Anxious fliers?

Lady is a tramp · 25-03-2016 12:30AM

MacauDragon wrote: »

where the f*** are people getting all this xanax from.

i want some.

I was wondering the same myself. From what I've heard doctors are very slow to prescribe benzos these days, probably rightly so!

HardenendMan · 25-03-2016 12:33AM

Candie wrote: »

Or they have phobias, which transcends such simplistic analysis.

Sure isn't that the very definition of a phobia. An irrational fear. Just can't comprehend how people have phobias. I'm uber rational, often to my own detriment (empathising).

25-03-2016 12:37AM

HardenendMan wrote: »

Sure isn't that the very definition of a phobia. An irrational fear. Just can't comprehend how people have phobias. I'm uber rational, often to my own detriment (empathising).

A phobia is a strong dislike, fear or aversion. The phobia is irrational, but that doesn't mean the person is. A person can be extremely rational in every way, but their fear of flying or mice or spiders impedes their ability to reason the fear away.

An overwhelming fear inhibits your ability to think or act rationally. Besides, the OP still flies and still behaves rationally, he/she just can't get past the fear.

rubadub · 25-03-2016 12:38AM

Timberrrrrrrr wrote: »

Every single one made by the company who said they could do it the cheapest.

I work in the manufacturing industry, I guess you don't...

We certainly do not always use components from companies who said "they could do it cheapest", nor do most people doing DIY etc. I don't see why the airplane manufacturers would be any different.

MacauDragon wrote: »

where the f*** are people getting all this xanax from.

Many I know get it illegally.

HardenendMan · 25-03-2016 12:50AM

Candie wrote: »

A phobia is a strong dislike, fear or aversion. The phobia is irrational, but that doesn't mean the person is. A person can be extremely rational in every way, but their fear of flying or mice or spiders impedes their ability to reason the fear away.

An overwhelming fear inhibits your ability to think or act rationally. Besides, the OP still flies and still behaves rationally, he/she just can't get past the fear.

But isn't that a bit like its always sunny except when it is dull? How can a "extremely" rational person be so irrational? A phobia is surely a key indicator that someone is irrational no?

25-03-2016 12:52AM

HardenendMan wrote: »

But isn't that a bit like its always sunny except when it is dull? How can a "extremely" rational person be so irrational? A phobia is surely a key indicator that someone is irrational no?

No, the phobia is a phobia because it's a anomaly. It's something exceptional in terms of how the person usually is. Otherwise they'd be terrified of everything.

So a person can have an irrational phobia, but be perfectly reasonable in every other way. People with phobias know the phobia is irrational, but the fear stops them from transcending it.

HardenendMan · 25-03-2016 12:58AM

Candie wrote: »

No, the phobia is a phobia because it's a anomaly. It's something exceptional in terms of how the person usually is. Otherwise they'd be terrified of everything.

So a person can have an irrational phobia, but be perfectly reasonable in every other way. People with phobias know the phobia is irrational, but the fear stops them from transcending it.

Thanks for the additional insight. I suppose I can understand it a bit better now. I can especially relate to your last sentence: "People with phobias know the phobia is irrational". The wife is an OCD nutcase and she knows its daft!

failinis · 25-03-2016 01:16AM

Thanks everyone (don't feel like quoting all the people who replied).

I can see it is irrational - enough so that I bring myself to the airport and inflict that level of stress on myself, all because I know its very unlikely anything bad will happen.
Just a part of my brain is switched on to full panic mode so the whole experience is

I may sound like I am shooting down everyones advice, its just because I am so up tight and can barely see how the suggests can help.
Once I am get off the flight I will be able to see the merit.

I really think the main thing (besides worrying I will miss the flight) is the noise. I sit with headphones or literally hands over my ears.
Any sudden change in noise my brain screams the plane is going to lose an engine or something stupid like that. I remember I was at the rear of a flight last year by the toilet.
Someone flushed the toilet and I jumped up in fright not realising what it was!

I think I should invest in noise cancelling headphones/ear stops.

Turbulance scares me, as it would many people.
I read a good article last year which broke down what turbulance was and how it effects the plane and its very very unlikely to bring a plane down. It just gives people a start. So that was good (but it still scares me but I can go to my logic and say its over all okay).

Someone said about fog and such at Cork.
I was flying home to Derry from London at Christmas in 2015. Almost every flight to Dublin, Belfast and Derry was cancelled or delayed. Except 3 flights including mine.
We flew into gale force winds, pilot tried to land, had to abandon it twice. When we finally went to land the plane was blown suddenly to the right.
We slammed into runway very very roughly.
We had 30mins sitting on the plane waiting as it was shaking side to side with the wind and it was too dangerous to bring the steps over.
That really shook me up but I always have been like this.
I am flying into Belfast Int. this week though.

rsh118 · 25-03-2016 01:17AM

Have a look on flight radar 24 to see all the planes in the sky at any one time.

None crashed.

HardenendMan · 25-03-2016 01:25AM

rsh118 wrote: »

Have a look on flight radar 24 to see all the planes in the sky at any one time.

None crashed.

