a year later...

[mik]

hello all... Last year i had several post in here seeking some support because i had suddenly felt afraid to fly due to "omens" that i saw before my scheduled flight. I cancelled 3 times. Sadly, i had never gotten on the plane back to the philippines. I never posted back because i felt so ashamed for not being able to pull through and absorb all the advise i got from all you nice people who responded. I just kept reading post after post for about a year.

On monday, i had rescheduled the flight. Sure enough i feel absolutely terrified. Sure enough my "signs" got stronger. However I don't think i can cancel anymore. Hopefully everything goes well that on tuesday, when I arrive in the Philippines, I could post back how i got throught it.. Thanks for all the helpful posts...

[mkahanek]

No hopefully. Everything WILL be alright. That is fact.

We have to remember that sometimes these feelings and omens beforehand are tricks of the mind. Tricks because the mind knows that you will soon be in a situation where you can not use your natural built in responses to a perceived threat. That is fight or flight. Your mind thinks you will be in situation where you are in danger, but at the same time can't do anything about it. This fake danger that your mind is creating can not be fought. There is not one to fight. The other defense is flight. Runnning away. Well at 35000 feet there is no where to run. So your brain will try to trick you in to not putting itself in a position where you can not use your defenses against a danger that does no exist.

Get on that plane. The freedom and liberation you will feel on the other side is unmatched.

[aerobat]

Hi, mik,

mkahanek is right. It is your brain trying to persuade you that you will be in danger on the flight. It is your brain trying to persuade you that your experience of fear on the flight will be unbearable...after all, consider how uncomfortable you are now; it can only get worse, right? Wrong. So the "omens" are bogus :rolleyes:; there's nothing real to protect yourself from.

I used to have omens too. It was such a relief to discover the truth about them. :tongue:

Once we accept that we are only afraid of fear itself, and that fear itself is just brain chemistry, then we can work on antidotes for ourselves.

It might help if you can tell us which--among the thoughts and comments in the posts you've been reading--you've found most comforting. Hopefully we can help you make them even more comforting.

I am glad you've rebooked and have committed to the flight. Now it's time to start getting more comfortable with your commitment.

Hve you visited www.anxieties.com (http://www.anxieties.com) ?

Barb

[StPeteMark]

... However I don't think i can cancel anymore. Hopefully everything goes well that on tuesday, when I arrive in the Philippines, I could post back how i got throught it.. GREAT NEWS...KEEP MOVING FORWARD! :thumbsup: After a year of reading posts, I'm sure you know what tools will serve you best! Looking forward to your report from the Philippines!!!
.

[Barb-SAN]

hello all... Last year i had several post in here seeking some support because i had suddenly felt afraid to fly due to "omens" that i saw before my scheduled flight. I cancelled 3 times. Sadly, i had never gotten on the plane back to the philippines. I never posted back because i felt so ashamed for not being able to pull through and absorb all the advise i got from all you nice people who responded. I just kept reading post after post for about a year.

On monday, i had rescheduled the flight. Sure enough i feel absolutely terrified. Sure enough my "signs" got stronger. However I don't think i can cancel anymore. Hopefully everything goes well that on tuesday, when I arrive in the Philippines, I could post back how i got throught it.. Thanks for all the helpful posts...

Hi Mik,
I remember responding to you last year, and have wondered from time to time if you made it back to the Philippines to see your family. I was just rereading some of your posts from the archives, linked here: http://www.takingflight.us/forums/showthread.php?p=46427#post46427

I hope you've picked up some tips from reading here for the last year, and wish you the very best on your flight! You can do it...and think of how happy your family will be to see you! :)

[mik]

Hello all. As always, you guys are very supportive. But once again, thank you for all the reminders. Objectively, I know what almost everything mean. However, when you go to a place where you normally don't go then see a person working there with a tshirt print "CRASH" very boldly, it's still scares the heck out of me :)
Anyway, scared or not, I'm going through with this 18 hour flight (total that is) because my wife and my daughter can't wait any longer. Thank you for all the encouragement. Hopefully everything goes well and you'll here from me on tuesday...

