getting really anxious

[m5todel]

Hello everyone, I am flying out on July 4th from SFO and my anxiety is really hitting me. I am seeing a behavioral cognitive psyhcologist tonight to help me. I looked on the internet and researched all my planes because we are taking 3 different ones, and the get increasingly smaller from a boeing to a embraer 145 to a beech 1900. I have researched the crash stats and the are low for each one and they seem safe. I have also looked at youtube to see what the take off will be like for each of the planes in order to desensitize myself. The take off is the worst part for me because of the vertigo I experience and the sensation. I am also worried about the "shear winds" that cause accidents during take off. How likely is a shear wind? Any sort of support helps. I have already started crying, which is my typical response. I am trying to settle myself by breathing and doing visualization, but each time I picture being in the plane I remember how small it is the fear sets in. Anything helps:( Thanks so much.

[Barb-SAN]

That's great that you are going to see a psychologist this evening. I hope that will be very helpful. I'd suggest taking a notebook and writing down what goes on in the session, or at least immediately afterwards, so that you remember the suggestions. If you'd like to share them here too, that might help to reinforce the ideas for you, and perhaps help someone else reading here as well.

I wouldn't spend time worrying about shear winds. It's unlikely to be a problem...and it is more important to spend your time thinking positive thoughts. Think about the view from the window, imagine yourself having wonderful adventures visiting new places, etc. Look up some images on Google Earth of your destination, and imagine yourself enjoying your time there. Go to Google Earth, and visit San Francisco, and imagine yourself watching the view over the city after your plane takes off.

Think about walking around in nature today and tomorrow, and feel the sun on your face and listen to the birds sing. There are many ways to spend your time today and tomorrow that will make you much happier than obsessing about shear winds and unlikely plane disasters. ;)

You might find it useful to read through Tattooed Jared's and Hoosier's posts to see how stressed they were by Anticipatory Anxiety. Be sure to read how they felt after the flights too. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :) That is a good reminder that the anticipatory anxiety (and "what-if" imagination) can be the hardest part of flying. Many of us find that we calm down a lot once our trips are underway, and we've met the pilots, and are in our seats, ready to go.

I think you will do fine, once you make your mind up that You Can Do It!!

I'm sending good thoughts your way...and hope that you have a wonderful trip! :)

[aerobat]

I am also worried about the "shear winds" that cause accidents during take off. How likely is a shear wind? Any sort of support helps.

That sort of thing is extremely rare (wind shear causing an accident on takeoff). There was a major accident many years ago outside New Orleans, but that was not standard "wind shear" at all but a violent microburst. Equipment now exists to detect microbursts; pilots will not fly into them (in spite of sim training in which they practice it). I hope you can just accept this and relax...and don't go looking up that accident!

As our recent "reformees" have observed, the anticipatory anxiety is by far the worst part of a fear of flying. But it's important to not just know this; we need to work on it, as you have started to do.:thumbsup: The work we do to reduce anxiety and build trust in the pilots and the airplanes has a longterm payoff: we don't have to keep recycling though AA and tense flights and kissing the ground on arrival, having it start all over again the next time we have to fly. We become better, happier fliers. You can, too.

I wish you the best of fortune and success with the psychologist--good call! :tiphat: Keep us posted as the flight approaches.

Barb