topic Re: Fear of flying in Community Chat

Fear of flying

Witchy Woman — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 21:59:41 GMT

The older I get, the more fearful I am of getting on an airplane.

If I never have to fly again, it will be fine.

My sister just returned from overseas from visiting her daughter and my husband and I picked her up at JFK. I realized I likely will never make an overseas trip and feel somewhat embarrassed by it.

This was not always so. When I was young, it was a real adventure and I even took ground school. I never got my license because I could not navigate and fly without getting airsick.

Guess those fearless, carefree days are gone.

Re: Fear of flying

colliegirls — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 22:01:14 GMT

I am with you, am not a fan of flying anymore. If I don't absolutely have to fly, I don't. A few bad and scary flights and I said "forget this s - - - "!!!

Re: Fear of flying

Q4u — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 22:06:54 GMT

My last airplane flight was in 2010 when my oldest son got very ill.... Flying in and out of Denver nearly stroked me out... very frightening. But I had to go, he didn't have anyone there to help him, and i'd do it again for anyone in my family. But don't be embarrassed about the fear of flying. There are more reasons than one to have a healthy fear of airplanes/flying these days....

Re: Fear of flying

Stray — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 22:13:38 GMT

Love flying and heading down under 1/17

Re: Fear of flying

MaggieMack — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 22:14:36 GMT

I completely get it! In my early forties I was almost paralyzed about flying so I took ground school to better understand the principles of aviation. It worked! Now, I just don't have the patience for airports and airlines. I do fly once a year to go to Las Vegas in October for a family golf week. Don't like it, but I do it. No interest in flying anywhere else.

Re: Fear of flying

onewhiteSparrow — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 22:16:28 GMT

Fear holds back most people. They miss out on experiencing fun and exciting things in life. It limits life.

As the old sayings go:

"Change your mind and change your life."

"You are what you think."

Snape out of it....and go have fun and experience more of life.

I mean this in a good way.

I hate to see anyone limit their life.

Re: Fear of flying

Kachina624 — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 22:16:31 GMT

It surely isn't fun anymore. You're crammed into a narrow uncomfortable seat, thigh to thigh with a stranger and probably no access to a bathroom without incurring the ire of you seat mates. There's no food and on some flights, no drinks unless you pay. All this after standing in several lines and walking about a mile. It's a wonder they ever sell a ticket.

Re: Fear of flying

sassenach1 — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 22:22:52 GMT

I understand and used to feel a bit like you do. For the past few years, I have been on at least 2 - 6 flights per week. I am no longer fearful and turbulence does not bother me at all. Part of it is that I fly so often and part is a peace and joy that I have gained about it.

There has been only one flight in several years that all of us - even the most frequent, seasoned flyer, screamed. It was a terrible storm and we dropped far.

Contrast that to driving/riding in a car. How often are there close-calls, near-misses, drunk drivers or bad drivers? I've experienced way more of those than scares on a plane.

I hope you find a way to enjoy or endure a flight. The world is a wonderful place to explore!

Re: Fear of flying

MaggieMack — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 22:29:03 GMT

@sassenach1, just curious, did you pick your nic from The Outlander?

Re: Fear of flying

deepwaterdotter — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 22:32:06 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
It surely isn't fun anymore. You're crammed into a narrow uncomfortable seat, thigh to thigh with a stranger and probably no access to a bathroom without incurring the ire of you seat mates. There's no food and on some flights, no drinks unless you pay. All this after standing in several lines and walking about a mile. It's a wonder they ever sell a ticket.

This is why I will always look for an alternative form of travel to flying.

Re: Fear of flying

GCR18 — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 22:52:40 GMT

I'm a white knuckle flyer, but I go. I get myself all worked up with every little bump. One day I looked around the plane and everyone was talking, reading, etc. Seemed I was the only one freaked out. Some how that gives me comfort. I've traveled quite a bit for work, but it's always like it was the first time.

Re: Fear of flying

Lucky Charm — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 22:54:52 GMT

We fly almost once a month. I could never fly alone.

Too much, go here, go there, get in this line, show them this. Take off this, don't do that.

I just follow my husband's lead.

That said, I developed a claustrophia of sorts. I have to sit in the front row. (SW doesn't have business class section). Just business class. It's the first 15 seats.

I can't look at the back of the plane ever. Too many seats, too many heads. I can't pay attention to the people boarding after me with their huge suitcases (carryons pfft). I have to zone out.