[Barb-SAN]

Hello all. As always, you guys are very supportive. But once again, thank you for all the reminders. Objectively, I know what almost everything mean. However, when you go to a place where you normally don't go then see a person working there with a tshirt print "CRASH" very boldly, it's still scares the heck out of me :)

Anyway, scared or not, I'm going through with this 18 hour flight (total that is) because my wife and my daughter can't wait any longer. Thank you for all the encouragement. Hopefully everything goes well and you'll here from me on tuesday...

Are you thinking that T-shirt was an OMEN? Remember it's all in the way that you choose to interpret what see.

If you really want to take that flight, it might help to look for positive omens that will tell you that you have made the right choice to book the flight and GO. For example...that you posted here, and that we remembered you from last year, is a GOOD SIGN that there are some people here who want you to be successful, and have a nice flight with your wife and daughter, and go to visit the Philippines, and see your family, and eat some of that delicious food. :)

If you make your mind up to look for them, you will see positive signs all around you, telling you to move forward, and take that flight.

Now...have you printed out the meet the pilot letter? How old is your daughter? Would meeting the pilots be helpful for her too? Does either she or your wife have any worries about flying?

Do you have your "goody bag" packed with lots of activities to keep your mind busy for 18 hours? How about a neck pillow and an eye mask so you can sleep for awhile if you get tired? What airline are you flying on? Have you looked it up on www.jetphotos.net (http://www.jetphotos.net) to see some pictures of the plane, how it looks inside, etc? Oh...there's lots more questions we could ask...but that's enough to get you started! ;)

And yes, please...we do hope to hear from you when you arrive at your destination in the Philippines. :hyped: :hyped:

[aerobat]

mik,

The T-shirt you saw means nothing. Zip.

Now if I saw somebody with a T-shirt that said "Barb's Plane Is Going to Crash Tomorrow!!" I would do a double-take. :eek: I would gently poke that person to find out (1) where s/he got that shirt and (2) whether the person her-/himself is a hallucination.:tongue: :lol:

But what matters is: you have been worrying about the flight, you saw the (meaningless) T-shirt, and got a jolt. And that jolt has registered in your emotional memory as if it were a real warning. That's why you need to do something that erases or at least weakens it.

Try a visualization: when the image of that shirt with "Crash" pops into your mind, do thought-stopping (using the fat rubber band...ask us ASAP if you don't know about this :)) and then replace it with a mental image of a T-shirt that says "Good Flight, Safe Arrival". :thumbsup:

You can turn the tables on omens...put 'em to work for you.
Have a wonderful trip!!! :)

Barb

[mik]

I have not printed that paper, i don't know where it is. Anyway, I'm only travelling with my oldest daughter. My wife and my youngest got left behind in the philippines, and they're anxious to see us.
At this point I'm really terrified, but im still going. Thanks for the good posts and reminders..

[Barb-SAN]

I have not printed that paper, i don't know where it is. Anyway, I'm only travelling with my oldest daughter. My wife and my youngest got left behind in the philippines, and they're anxious to see us.
At this point I'm really terrified, but im still going. Thanks for the good posts and reminders..

The letter is in the download section on the main page. Here is the link: (download and print)
http://www.takingflight.us/index.php?ind=downloads&op=entry_view&iden=1

Oh...if your wife is waiting for you in the Philippines, then you have a VERY good reason to fly, don't you? She and your daughter will be so excited and happy to see you both. Imagine how much they miss you, they will be crying tears of happiness to see you and your daughter walk off that plane. And, your daughter will be good company and comfort to you on the plane too. Will you be carrying her picture with you to give you strength and courage, and remind you of why you are flying? ;)
Have a wonderful trip, and great family reunion! :D :hyped: :hyped:

[Invert]

Ahh, the good ol' omen dreams. Yep, mine should start tonight or tomorrow.

It is important to remember it is only your fears coming to the forefront of your conscious...that's it.

Just think how good it is going to feel to hold your wife and your baby in your arms once you get to the Philippines :hug:

Chris