easyjet flight

[fearful1]

i am flying with easy jet in a few weeks, the flight has been booked by a freind as a surprise ( i am not supposed to know until the day) since i found out i have been a nervous wreck and will continue to be so. Everything about flying terrifies me (movements, sounds, smells, fear of mortality). Initially i wanted to try and get out of going but at the moment i am feeling i should try and tackle my fear but i dont know where to start and have a limited time and budget to work with. What can i do to try and conquer this and do easyjet offer any assistance for petrified passengers?

please help.
thanks.

[MathFox]

:welcome2:

There are several ways to tackle FoF; quite a few of our members tackled the problem by themselves, using sites as http://anxieties.com/ for information and you can come here for encouragement or with specific questions. If you know an anxiety therapist in your area, a few sessions with him/her can help you immensely. If you don't know one personally, you can ask your family doctor for a reference. When talking to your doctor, you can also ask him for some anti-anxiety prescription medicine.
How much each option will cost you depends on your insurance. If you can get (and afford) one or two (group) therapy sessions, take them. (Contact your doctor now!) Work through some of our recommended Internet sites (the Resources link).

We can help you better if you explain "Everything about flying terrifies me" more: is it a "losing control" fear, claustrophobia or similar "being packed with strangers in a confined space" issue.

I have flown EasyJet and compare it to riding a touring car. (However, it is safer and faster to fly an airline than to ride a bus.) Eat something before you get on the plane or bring a snack. Buy some water (or soft drink) in the airport to bring on the plane. (After passing security)
If you ask nicely the Easyjet staff will help you. It might be a good idea to print out our "meet the pilots" letter (see "general discussion" and hand it to the gate attendant (the Easyjet employee near the gate who takes or scans your boarding pass) about 30 minutes before boarding starts. meeting the pilots and seeing their confidence helps.

[fearful1]

Thanks for the post. I think its partly a control thing, i hate the clunks and sounds, smells and movements that are made during flight, i spend my time thinking 'is it supposed to do that?' I have a fear of something going wrong. i also find the movement makes me nauseous and dizzy. The whole experience just petrifies me, i hate being shut in there knowing i cant get out. Its almost like i need to have someone constantly telling me what every little sound and movement means.

I keep trying to rationalise it by thinking that there are people who fly every day without problems and by trying to think of it as a normal life activity, but i am not having much success. The worst bit is waiting to take off then the actual take off itself. Landings not nice but better than take off as it signals the end of the flight. i am thinking of heading to spend a day at an airport watching planes take off and land but i dont know if it would help or not.

[MathFox]

Thanks for the post. I think its partly a control thing, i hate the clunks and sounds, smells and movements that are made during flight, i spend my time thinking 'is it supposed to do that?' I have a fear of something going wrong. i also find the movement makes me nauseous and dizzy. The whole experience just petrifies me, i hate being shut in there knowing i cant get out. Its almost like i need to have someone constantly telling me what every little sound and movement means.


You sound as much as a control freak as the average pilot... only they have the knowledge to interpret all of the sounds and movements (and often direct them from the cockpit). A little knowledge about aerodynamics (how do planes stay in the air) and planes (what are all of the panels on the wings for) will help you in interpreting the sounds. The way a plane turns feels strange (unless you are a regular bike passenger) and can cause motion sickness; looking out of the window helps against motion sickness (and you have a great view up there). There are some drugs that can help.
A strange question: do you also feel uncomfortable in elevators, a similar "locked in" feeling?

I keep trying to rationalise it by thinking that there are people who fly every day without problems and by trying to think of it as a normal life activity, but i am not having much success. The worst bit is waiting to take off then the actual take off itself. Landings not nice but better than take off as it signals the end of the flight. i am thinking of heading to spend a day at an airport watching planes take off and land but i dont know if it would help or not.


Watching planes take off and land safely will help in desensitising you, but that is a slow process that takes longer than two weeks. There are some tricks (thought stopping, breathing and relaxation exercises) that are pretty effective and can easily be learned in two weeks. (Dutch therapists claim an over 90% success rate in their one (full) day group therapy course.) Start with the FoF track at anxieties.com, soak in and prectice as much as you can in two weeks.

[fearful1]

I can go in elevators, the movement makes me feel really dizzy and sick though (even if im only going a couple of floors) i seem to be extremely sensitive to movement and am aware of every turn.

i am going to book an appointment with my gp to see if i can get some medication, but im really struggling with the other aspects of my fears.

[MathFox]

I can go in elevators, the movement makes me feel really dizzy and sick though (even if im only going a couple of floors) i seem to be extremely sensitive to movement and am aware of every turn.

i am going to book an appointment with my gp to see if i can get some medication, but im really struggling with the other aspects of my fears.

It sounds like you are prone to motion sickness... mention that to your gp, it will help him in finding the right drug (or combination.)

Try to relax. I know that is easier said than done, buy try anyway. Stress strengthens fear and fear induces stress, so if you:magic:break the loop, you'll be more comfortable. You can work on the mind (thought snapping, immersing yourself in a distraction, ...) or on the body (muscle relaxation, slow breathing, ...) Find out what works best for you, you can use multiple techniques if you like; try to maintain the relaxed state for some time (5, 10, 15 minutes).

For a long term solution: find out what worries you about flying, and make notes... A good tool is to make a flight logbook where you can write down your pre-, in- and post-flight feelings and observations. Also write up what techniques work to calm you down.

[Lynda]

I also have motion sickness fairly bad and elevators also have the same effect on me.
Stugeron available in the UK works well for me, it is an over the counter travel sickness pill. like aLL MEDICATIONS YOU STILL NEED TO CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR IN CASE YOU HAVE OTHER MEDS THAT MAY NOT BE COMPATIBLE OR A MEDICAL CONDITION.

Royd one of our Moderators is an easyjet pilot, you never know he may be your pilot!

[fearful1]

Thanks for that, i have just got some stugeron off my gp, he has also given some valium.

I am flying on thursday and am trying to stay as positive as possible. I am hoping to go to the airport tommorow to sit and have a coffee whilst watching and listening to take off and landings in a hope it will make it all seem more normal to me.

i have to get over this fear as i and my family are missing out.

x.

[Barb-SAN]

I am hoping to go to the airport tommorow to sit and have a coffee whilst watching and listening to take off and landings in a hope it will make it all seem more normal to me.
Great idea about going to the airport. You might consider making that coffee a decaf. ;)(Caffeine is a stimulant and can make some people more anxious).

[fearful1]

Thanks for the tip.
my trip is on thursday and despite all my preparations the nerves are really getting me now. Ive had a bit of a sore throat and earache for 5 days which is making things worse as i know my ears may play up with the altitude changes. (i have ,however just about managed to convince myself that the earache is not a sign that i shouldnt go on the trip).

Its amazing the things that the body does as a reaction to fear- common sense and rational thought seems to have gone out of the window.

[Barb-SAN]

Ive had a bit of a sore throat and earache for 5 days which is making things worse as i know my ears may play up with the altitude changes. (i have ,however just about managed to convince myself that the earache is not a sign that i shouldnt go on the trip).
You might want to discuss that with your Dr.
Personally, I wouldn't fly if I had an earache and was too congested to equalize the pressure in my ears with changes in altitude.

[Falcon]

It may have been mentioned before but tell the crew you are a nervous flyer. If they have time they will gladly chat and show you the office. You are not alone, try and focus on enjoying yourself at the destination. At least you have this tiome to prepare.