Just need to blow off a little steam...

[noflyingfan]

My flight to Cleveland is about a week and a half away, and now the nerves are kicking in. I had a dream last night that I was about to board and I was scared stiff; I was nauseous and just terrified. I know it wasn't a premonition or anything, and that dreaming that doesn't mean my flight's going to be horrible, but I think I had that dream because I've pushed thoughts of the flight out of my head. So I thought I'd use this space just to say that I'm nervous, and I hate flying.

I did, however, watch Airline tonight, since I'm flying Southwest and figured looking at Midway on TV might make me feel better about flying. It didn't really, but it did remind me to make sure I look cute when I fly, just in case the camera crews are there.

[spiffyone]

You will be FINE :hamster

I know you know that, but sometimes the pre-pre-anxiety thing gets unmanageable.

We all have it. It doesn't mean anything.

It's OKAY...:flowers REALLY.

spiffy

[xiknal]

Looking cute...a little touch of humor can be a big saving grace! :lol

I think you are right about the dream; it's nothing more than a reminder that you have been pushing the flight out of your awareness, and now it's starting to intrude. :nag

Most of us know exactly how you are feeling, Erika. I used to go through prefright, er, -flight jitters just like that. Sometimes it got so bad I would cancel...but from what you have said elsewhere, I don't think you are going to bail.

You are committed to flying, and that is good.
The flight will be safe, and probably uneventful, and that is good.
You know a lot about flying, and about your fear of it, and that is good.
Your dream has now reminded you that here it comes...and that is also good (the reminder, that is).

Are you reading Captain Ray's book? Getting your travel distraction/calming kit and resources together? Getting all the errands out of the way so that on the day of the flight you have little to do besides go to the airport with plenty of time and just soak up the normalcy of it all by watching the other travelers and the planes depart and arrive?

The nervous feelings are NOT fun, but you will find that you can handle them, and that is a very good thing which can be built upon.

You have lots of support buddies here and hopefully a tracker or two.

Your flight will be just fine.

Barb:)

[Barry11702]

Yep, the pre-flight anxiety is the worst for me also. But the best feeling of all is after you land and are taxiing to the gate, and you know you did it. What's helped me the most is knowledge. Knowing how the plane works, about the redundant safety systems, how turbulance won't hurt the plane, etc. If it wasn't for that knowledge I never would have gotten back on an airplane.

I still have a long way to go, I still need to work on the anxiety that pops up a day or two before the flight. The anxiety before the flight is worse then anything I feel on the airplane itself.

[noflyingfan]

Thanks, you guys. I already feel a little better about the flight.

Yeah, I don't think I'll bail. I'm a commit-to-something-and-do-it kind of person, even with stuff that scares the hell out of me. It would take more than just anxiety for me to back out of a flight.

I haven't gotten a chance to pick up Ray's book yet; I should, though. It sounds like it's helped a lot of you. One thing I think will definitely help me is the fact that I flew just a little over a year ago. I've never been a frequent flier (as they say, "if God had meant man to fly, he would have given him more money"), so every time I get on an airplane, it's like a completely new experience for me.

I'm still trying to figure out the best in-flight activity for me. The hardest part of flying for me is takeoff; once we're cruising, I can usually read, if it's nothing I have to pay much attention to, and during landing I like to look out the window, but during takeoff, I'm just helpless. I can't concentrate on reading anything (too passive, too easy to let the eyes wander), and they won't let you listen to music. Also I think that singing and screaming is probably frowned upon. I think I'm going to have to give myself some sort of task, like listing all of the U.S. states and their capitals before we hit 10,000 feet.

And I'm still trying to decide between a few cocktails before the flight and a few well-chosen pills prescribed by my doctor. I really think that the pills would be the smarter choice, but cocktails would be more fun. On the other hand, if by chance they are filming Airline at Midway that night, both pills and drinks are guaranteed to make me do or say something really stupid. I can see it, "next on Airline, fearful flyers gone wild!"

:hamster :hamster

[WillFlyToDisney2]

Ugh! EZboard ate my post so here it is again. :\

Hugs Erika! Here are a few fun suggestions for keeping your mind occupied: :idea

**Take Huey's list with you and commit it to memory. Do as many as you can before the plane wheels lift off the runway! :read

**Sing to yourself the School House Rock song of your choice (I suggest the Preamble - "We the People, in order to form a more perfect union"...). :yippee

**Spell all of the streets in your neighborhood backwards. :beep

**Count the blondes in front of you on the plane. Next the brunettes. Next the Redheads. Etc.... Now mathematically calculate the percentages of each (how many are blondes overall?). :noevil

**Hum Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus. :duck

You get the picture. :) The key is to keep your mind occupied! Before you know it you will hear the DING of 10,000 feet and you can listen to your music (although "Achy Breaky Heart" will keep repeating in your head no matter how hard you try to drown it out!). LOL :headphones

HUGS!
Kelley

[Passenger Mark]

Hey Erikca!

You will do just fine...

I know that this pre-flight stuff is a pain, but just keep telling yourself, that this flight will be behind you, and you will wonder what you were worried about.

Southwest is great!!!

I promise!

Mark

P.S. Perfectly ok to blow steam here!

