Hi... newbie here!

[Andy_UK]

:) Hi all.
Thought I would say hi, I stumbled across this site today... reading that infact some other people have the same fear as I do is very reassuring.! :cool:

I am very very scared of flying... only since recently though, upto around 3 years ago I couldnt care less about flying and flew anywhere and everywhere I could.

I dont know what happened, I had one bad flight.... turb was so bad that it unlocked the oxygen mask doors and they sprung down! :( I was petrified.... this continued for over 2 hours, had a panic attack and since then.... I`m scared to death of flying...and get the same feelings every time.

Anyone else had turb this bad??.

Since this happened I have flown again... but not very well!!... mostly consists of drinking to calm me down... toilet trips every 10 mins and panic attacks in the airport....

Anyway.... off on holiday on the 27th July... Norwich UK to Mallorca Spain... and could use some friendly advice..

Sorry for rambling on.
regards.
Andy :thumbsup:

[Passenger Mark]

Hi Andy!

Welcome Aboard Taking Flight!

:usflag: :welcome2: :ukflag:

Having a bad (turbulent) flight is common in causing anxiety when flying. You are worried that it is going to happen again, and whether you realize it or not, your mind begins to fixate on it, and boom.. There is the panic!

What you have to do is realize that turb is no problem for the plane. It is a HUGE comfort issue for us... but the plane just goes right on flying along happy as a pig in mud!

If there is no danger... there is nothing to get excited about. And if you can "train" your mind on this, the anxiety will back down.

If you find yourself worrying about possible turb... just accept that there may be some... and move forward!

Again... Welcome!
</IMG></IMG></IMG>

[glamtart]

Hi Andy!

I developed my fear of flying the same way you did - through a flight with bad turbulence. The oxygen masks didn't come down, but there were people yelling and crying because we were bumping around so much. It scared the heck out of me.

But we landed safely. And I've landed safely on all of the flights I've taken since then... and I'm going to keep landing safely. If I took a flight tomorrow, I would land safely. It's hard to remember that when you're bouncing along at 33,000 feet, but it's true.

You're going to have a fantastic holiday, so don't let this plane ride ruin it. Take some comfort items (iPod, DVD player, books, games, whatever makes you happy). I like to take short, funny movies and TV show DVDs to keep my mind off any turbulence. You're going to be alright!

[Andy_UK]

Hi thanks for taking the time to reply..

:) yeah i will do that glam, taking ipod and nintendo to try and keep me amused.. its really only a short flight (2hrs 15min tops), opted out of the meal as I can never hold my fork steady enough to eat lol.

As im sitting here im actually looking forward to flying....i think..... but i know that will all change as I get in the airport and head straight to the bar! :blush:

is it true that alcohol makes you worse?

Only thing keeping me going is the thought of spanish beer and sangria!
Regards.
Andy

[kari]

All alcohol does is accentuate the state that you're already in.

Do not use alcohol as a coping strategy - altitute strengthens your reaction to it and you just don't know what's going to happen.

[Andy_UK]

Kari thanks for the reply.
Im going to try hard to stick to the soft stuff then.... at least until drinks service comes round at 35k feet.

What a good time to give up smoking! :eek:

[JPenny]

Welcome Andy!

The things that have helped me the most are:

1. Capt. Stark's book on flying
2. This website
3. Capt. Chance's DVD
4. This website
5. Ativan (anti-anxiety medication)
6. This website
7. Actually flying
8. This website

Get the picture? Stick around! Ask question. Enjoy the friendship you will find here. Soon you'll be flying again with great success!

Jean :wave:

[Earthbound]

Hi, Andy! At the risk of simply echoing what others have already written, I have to agree that this site and others like it are invaluable for overcoming the fear of turbulence. Personally, I've never been too afraid that the plane was going to fall apart, and for some reason, my normal apprehension of heights is not triggered in an airplane, but turbulence has always freaked me out.

Search the site for "turbulence" and read the posts -- especially Capt. Stark's great explanations of what turb is and what it means to the plane, pilot, and passengers. If you haven't already, check out "Captain Ray's Helpful Articles" in the "Ask Captain Ray!" board. There's a great article on turb in there that I found really helpful. I hear that Captain Stark's book, "This is Your Captain Speaking" is great, but I haven't had a chance to get my own copy yet. Also, check out Capt. Stacey Chance's site fearofflyinghelp.com (http://fearofflyinghelp.com) and take his free online FoF course for more nuggets of wisdom on turbulence.

With the resources I found here and elsewhere, I'm much less nervous about turb, and consequently my most recent flights (June 28 and July 12) were the best I can remember!

[Andy_UK]

Wow thanks all for your replies.

I really can relate to "armrest gripper".. im sure ive tried to controll the plane with mine. :D

I`m not really one to take anti anxiety meds. I have suffered with panic attacks for some time ( not related to flying ) after a period when i was not coping too well. He perscribed Diazipam which actually made me feel worse, gave me dizzy spells and feeling out of controll.

Couple occasional panic attacks, although they are LOADS better than 2 years ago, with a fear of flying... the only way i thought i could fly was to hit the bottle and ride through it.

I love going on holiday and in reality i love flying... just my brain tells me other things :rolleyes:

Thanks for all your good advice, I`ll try and write a flight report... as long as the missus shuts up for 10mins to let me think :angel:.

best wishes.
A

[Barb-SAN]

Hi Andy,

Welcome to Taking Flight. You've gotten lots of good advice already...I'll just add one for now...and that is to check out www.anxieties.com (http://www.anxieties.com). The other Barb on the board worked in person with the therapist who established that website, and has the highest praise for him. I have his book "Don't Panic", and also the Fear of Flying cassette program he put out...both are excellent. There is also a lot of free information on his website. As you don't want to take anti-anxiety meds or drink to excess...you might find his section on calming breathing to be very helpful. I learned after working with a biofeedback therapist that I could calm myself down very quickly by changing my breathing patterns. That's a great skill to use in many situations.

Good luck...hope you get a chance to read some of the other posts here too, and that you will enjoy your flight and holiday. Be sure to print out the "meet the pilot" letter too...this can be very calming in those pre-boarding minutes, and if they have time, the pilots may invite you up for a quick tour of the cockpit before takeoff too. Here's the link for the letter: http://www.takingflight.us/index.php?ind=downloads&op=entry_view&iden=1

[scaredy_cat]

Hi Andy!

Welcome! I'm an extremely fearful flyer but unlike your turbulent flight, I haven't yet figured out the cause of my fears. I made one flight three years ago and had a bad panic attack on the plane. I refused to fly again, but then this past May, had to make another flight for family reasons. It wasn't perfect, I was scared and hyperventilated, etc. BUT it was a lot better than the previous flight. The reason for that is Captain Ray's book and all the wonderful advice and help from everyone on this site. You have definitely come to the right place.

You should go through and read all the "sticky" topics as well as the trip reports in the My Flight forum. Nearly everyone on here has gone through what you're feeling and there are a lot of great tips for coping with these fears from people who understand.

Have a look around, and ask any questions you might have, we'll do our best to answer them!

[scaredy_cat]

Edit ** Double post

[Lynda]

Hi Andy,

Sorry for the late reply but Welcome to Taking flight. I am always glad to see new members but especially from the UK as Kari and I are outnumbered! There are a few other people from UK on here .

I am a little late to give advice as that as already been covered but keep reading , keep posting and remember flying is the safest mode of transport.

[kari]

I am always glad to see new members but especially from the UK as Kari and I are outnumbered!

You forgot cousin Royd!
:lol: