Hyperventillating newbie here!

[HOLLYWOOD]

Hello from a newbie, but a longtime lurker. I've feel like I already know everyone here as I've been following your posts for a while now. I'm such a fearful flier that my hands are shaking just writing to you all about flying! I've got it so bad that I don't even get out of the car when dropping people off at the airport! I won't even take people to the airport unless I absolutely have no other choice.

Well now, for reasons I can't get out of, I'm going to fly for the first time in over 20 years this holiday season. My first trip is to Anchorage Alaska and the other to North Carolina. I live in California, so both flights will be about 5 hours each. I'm hyperventillating just writing this to you!

I don't have a question, just wanted to introduce myself and to say I will be posting a flight journal after each of my flights. I'm off to the doctor's tomorrow to beg and plead for Xanax. Just wanted to say that if it wasn't for all of you posting on this board, I would not even attempt to take these upcoming flights no matter what the consequences. So a BIG THANK YOU to all of you posters who have shared your experiences! God willing, I'll be one of them too!

[spleisher]

Hollywood,

:welcome

Breathe into a brown paper bag. You're going to be just fine. If you've been lurking for a long time, then you already know what we're all about. We're a supportive, fun (if a little odd) group of folks who are always willing to help in any way we can. If you've been reading posts for a while, you probabl already know I tend to lean toward the technical, so if you have any "aviation geek" questions, fire away!!!


Scott

[Passenger Mark]

Hi Hollywood!

And welcome aboard... Great to have you here with us!

:welcome

Well... I can say I honestly know how you feel!

You most likely have read my testimonial, and can see what I am talking about. Last year this time, I was where you are now. So it can be done... Promise!

Hey and you are in California also! Don't you just hate our weather? 80 degrees today!!!

Again, welcome aboard!

Mark

P.S. And just for the record... Scott is the only "odd" one here! (just joking Scott!)

[spleisher]

Oh Puuuuuuleasssseee... Wasn't there a thread recently devoted to your toilet and mexican food!! But I am, admittedly... odd... It's ok... Im happy with that moniker...

[invert29]

Hey Hollywood (jeez, can we get some N.Cali people please;) ),

:welcome

You have come to the right place to get some help. I am still recovering from my fear but I used to be the same way. Just seeing a plane on TV would give me a panic attack and forget about going to an airport. I have been working on it though and I have flown a couple of times this year and have another flight for Xmas. I am by no means "cured" but this board definitely helps out. To me, the best part of it is realizing that we all share pretty much the same irrational thoughts and processes. It helps me combat my fear knowing that there are many people here who share my feelings. It is a very friendly, supportive board (as you probably already know).

Post your flight info and someone might be able to track you while in flight. Also, do you have a copy of Capt. Ray's book? It has become my flying Bible (and probably many other people's here as well).

And always remember, as Scott said, YOU ARE GOING TO BE JUST FINE!!!

Chris

[beaugest]

I'm so glad you decided to post. I think lurking helps but getting your specific concerns addressed helps even more.
I totally agree about Ray's book. It goes on every flight with me. And the last few days when I start to feel a bit anxious about this looong trip I have, I have reread different sections. I find I just read a few pages and relax. Hey Ray, we could market it as a new type of relaxation exercise...
How far away is your flight? Given your level of anxiety you may want to talk to your Dr. abouta long acting anti-anxiety med in addition(or instead) of Xanax. (and don't forget all the don't drink warnings with those meds).
I recently reread the testimonials. They are so inspiring. they also mean a lot because they are from people on here that we have seen actively work through their anxiety.
And no sympathy for you Cal. folks. It was 29 here on the East Coast when I sent the little darlings off to school today.
:welcome Monica

[HOLLYWOOD]

Thank you all for your reassurances! Discovering all of you here on this board has been a life-altering revelation for me. I really thought that all my nightmares and terror over flying was some sort of premonition. I thought I "knew" something about my fate. After reading all of your testimonials and posts, I was stunned to find out that we all had the exact same symtoms. I wasn't having a premonition after all, I was having a PHOBIA.

Honestly, I could have written any of those testimonials (except for the flying part). I truly thought that nobody had this fear of flying as intensely as I did. I too missed out on many trips, spent uncomfortable hours/days on buses and trains. I drove cross country several times rather than fly. I even got in a car accident on a cross country trip and ended up in the hospital because I wouldn't fly. I couldn't even get myself to go on an airplane SET here where I work at a studio. So, now I realize that I have a phobia, with symptoms that are very predictable. Knowing I'm having a phobia and not a premonition is making all the difference in the world to me.

I'm going to get Capt. Ray's book and sleep with it under my pillow! I'll post my flight info as soon as I find out what it is. I'm encouraging all lurkers to come out of the FoF closet as the first step to freedom. If I know you all will be watching me and cheering me on, then it's more incentive to actually get on the plane and stay on it and not pull a PM (PassengerMark)! Every journey begins with the first step. This is mine.

[YankssRule]

Hi Hollywood:

:welcome

I also thought that I was the only one with those fears. Then I came across these wonderful people and come to realize that there are a lot of people who have this fear. And a lot who are willing to help us all get through this. The support and help this group gives is incredible !!!!!!!

The people in this site are awesome and have helped me thru my problems with flying. They helped me make that decision alittle over a year ago to go to Mexico City with my sister, and I enjoyed every bit of it, and with the help and encouragement of these people I was able to get on that flight with some confidence and feeling that my flight will be fine and all will be well..and it was !

You will have a great time on your trips and your flights will be awesome. Bring tons of stuff to do, like gameboy/books/cards/walkman/CD player even portable DVD if need be. If I can do it, you can :)

Keep us posted Hollywood.

Janet :peace

[invert29]

I haven't written a testimonial but I will say that my fear cost me a long term relationship and almost cost me my marriage. That, of course, is in addition to numerous chances and opportunities missed because of the fear. You are definitely amongst friends here!

I know I have written this quote somewhere before, but it works for me so I will repeat it:)

"20 years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -Twain

So far in my life this definitely rings true. There are so many more things that I haven't done than I have. This is what drives me to conquer my fear of flying. Hope you can relate...

Chris

[Jeff California]

Welcome Hollywood.

I am just over the grapevine in good ole dusty Bakersfield:tiphat

Post your flight info and I will track you.

Hey, sometimes it helps people to take a shorter flight to get comfy.. Lets fly from LAX to vegas today!!!!!! I will meet you at the airport in 2 hours. I wanna play poker!!!!!!:fly

Take it easy.

Jeff

ps- I need to borrow a few bucks for Vegas. Thanks:cheers

[Debbielevis2]

Hollywood -- what a great name!! Is it real??? C'mon, kidding -- I'm blonde, but not THAT dumb. Okay, maybe sometimes. Oh, awright, most of the time. Anyway ---\

Hey, welcome to the club!! We're a great group of bright, intelligent, interesting, imaginative and extreeeeeemely caring people. We love ourselves, too, which is why we've decided it's okay to fly --- flying is NOT going to hurt us.

I don't have a testimonial on the board, but I can briefly tell you that I'd been self-grounded for 18 years, then flew with huge discomfort for several years. Now I really enjoy it.

I'm absolute living proof that there is Life After Fearing Flight.

The only thing you really need to do is to WANT to conquer it (well, you're here - so that's a good sign) and to WORK at it. It will NOT happen by itself. We can support you, hold you up, give you pep talks - everything you need. But in the long-run, it's going to be YOU, Hollywood, who provides the cure for yourself. :nod

You really want it? Then come and get it. It's here for the asking.

Debbie

[firsttimeposting]

Welcome!
I am a newbie here just like you. But the couple of weeks I've been talking to the people here have made such a difference. Sharing same experiences, having people support you for this common bond we all share is very comforting. Don't worry about your upcoming trip, these people are here for you! Everything will be wonderful!

[JamieAllison]

Hi Hollywood,

:welcome


I'm glad you decided to unlurk. I think most of us thought we were the worst possible case until we found each other. What really surprised me is that no matter what fear or omen or premonition or disastrous thought I could come up with, someone else (or everyone else) already had it! It's amazing how much it helps to know there are other people who really get it and know exactly how you feel.

Jamie

[xiknal]

The omens and premonitions really defy logic, don't they?
No matter what rational arguments we throw at them, they just duck for a few and pop right back up in mocking defiance. They seem to use all our intelligence against us.

But then...we discover that other people have the same omens, and suddenly--for some reason--their power is diminished! We see that the territory is mapped; other people have been there!

Mark likes to point out that it can't be YOUR plane that's gonna go down if it's HIS plane...somehow no more than one of us at a time can be marked for special torment.

It's a funny thing, isn't it?--that the phobia loses steam when it finds out that its tactics are known and shared, and sometimes :lol laughed at.

Hollywood, now that you have taken the brave step of committing to two flights (bravo to you for that!! :dragonslayer ), it seems that you might really benefit from a couple of practice trips to the airport. I know that up till now, going there has been over the line, but since you're gonna go there for real very soon, you might be able to soak up some normalcy and confidence by hanging out there and letting yourself "be" some of those travelers coming and going, and watching planes taking off and landing. Maybe go with a friend who understands your FoF, and make some notes and give us a report?

Barb