+1 that really opens your eyes - air travel has been one of man's most successful feat of worldwide collaboration.

rsh118 · 25-03-2016 01:27AM

HardenendMan wrote: »

+1 that really opens your eyes - air travel has been one of man's most successful feat of worldwide collaboration.

I'm a good flier in fairness, but any time I'm feeling nervous I do that, and immediately get reminded how brilliant the aviation age is!

25-03-2016 01:28AM

Get the noise cancelling earphones OP, and instead of music download ambient sounds. If noises are triggers, then it should help.

HardenendMan · 25-03-2016 01:30AM

failinis wrote: »

Thanks everyone (don't feel like quoting all the people who replied).

I can see it is irrational - enough so that I bring myself to the airport and inflict that level of stress on myself, all because I know its very unlikely anything bad will happen.
Just a part of my brain is switched on to full panic mode so the whole experience is

I may sound like I am shooting down everyones advice, its just because I am so up tight and can barely see how the suggests can help.
Once I am get off the flight I will be able to see the merit.

I really think the main thing (besides worrying I will miss the flight) is the noise. I sit with headphones or literally hands over my ears.
Any sudden change in noise my brain screams the plane is going to lose an engine or something stupid like that. I remember I was at the rear of a flight last year by the toilet.
Someone flushed the toilet and I jumped up in fright not realising what it was!

I think I should invest in noise cancelling headphones/ear stops.

Turbulance scares me, as it would many people.
I read a good article last year which broke down what turbulance was and how it effects the plane and its very very unlikely to bring a plane down. It just gives people a start. So that was good (but it still scares me but I can go to my logic and say its over all okay).

Someone said about fog and such at Cork.
I was flying home to Derry from London at Christmas in 2015. Almost every flight to Dublin, Belfast and Derry was cancelled or delayed. Except 3 flights including mine.
We flew into gale force winds, pilot tried to land, had to abandon it twice. When we finally went to land the plane was blown suddenly to the right.
We slammed into runway very very roughly.
We had 30mins sitting on the plane waiting as it was shaking side to side with the wind and it was too dangerous to bring the steps over.
That really shook me up but I always have been like this.
I am flying into Belfast Int. this week though.

I know a few people in the business, engineers and pilots. Some reassuring facts;

It is heavily regulated from a technical point of view. Every part double checked, paper trail for all work. Aircraft makers don't cheap out on parts.
2. The pilots deal with turbulence every day. They know in the end the plane just wants to keep going. They would have to put huge effort into losing control. They are less stressed going through turbulence than you would be reversing into a car spot.

rsh118 · 25-03-2016 01:31AM

Candie wrote: »

Get the noise cancelling earphones OP, and instead of music download ambient sounds. If noises are triggers, then it should help.

Holy **** this is true. Bought the Bose ones thinking 'ah, they'll be a novelty but not that great.'

Then CLICK, silence. I could feel the plane vibrating, but sounds? None! Bose QC25s. Worth every penny. Worn them on numerous 14hour flights. Don't even have sound, just flick them on and bathe in the silence.

25-03-2016 01:33AM

rsh118 wrote: »

Holy **** this is true. Bought the Bose ones thinking 'ah, they'll be a novelty but not that great.'

Then CLICK, silence. I could feel the plane vibrating, but sounds? None! Bose QC25s. Worth every penny. Worn them on numerous 14hour flights. Don't even have sound, just flick them on and bathe in the silence.

Yes, I know a few people who can't fly without them now.

My old flying instructor used to do courses for nervous fliers and he told me they were the single most effective thing people could do short term to alleviate sensitivity to triggers.

Fiona G · 25-03-2016 01:40AM

I'm an anxious flier too OP. I study physics at university and I understand how the plane flies etc but as you said all logic and rational thinking seems to be replaced with sweating and mind racing once I'm in the air!!

One thing that seems to help me is to just watch the air hosts and hostesses go about their jobs. I think to myself "if they're so calm and relaxed then everything must be fine" and it actually does help. I find listening to music can be good too but I spend a lot of time taking the earphones out to check if there's any dodgy noises which is counter productive... Wish i could just sleep through flights like a normal person

failinis · 25-03-2016 01:48AM

@Candie - I think I will before I return back here again.
I never really tried to work out exactly what I dislike, I just think of it as a fear of flying, but breaking it down to noise as the main issue is something I should have found obvious!!!

@Fiona G - My father has been known to fall asleep before take off! I wish he past that skill to me.
I try and watch the air hostess' calmly offering tea and nearby passangers too. I often get badly envious of how calm other passangers are - till I remind myself I am the odd one out not them.

dfx- · 25-03-2016 02:54AM

taytobreath wrote: »

back to back episodes of seconds from disaster and air crash investigation should sort ya

my 'favourite' ones or most fascinating ones are the air alaska one with the jackscrew lubrication fault in the tailfin and the british airways flight to malaga where the engineer replaced the windscreen the night before with screws which were 'almost identical' but were slightly too short.

FanadMan · 25-03-2016 03:32AM

Do like my friend. Sit by the window with seat belt on, snuggle up under coat/blanket and try (pretend) to sleep while gripping my hand hard. And then be "surprised" when we start to descend. God love her, she hates flying but still has to do it.

failinis · 25-03-2016 06:49AM

OH I just looked up the price of noise cancelling headphones. Might try ear buds for now to just dull the sound. Its often a propeller plane (like Flybe) so its pretty loud I feel.

