Shamelessly begging....again

[Strange333]

Hi Everyone,

So here I am...hand poised over the book now button. I want to take a flight from MCO to CMH and I am almost there, but... Sometimes I'm OK and sometimes I'm not. Right now I feel like I could just hop on any old plane (I am, of course, reading the post here), but tomorrow I don't know if I will be able to do it. I did get some Rescue Remedy today and have taken some to see if it helps, but...to fly or not to fly...to fly or not to fly...

I am either going to go with SWA or Delta. I LUV SWA because of their fun service and I do believe their planes are very safe...(Plus, who knows maybe one of Ray's friends will be flying me!!!:) ) But, Delta has the advantage because I can take an Embraer 145, which is a smaller plane. (I like smaller planes much better)

I just don't know which one to go with??? Which one will I be more comfortable with??? Should I do this at all??? (I know the answer to that one!!!)

:smokin <-----me smoking like a freight train...one Marlboro...two Marlboro...three Marlboro...more

At least I've gotten this far. A few months ago I wouldn't have even been at the book now button!!!

WHAT SHOULD I DO?????????????????????

Shamelessly begging...again

Nich

PS my goal is to be in the air on or by FEB. 7th

[WillFlyToDisney2]

BOOK IT and make the anticipatory anxiety calm down. Delta and SWA are both GREAT airlines. I would bet GOOD MONEY that whatever SWA pilot you get they will KNOW Ray (the man knows everyone!).

Have a GREAT flight. :)

Kelley

[Passenger Mark]

Ray does know everybody! That is the truth!

I have to be careful how I behave on SWA flights, as it is bound to get back to him!

Now to your flights...

First off... Why are you ashamed to be asking for help?

I don't get that. Not at all. The ENTIRE reason I started this website was to give folks a place to go for support and help. The social side of it is fun, but is secondary to the help. Sometimes the fun stuff IS help!

But regardless... do not feel ashamed for venting, asking for help, etc. That is THE purpose of this board. To help you get on that aircraft!

I agree with Kelley... you are putting yourself through a bunch of pain agonizing over this decision. You know you want to go... you know you will be safe... you know you will get support here... so why not book that flight. Just do it!

After you have booked the flight, you have that part behind you, and can be working toward your goal!

But DO NOT ever be ashamed!

Mark

[beaugest]

Nich, book it. We'll all be here helping you to get on that plane. Picture yourself writing the "I did it" report after your trip. :pompoms
Don't make yourself to crazy about the details of the trip. Pick the one that seems to make you feel the most at ease and book it!!!

[Strange333]

Hey Everyone,

First let me just say that I'm booked! I am on SWA flight 491 on Feb. 7, 2005 from MCO to CMH. I booked this date because it is the soonest that it may be possible for me to be gone for a few weeks. But, I won't know for sure for a couple of weeks. That is why I finally settled on SWA because I might have to change the date and they will just credit the money from that ticket onto any new one I buy. The only really bad thing about this flight is that Orlando is about 45 Min. from where I will be living (I'm moving in two weeks) and I have to get a ride there because I am going to be gone for at least two and a half weeks. My ride is going to be dropping me off at 6:00 am and the flight isn't until 3:00pm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, I guess it will be espressos and a good book.

I'm excited and nervous. I really hope the pilots and FA are great (I know SWA's people are the best, Ray). I've decided to take the old pen and paper and write a real time flight report.

Mark...

I don't really mean that I am ashamed of asking for help (or anything else for that matter). I just sometimes get angry at myself for being "weak" when it comes to this FOF. The logical part of my brain says that having FOF does not make me weak, but that testosterone-driven, macho-dude part of my brain just has to contradict. (I think that is the part that keeps whispering, "You can't do this...You can't fly...ect) This has had more impact, on my life, than I ever realized and it is very frustrating.

Being here has been the ONLY factor that has put me on the road to recovery and I am very thankful that you started this board. I believe that the biggest help has been speaking with people that know and understand my fears. I don't know about everyone else, but most people just laugh when I tell them I have FOF.

Well, I must run. I just thought of something else to worry about and I have to go ask Ray about it!!!!!:cry

Nich

[xiknal]

Nich, I hope Mark won't mind my jumping in and responding to this, but it is so familiar to me:

__________________________________________________ __

I don't really mean that I am ashamed of asking for help (or anything else for that matter). I just sometimes get angry at myself for being "weak" when it comes to this FOF. The logical part of my brain says that having FOF does not make me weak, but that testosterone-driven, macho-dude part of my brain just has to contradict. (I think that is the part that keeps whispering, "You can't do this...You can't fly...ect) This has had more impact, on my life, than I ever realized and it is very frustrating.
__________________________________________________ __

I was very ashamed of my FoF and considered it a terrible character flaw and a weakness so great that I told no one about it. That was one of my many mistakes. I, too, have a macho-dude part of my brain (read my testimonial) and it was baffled, and p****d. And I was grounded,too--most ironically, during the time I was a professional caver in Belize and taking the biggest risks of my life.

It's a phobia, which means basically that it's a neurochemical accident. It's no more a sign of weakness than a broken leg from a skiing accident. Unlike a broken leg, though (which our friends readily understand when we say we can't dance), it's hidden. The beauty of this community is that is not hidden here. That really helps us take back the power we have conceded to it.

[beaugest]

the good thing about being a therapist is knowing that EVERYONE (and I do mean everyone) has some sort of issue or concern that they need to work on. I recently worked with a bodybuilder that had a serious fear of spiders. This guy looked like Hercules and would go nuts if he had to deal with a spider. Macho has nothing to do with fears. If the @#%$ fears were logical they wouldn't exist at all. I really believe that working on a fear and actively trying to get past that which is scary is what makes one strong. And once you do it ---it becomes a confidence builder in many other areas of your life.
I know I sound like I'm standing on a soapbox but I really do believe it.

[WillFlyToDisney2]

Ugh I hate spiders too! I think my worst nightmare would be flying on an L-1011 in a bad storm with SPIDERS. Blech!

Kelley

[Amelia]

I will make a complete fool of myself to get away from a bee. I've never been stung so I must be doing something right. :) I've said petty much the same thing...except my worse fear is being on a plane with a bee. I worry about the doors being open while they put the food on the plane. A bee could fly right in. Or maybe he could get in through the crack of daylight between the jetway and the plane door. I don't care about keeping the seat belt fastened. If I spot a bee I'm up and running. Picture a crazy woman running up and down the aisle. Amelia

[xiknal]

MaryPoppins once told a story about a flight attendant she met who really helped her feel better on the flight. Turns out the FA was terrified of spiders...so, when I was writing various FoF limericks, I wrote this one for her (Amelia's post reminded me of it): :lol

The FA relaxes awhile;
The ground is beneath them a mile;
A little black spider
Rappels down beside her!
Now screaming, she runs up the aisle.

But I don't mean to make light of the 'heavy' stuff in this discussion. We DO all have things which unnerve us, and I agree completely with beaugest. Those who are brave have become so by facing fear. Only a flatliner is fearless. Another of my favorite thoughts is that fear is energy waiting to be transformed into triumph and accomplishment.:thumbsup

[Passenger Mark]

The person who has never experienced fear...

is the person who has never experienced true success.