[WillFlyToDisney2]

Oh yes, and it is fine to take a Xanax NOW for the pre-anxiety stuff (just don't mix with alchol or drive).

:)
Kelley

[beaugest]

I think just the fact that you posted here instead of making yourself nuts is a good start. A good reminder that you can't control the plane but you can control your attitude towards flying.
I know I start to sound like Ray's P.R. agent but get the book. Really. See if he can get it to you before you head out. I pulled it out several times the last time I flew. It's quite reassuring.
I also take Huey's list(a sort of don't leave home without it). Just think if the cameras are on you and you freeze you can whip out the list and start doing things on it. It will either get you right on camera or hauled away in a straight jacket..which will guarantee you get on tv(just make sure you look good...).
Don't forget to post on the tracking board. Always reassuring to know we're down here cheering you on.
Spiff is right. You will be ok. Really. Just picture yourself writing the trip report where you talk about how good you did.
:tiphat

[Debbielevis2]

Erika --

You can take this as either a comfort or as "Why the hell didn't she keep her mouth shut!" piece of advice.

I've been relatively "cured" now for almost four years (December, 2000). I can fly now; I can fly ALONE and cross-country. I can buy a ticket without that lurch in your gut, the sweaty palms and the anxiety for months and/or weeks before.

BUT, the morning of the flight, who comes knockin'? No, NOT my IF -- it's Mr. Pre-Flight Anxiety! And he's got an attitude. He hangs on me like wet toilet paper 'til we're at cruise, then realizes he wasted his time, because I'm THERE.

What I do about it?? Two things. They both work very well, but not completely. Still -- anything's better than nothin', right?

You know the magazines at the check-out that you're shaking your head wondering who really BUYS these things? Get 'em. Get as many as you can carry! Get "In Touch", "Us", "Star". They're splashy, colorful, full of inifo you can live quite nicely without, but the important thing with them is that your trouble-making right brain gets so caught up in them that your anxiety backs down. Really! I know it sounds almost too simple to work, but it really does.

The second thing that really, really works (and use this any time before and during the flight) is the 5-4-3-2-1 exercise from the "other" board. (If you need it, let me know). Also a very simple, effective exercise.

But, my personal favorite that does it completely for me is to STARE out the window -- watch us pick up speed -- try to figure how many more seconds before we're off the ground -- wiggle my toes as fast as I can, and just when the wheels come off the ground, say, "Yahoo!". Captain Ray actually encourages that one. I had forgotten that I told him that, and just as we turned onto the runway on our way to Phoenix, he said in his Professional Captain Voice (over the P.A.) "If you hear someone yelling "yahoo" from the cabin, that'll be Debbie". So, of course, I felt blessed to do it on this occasion, rather than have the people around me giving me "looks"! Never did thank him for that! Thanks, :ray Ray!!:p

Another that I do frequently is to write it down as it's happening. Doing that makes you really concentrate on what you're feeling about it, making it more a "fact" than a "feeling". Always remember that it's your "feelings" that are getting you in trouble!

The drugs: Personally, they make me more anxious. For some they work, for others they don't. However, if I have an afternoon or evening flight, I won't hesitate to have a glass of wine. I used to have MANY glasses of wine (no matter the time!), but now it's "social" and not "medicinal".

You'll eventually find what works for you, I'm sure. It's just such a pain in the tush trying to find the right things.

Between the two, you'll be fine!;)

You just put a lot of pressure on yourself to do a Trip Report that reads like a novel!:nod

Debbie and :anon

[noflyingfan]

Debbie, I'd like nothing better than to have a completely boring trip report...except maybe a trip report about Stone Phillips taking the same plane and sitting next to me. Actually, I probably will pick up some of those highly intellectual magazines (they did help last time I flew), and probably take a notepad and pen with me. I like to do my trip reports in "real time," writing down what I feel when I feel it. It keeps me occupied, and all I have to do when I get back is type it up and click "post."

And Kelley, thanks a lot. Now I'm going to have "Achy Breaky Heart" in my head all day long! :band

[Chelle]

Hi Erika,

Great advice here, as always!

Anticipatory anxiety has to be the worst, I swear. It almost ate me alive the week before my last flight. Having an outlet helps, such as communicating your feelings here with us. Holding it in may make you spontaneously combust :D

I'm with Debbie, the "rag mags" are the best. They're not something I'd ever consider buying under normal circumstances, but I really appreciate the mindless entertainment they provide in flight :lol For my last flight I bought 3 of the more trashy ones, and a new novel from one of my favourite authors. The novel is laying on my night stand, still untouched. I read through all my rags, and even 'swaped' 3 for 3 with the FA on my flight back, LOL. I have NO attention span whatsoever while flying, so they're great.

Between drugs and alcohol.. for me, alcohol makes me more emotional, and is just another opportunity to upset my stomach, so I opted for the Ativan my doctor prescribed, and it was a Godsend to me. It really made the flight bearable, and I even enjoyed it all little bit :) I think I relied a little 'too' heavily on them (to the point I slept 3 out of 5 hours each way), but that's something I can work on for future flights. Like anything, we try to set goals for ourselves, and gives us something to strive for.

Also, post your flight info on the tracking board and let us track you! It really helps to know you have friends on the ground watching, cheering you on :)

You'll be fine, promise!

:pompoms