New here and flying in 2.5 weeks

[tomball]

I am scared. Not incapacitated. Just fearful. I know that I can make it through the flights. I fly from Indiana to Oregon twice a year to see family. I know I can do it, but it's just so uncomfortable. This fearful stressed out feeling is so uncomfortable. I have investigated other ways to travel to the west coast but flying is the best option. I just wish it were easier for me.

All started in 1999 when on a small plane (12 passenger) and got caught in a storm. Was like being on a roller coaster at 15,000 feet. Felt very scared. The extreme turbulence lasted about 5 minutes. The next year while flying on another small twin engine plane, one of the engines went out. The plane turned around and flew uneventfully back to the airport that we took off from. Then the next year was 9/11 and everyone's worst image of planes crashing into buildings.

Since then it has just been tough for me to fly. I still do it but I really wish I could just relax and not be so bent out of shape. The worst is when turbulence hits. I fear that I'll get another roller coaster ride like I did in 1999.

It feels good to post this where people who understand will read it. If anyone has any really good tips about what helps you, I'd love to read them. Thank you very much.

[aerobat]

Hi, tomball, and welcome! :welcome:. We've got a town here in Texas named after you. :)

I know exactly how you feel. It's called 'anticipatory anxiety' and it starts weeks or even months before a flight. And it sucks.:sigh:

If you read through the archives, you'll see lots of recommendations for a self-help site called anxieties.com.

www.anxieties.com (http://www.anxieties.com)



I hope you'll check it out. For many years it never occurred to me that there might be some back-door way to dismantle my fear of flying...the head-on bludgeoning sure didn't work. My fear just got worse. Specifically, my anticipatory anxiety got worse, and because it goes on and on and wrecks one's daily life so thoroughly, I started to cancel flights or bail at the airport. Then--as a natural progression--I quit flying.

You haven't done that; good. :thumbsup:

I had experiences like yours which exacerbated my fear. In fact, I was not in danger, but the brain that's saturated in stress hormones doesn't know the difference.

So we're here to help you find the back door and pull the plug on the fear. It's the way to do it, no matter how much you soak up the statistics (which are necessary but not sufficient). Things can change dramatically; they sure did for me. :tongue:

[tomball]

i've heard of tomball, texas, but i got my nickname when i was first learning to write my name and i found the wonderful new 8 by 10 photo of me that my mother had just gotten made and i was writing my name on the photo. mom caught me before i could finish writing my last name. my brothers thought that was hilarious. so i became tomball.

anyway thank you so much for replying. i think i will spend a lot of time at the website you suggested.

[bellevueace]

The link recommended above is a very good starting point, for issues with turbulence its well worth reading the jello thread on this site, it really does help and the explanation helps you to understand how its not a threat to the safety of the aircraft.