We went to a wedding in Chicago the weekend before Christmas. I talked to the woman next to me the whole flight about......QVC.

Re: Fear of flying

Shelbelle — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 22:57:58 GMT

I totally understand, we have not flown since 1979. And now for sure we will not be flying. I do feel bad that we will miss out on seeing so much of the great big world. My adult kids fly all the time.

Re: Fear of flying

hoosieroriginal — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 23:00:40 GMT

I'm not fearful - just don't want to deal with crowded planes, unruly people and delays - I used to fly a lot by myself, now I stay closer to home.

Re: Fear of flying

MacDUFF — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 23:10:05 GMT

I'm sure most of you have heard this one: "I'm not afraid of flying, I'm afraid of crashing." Yep. I never enjoyed flying even in my more adventurous youth...rarely flew if I could help it...give me a road trip any day. The last time I flew was Oct of 2001. I hope to never have to go near an airport or in an airplane ever again.

Re: Fear of flying

Yahooey — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 23:13:10 GMT

This is not directed at the ones that have a fear of flying but rather don't fly because of annoyances. No one likes cramped seats, long lines, no food and the list goes on and on. Flying isn't fun - period.

I look at it this way - it is not the flight - it is the destination I'm trying to get to. I want to lie on the beach or have a cappucino at St Mark's Square.

Flying for business is terrible. I remember I used to fly to Chattanooga and return the same day. 4 hrs there - of course there is no direct flight. Stay there for 2-3 hours and 4 hours back. Go back to the office the next day. Yuck

Re: Fear of flying

Burnsite — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 23:19:31 GMT

The inconvenience and discomfort of flying these days is one thing.

A phobia about flying is quite different.

Small upgrades can make flights more comfortable if you want them, but being terrified of getting on a plane will mean you miss a lot.

Everyone is different. My sister, who is also my best friend, also absolutely won't fly though she is a fearless driver. I had this phobia after a few scary flights during the 1980s, and I cured it only by flying every chance I could. I read a book about phobias that suggested you can desensitize yourself just by repetition.

It also said that fear of flying will tend to increase after two years of not flying. It's partly a matter of habit.

Once you look the phobia in the eye and fly, repeatedly, the fear will gradually, bit by bit, lose its grip on you.

You're still packed in like a sardine and being xrayed way more than is healthy--but statistically, airline travel (over 500 miles) is much, much safer than either driving or taking a train.

Witchywoman, if you just don't want to fly, then of course that's one thing. If you would like to but are scared. . . here is what worked for me. Take every chance you can to fly. If you look nervous to everyone, don't be embarassed. Just live through flying often, and the terror factor will slowly go away.

Irritation at airport delays, rude security guards, and ridiculously uncomfortable seats remain, but the freak-out potential goes away.

Incidentally, my last flight was on Iceland Air, which was no-frills and yet the comfort of their seats was (while nothing fancy) still a bit better than seats on other airlines I have flown to Europe, including British Air and Air France.

Re: Fear of flying

ladyroxanne — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 23:25:55 GMT

@Lucky Charm

i can identify with your post. i also have to sit up front or in first class. can never sit in the back or even look back there. i usually take something so that i sleep the whole flight and wake up when we arrive. it's much easier for me that way.

Re: Fear of flying

Tinkrbl44 — Thu, 31 Dec 2015 23:49:49 GMT

@Witchy Woman

Witchy, I read your post twice and am a little fuzzy on what causes the fear ...... the actual boarding of the plane, or being up in the air ..... or what? Did it come on suddenly, or was it the result of a bad flight (turbulence)?

Well, if you don't have to leave the country, I guess you can always drive or take a train.

Re: Fear of flying

AliJoi5 — Fri, 01 Jan 2016 00:01:39 GMT

Don't feel bad @Witchy Woman! At least you had some fearless, carefree flying days!! lol I have always been terrified since I was little. It's not so much that I think we will take a nose dive, but the problem is that I'm rather claustrophobic. I'm ok on any flight maybe 4 hours long or less, but above that... bring on the drugs! Ativan has been a big help for me with flying. You need only a very small dosage and I do not experience any side effects. I only take it for flying. It just takes the edge off.

But listen, flying aside, I feel your pain! I find as I'm getting older, I fear things I never did when I was younger. I was a wild child!! I'm sure that's a natural progression, but I also believe it has something to do with the times we live in. Scary times babe!