Am I nuts???

[Passenger Mark]

Ok... Don't answer that!

As yall know I started flying again in December 03, in since that "first" flight, I had another flight planned for about every three weeks. Always had somewhere to go.

When I returned from England, that flight home was so easy, that I felt that my FOF was well on it's way to being solved.

But since then, I have not been on a flight. Not out of fear... just have not had to go anywhere, and the opportunity has not come up.

I know this was discussed in another thread... but I think I am having airline withdrawal!!!!!

Maybe I am just tired of Southern Cal and want to get away.

I was hoping to fly to Tennessee for Thanksgiving, but that is not looking too good right now. So my next flight may well be in December when I head to New Orleans!

That will be over 3 months without getting on a plane!

I go by Ontario Airport everyday to/from work

Yesterday, while I was stuck in traffic, IN THE RAIN... :thundercloud I watched as planes took off overhead. I actually caught myself thinking... lucky folks in that plane... in a few minutes they will be in the sunshine!:sunshine

I also worry... what if I have lost everything that I have learned?? but because of the thoughts of WANTING to go on a plane somewhere... I don't think I have lost anything! But maybe my mind! :loco

Anyone else go through anything similar???

[Debbielevis2]

Well, yeah, but that has nothing to do with the following:

I find that it happens to me, too. Soon as I'm on the ground, I'm thinking "Oh, no! I don't have a reservation for anywhere!" Never fails.

What I think it is, serioiusly, is the intense desire to keep right on top of this fear. Not flying for a prolonged period of time always carries the threat of allowing the fear back in. The other probable reason being that we've almost (AHHHH!) come to enjoy flying and want to prove to ourselves that, yep! I do like to fly!!! Give it all to me - bumps, lumps, delays, whatever - I WANT to fly!

Let the psyc majors handle the reality. That's my take as a know-nothin'.

Debbie

[beaugest]

Well as a psych major...I do think you're both nuts. And me too. Only kind of people I like.
Deb, I think you're right that we want to stay on top of our fears.The more flights ,the more we stay in shape. Sometimes we really can work hard enough that we have a whole different perspective on the fear. Then we appreciate flying more than the non FOF. So, it not only becomes something we aren't afraid of but something that we appreciate and enjoy.
My only cautionary note is to remember what many of us have talked about. We can have 8 good trips than a bad one. Doesn't mean we've had a set back. Just means for a variety of reasons(could be a life stressor, a bad day, low blood suger) we just have a rough flight.
Monica:coffee

[WillFlyToDisney2]

No, Mark, you're not nuts. I totally agree. It makes me crazy :wired if I don't have a flight booked at all times. I just booked 4 more today (ACK!) for next week.

Come to NASHVEGAS! :)

Kelley

[xiknal]

Leslie and I discussed this on another thread, but I would like to add something from my perspective of having been recovered from FoF for a long time. In my case, that great yearning to be on an airliner went on for a couple of years. It was strongest during the first four months after I started flying again. But then, I began flight training, which supplemented the need in part (not all, though). The need tended to fade after a while, dunno why. I flew a lot during those first two years, and then it dropped off to maybe 15 segments a year, and more recently, more like 8-10. I don't feel that yearning like I used to. I miss it, actually, because with it came an exhilaration, a real sense of connectedness with--dare I say--a deeper and more spiritual reality.

I don't have 7-8 good'uns and then a bad'un, either. They have all been good--every one. I can detach from my stress (if I was stressed or rushed before the flight) and just observe it. Even if there's bad weather and lots of turb, it's still a good flight. I'm not a flatliner...I get excited sometimes, occasionally get a jab of anxiety but it passes leaving no residue. I love flying, and I have come to accept that as part of who I am, even though it's radically different from who I used to be.

But I will never be normal. I refuse, for one thing...:wired

[Chelle]

Barb :lol

Mark, nah, you're not nuts... well, erm.. not completely :crazy

I think it's great you're feeling that way, and thinking of where you want to go, rather than dreading your next flight and thinking of ways you can get out of it.

I think what you're feeling is what "normal" people who enjoy flying feel "Boy, I wish I could just jet off to somewhere nice right now" with more focus on the destination than the actual flight.

But about you being nuts.. that's still debatable :D

[MadScientist]

We can have 8 good trips than a bad one. Doesn't mean we've had a set back. Just means for a variety of reasons(could be a life stressor, a bad day, low blood suger) we just have a rough flight

Ain't that the truth! I have no idea why sometimes. Sometimes it just hits out of the blue and I'm painfully aware of every little sound that is surely signaling my demise. Other days, I just don't care.

I have to say that this guy, :hamster , has greatly enhanced my horror.

[WillFlyToDisney2]

I went for about 15 months after I started flying again before I had a flight totally freak me out. I was due to fly during one of the Hurricane/Tropical Storms and just internally felt a sense of panic. Reassurance by the pilots on the board and my first and only true visit to the cockpit did wonders to help me thru the 2 flights I took that day in the bad weather. :thundercloud

Currently I have 12 flights booked in the next 6 weeks (so far) and can't imagine NOT having any flights booked at all!

Kelley

[Passenger Mark]

Well... I may be booking one to Nashville afterall for Thanksgiving... working out the details... Gee I hope so!

And of course it will be on SWA as they have the only direct between ONT and BNA. Ok by me!

OH! And THANKS yall for confirming if I am TRULLY nuts or not! It sure pays to have friends!