u need to define what exactly about it that is bothering u about flying