@fanadman I know exactly how your friend feels ha. I try and distract my brain like "Cover my ears and often close my eyes cause I am not on a plane just a noisey old bus."

Ive been up since 4 and going to leave soon for my trains.
I will be fine, just up tight and anxious until I get my feet on solid ground. Tired and exhaused but fine.

I hope this thread may help any other nervous flier if they read through suggestions.

Irishcrx · 25-03-2016 09:37AM

I don't enjoy it , But I do it if I had to.

I watched way too many episodes of Air Crash Investigations (As in all of them) which has made me far more nervous about flying since.

25-03-2016 09:39AM

Many years ago I was going on hols with my mates. Turned out one of them was a very nervous flier too - only he was an airplane mechanic. That didn't help :P

Menas · 25-03-2016 09:50AM

I hate flying. But I travel a lot for work/holidays.
Everyone has different coping mechanisms. Mine is to listen to music and have a drink before the flight. Dont be getting thrashed though - your fear will come back double!
And on the long haul flights dont be taking sleeping tablets if you are not used to them!

smurfjed · 25-03-2016 10:50AM

Get yourself some earplugs and eyeshades, get a window seat so that you aren't disturbed, forget the liquor, get onboard, get yourself relaxed, use the earplugs and shades and ignore the world around you. Airplanes will make some strange noises, especially the hydraulic pump on an Airbus, but these noises are normal.
Remember that the crew are trained and they are actually one of the professions where they have to do continuous training every six months, so they can respond to any eventuality and they also have a great desire to get home to their families so they won't take risks.
So sit back and enjoy yourself

failinis · 25-03-2016 07:02PM

Well, I survived, as I expected but the nerves still screwed with my head for days in the lead up.

From this thread I think I will see a Dr about it, be it something to chill me out, or just any suggestions from them for advice.
I did not have earphones today but I bought some ear plugs which dulled it out (so I could not tell if the noises had changed).
landing was a bit turbulent. Primrose oil (bach recuse remedy was used as well).
Once I land I am tired but fine, its all in the dreaded build up.

Headphones (noise cancelling) are my first plans to try and help, because I will be flying an awful lot over the next few years.

Thanks

picturehangup · 25-03-2016 08:28PM

Also very nervous, following an aborted landing in North Carolina two years ago. Plane almost on the ground, then with a roar of the engines, we were pushed back into our seats, and up in the clouds again, for a second go at it.
Also flew across the Atlantic (same airline, would avoid like the plague again) with lightening, and severe turbulence in an old aircraft three seats across each side of the aisle. These happened in the same twenty four hour time frame. Now, I take a xanax, and can't go without it. Does the trick, as I love travel, and refuse to be left behind.. Hate flying.

Aineoil · 25-03-2016 08:47PM

Candie wrote: »

No, the phobia is a phobia because it's a anomaly. It's something exceptional in terms of how the person usually is. Otherwise they'd be terrified of everything.

So a person can have an irrational phobia, but be perfectly reasonable in every other way. People with phobias know the phobia is irrational, but the fear stops them from transcending it.

Thank you for that post Candie. I suffer from panic/anxiety attacks and I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy.

I never suffered from them in my 20's or 30's. But in my late 40's everything changed and I must admit that my first panic attack was an awful experience.

I used to love flying and you couldn't keep me off a plane when I was younger. Now I hate flying and haven't been on a plane since 2008.

What changed? I just became fearful. Yes, the fear is irrational and I don't understand myself why I changed.

25-03-2016 08:51PM

Aineoil wrote: »

Thank you for that post Candie. I suffer from panic/anxiety attacks and I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy.

I never suffered from them in my 20's or 30's. But in my late 40's everything changed and I must admit that my first panic attack was an awful experience.

I used to love flying and you couldn't keep me off a plane when I was younger. Now I hate flying and haven't been on a plane since 2008.

What changed? I just became fearful. Yes, the fear is irrational and I don't understand myself why I changed.

Well that sounds awful and you should see if there's any medical help for the fearfulness. It must be very hard to live with.

I hope it gets easier for you. X

25-03-2016 08:54PM

Irishcrx wrote: »

I don't enjoy it , But I do it if I had to.

I watched way too many episodes of Air Crash Investigations (As in all of them) which has made me far more nervous about flying since.

If you're a nervous flier, it's probably not a good idea to watch those shows.

I like watching them because I know in all the cases featured, something valuable was learned that has made aviation safer for everyone else since. That's probably something to keep in mind, that every disaster has made you safer. Sad that it happened that way, but true all the same.

It's never been safer to travel by air, and it's always been safer to travel by air than any other means of transport.

roadrunner16 · 25-03-2016 09:01PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ET61sWyDew

I used to be a nervous flyer and then I saw this vid, everytime the plane starts to take off I have to hold back laughter.

(this guy isn't actually afraid of flying he just left his phone at his girlfriends house without locking it.)

Anxious fliers?

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