Anxious Flyer

Paul.M92

Ok so here is my dilemma I hope this is in the right place. I am seriously considering going to work in the US for the summer... My problem is I am a terrible flyer.... It usually starts on the day I am supposed to fly, I start to break down if I'm at least 4 hours early for my flight and even if I am I get all jittery after security. Then comes the flight... I can barely manage a 2 hour flight to France but 6 hours 40 mins. I need some tips for getting over flight anxiety and fast if I am every going to consider searching for a job there...

highlydebased

What is it in particular about the flight that has you jittery?

Paul.M92

I totally wish I knew.... If i could only tell what makes me so nervous I could do something about. It could be in relation to my crippling fear of heights but I have never reacted on an aeroplane in the same way I would lets say on the top of a tall building. I usually get dizzy and collapse... but that has never happened on a plane...

Snowc

Tell your doctor about it op and he will prescribe you xanax or another drug to calm your nerves .

Howjoe1

Snowc wrote: »

Tell your doctor about it op and he will prescribe you xanax or another drug to calm your nerves .

agree. my wife got xanax from the doc and she was fine going to ny and back.

ps..don't mix alcohol with them

Locker10a

Paul.M92 wrote: »

Ok so here is my dilemma I hope this is in the right place. I am seriously considering going to work in the US for the summer... My problem is I am a terrible flyer.... It usually starts on the day I am supposed to fly, I start to break down if I'm at least 4 hours early for my flight and even if I am I get all jittery after security. Then comes the flight... I can barely manage a 2 hour flight to France but 6 hours 40 mins. I need some tips for getting over flight anxiety and fast if I am every going to consider searching for a job there...

i know a few people with fear of flying. They said the following help their anxiety. Distract youself onboard with a dvd etc. On transatlantic flights most airlines provide inflight entertainment so this should help you. Pay attention and watch the cabin crew onboard, flying is their job, they are well used to it, they will be relaxed and acting normal, seeing this should help you relax, as basic psychology shows we react to the the bahavior of those around us. Also my friends looks up a website where you can see a radar view of all the flights in europe! Seeing the vast ammount of flights made her relax more as it made her realise how many flights take off and land everyday without incident ! Also watching Air crash investigation apparently can help too as they explain the reasons for accidents and show the changes made to prevent such things from happening again. Understanding things can help us get over fears.
Hope this helps, if you have any questions id be pleased to help anwser them.

CatFromHue

How are you on a boat?
http://www.iglucruise.com/queen-mary-2/10th-june-2012_c55238-inside-cabin

These guys where on the radio a while ago and seem to think they could get rid of your fear of flying.
http://www.flyfearless.com/

pm.

Howjoe1 wrote: »

agree. my wife got xanax from the doc and she was fine going to ny and back.

ps..don't mix alcohol with them

Have to agree flying is my biggest fear but when i take 2 valium with 3 pints it doesn't bother me that much..... evening thinking about getting on a plane now is making my stomach turn with fear its horrible

xflyer

Aer Lingus have apparently been looking at a fear of flying course again. Got that info straight from the source. Have a look into it.

My main reaction to flying now is boredom, even when I'm the pilot.

Bessarion

pm. wrote: »

Have to agree flying is my biggest fear but when i take 2 valium with 3 pints it doesn't bother me that much.....

That's a not really a good thing to recommend to the OP.

Isn't valium a 1 per dose medication?

Shannonsider

As mentioned above, educate yourself and understand how flying actually works. It might make sense when you kpnw how planes work, how they react, and how they are controlled.

I used to be very nervous in a plan but I learnt a lot about flying and aviation. I've even had a couple of flying lessons and now I'm mesmorised by flying!

As mentioned also Air Crash Investigation helps to understand the workings of a plane, once you ignore all the dramatic parts!

Best of luck. As Sir Edmund Hillary said 'it's not the mountain we conquer but ourselves'

CharlieOscar

Hi OP,

As shannonsider said, educate yourself a little on how aircrafts work. I am learning to fly and going solo likely next weekend.

I was told this a few months back, flying, driving, any movement of any sort all boils down to Maths!!! There is a formula for how almost everything in life works.

An aircraft is regularly inspected by aircraft engineers, pilots have to do a simulation either every 6 months, or every year. So you are in safe hands.

What I would advise you is be excited about flying not nervous. When you are going down to the gate, buy a flying magazine, have a read of it. Aircrafts are very sophisticated pieces of machinary. If you cant distract yourself, try to fall asleep. Good look in your new job too!!

sparrowcar

Knowledge is your strenght here as stated in one or two posts already.

Learn the basics of commercial flight and what the various different sounds/noises are. Knowing some of these and their timings can help. Many people hate parts of take off and landing because of the noises and movements of the aircraft. If you learn what these are and why they happen it will relax you so much more.

Your negative thoughts of flying just need to be retuned to thoughts of happyness or relaxation. Look at a 6-7 hour flight as 6-7 hours to chill out with a book/dvd/game and not feel guilty for sitting on your arse for 6-7 hours

Have a look at this guys youtube site and this video...he's a commercial A318 pilot. It makes you want to go flying after wathcing it.

Video http://youtu.be/nYDba1UsgHc
YouT site http://www.youtube.com/user/rodrigodavi

Finally a quote that gets me through situations that make me anxious. "Courage is not the lack of fear but the ability to face it".

Take the job, do the flight and have no regrets, you're alive this long <----> and dead this long <

---

infinity!

pm.

Bessarion wrote: »

That's a not really a good thing to recommend to the OP.

Isn't valium a 1 per dose medication?

maybe so but when you are scared ****less you will do what ever it takes to get on the plane, depends on the mg of the tablet

Stinicker

A friend of mine got over her fear of flying by taking the bull by the horns and getting some flying lessons over in the UK where she lives!

Paul.M92

Just letting you all know that I put the job on haitus... having problems with the visa application so my mate is gonna help me when he gets back from NY next month but I'm not sure if the application will be done in the right time period... also have to renew my passport otherwise it will expire while I am over there... Definitely going to book one of those fly fearless courses... did take a few minutes to look up flights... not really bad value, I did honestly think it would be more expensive... :P