Help, I'm terrified of flying

[Enterprise]

Hi there,

I've always been a bit of a nervous flyer and had to go on a practice flight with a friend before I started flying more regularly.

Everything went fine and I had made 9 or 10 flights with limited terror even after one with engine failure and another last-second aborted landing at a stormy Paris.

However on my honeymoon to Spain 3 or 4 years ago I found Iberia to be very bad. I didn't appreciate the manouvres on the very small connecting jet from Barcelona. Then on the way home from Madrid (just 3 weeks or so after the crash there) we had a very steep take-off which immediately went into a severe bank with lots of engine noises that had even experienced passengers panicking. The cabin crew made no effort to speak to anyone for the whole flight!

I've always dreaded the take-offs, the first few seconds after leaving the ground witht he fear the miscarriage will give way or the plane will fall back to the ground. Also the first 2 minutes or so of climbing and banking, espcially from London.

Since then I made Easy-jet flights from Luton to Berlin and then back from Krakow. They were both much better though I was terrified of taking off from Luton and gentle turbulence coming home was a bit nervy. My wife says I literally turn red, purple and white. I feel very ill, sweat like crazy, feel sick etc.

I have avoided flying last year but this year we are off to the Outer Hebrides for a week for a gentle flight with Easyjet from Luton to Inverness and a return a week later

The flights are in June and I am already worried and feel off my food if I dwell on it. When I am on the plane before take-off I literally think I will be dead in the next 10 seconds (so who wouldn't feel ill in that situation).

In the old days I somehow coped as I was on my own but now I am married and being next to someone seems to have just made it worse.

Has anyone any advice? I notice that some airports have nicer take-offs and landings than others. Luton is not bad, Dusselorf was great. Cairo not bad. Krakow not too bad. Barcelona, Alicante not very nice. Madrid awful. Heathrow is always bad too.

Is Inverness airport ok. Should these be smooth flights? Once the plane is level and the landing gear and flaps sorted out I am semi-ok but I just hate everything before and quite a lot of the banking and landing. I never used to be this bad and only hope I improve and am brave enough to persevere.

It's stupid really, I can stand at the edge of a 10,000 feet cliff and am fine and I used to go on several "dangerous" holidays crossing the sahara on foot or camel and that sort of thing without a hint of nerves or worry but flying from Luton to Inverness is so much more challenging.

I know the basics of aerodynamics and flight procedures but I'm obviously a bit phobic about flying.

Please help :-)

[Barb-SAN]

Originally Posted by Enterprise

I've always been a bit of a nervous flyer and had to go on a practice flight with a friend before I started flying more regularly....

I've always dreaded the take-offs, the first few seconds after leaving the ground with the fear the miscarriage will give way or the plane will fall back to the ground. Also the first 2 minutes or so of climbing and banking, espcially from London.

...My wife says I literally turn red, purple and white. I feel very ill, sweat like crazy, feel sick etc.

....The flights are in June and I am already worried and feel off my food if I dwell on it. When I am on the plane before take-off I literally think I will be dead in the next 10 seconds (so who wouldn't feel ill in that situation).

Hi Enterprise,
Welcome to Taking Flight!
While waiting for Falcon to answer, I just wanted to welcome you to the board, and invite you to browse through the many threads and posts here. You will see that you are in good company.

I'd also like to refer you to one of our favorite sites, www.anxieties.com. There is a section on fear of flying, and also one on panic attacks. http://www.anxieties.com/panic-step2.php Note that he suggests having everything (e.g. inner ear problems, and other things which can cause panic) checked out by your physician first (see step one).

It's been many years since I was in Europe, so I can't offer any specific comments about airports there. I know in general that terrain, weather that day, other airplanes in the vicinity, and noise abatement issues can affect the take-offs and landings. You might find it helpful to meet the pilots before your flight, and ask them specifically what you might expect from the take-off and landing of YOUR flight. I've found it immensely reassuring to meet the pilots before the flight.

I've also decided that if anything "odd" ever happens on one of my flights, that I will ask the pilots as I'm leaving the plane just what happened. Better than obsessing about it for years, and always wondering.

By the way...I'm impressed you've gone across the Sahara on foot and by camel! Wow!!

[bean]

As a nervous, motion sick traveller myself I would advise against ever landing in Vegas or Tenerife. The worst turbulence ever but glad that we enjoyed the Vegas experience and am a bit sad that I wont be able to do it again in the future.

[Falcon]

I am glad you have found this site. You will find many people who are going through the same things you are. I can offer a few words of advice but my viewpoint is from a pilot perspective.

First dont forget to breath in and out. A helpfull hint I have heard is to breath in and out through your nose. The narrow passages naturaly force your body to regulate your breathing which has a calming effect.

The Iberia flight didn't sound fun but there are normal reasons for what you experienced. You dont mention the aircraft type but if it was an old type that you have never flown before the engine volume and body angle on take off would be different from what you have come to expect.

It would have been reasuring to see cabin crew walking around their worplace unflustered, we take comfort in others relaxed behaviour. I have never flown as a passenger on a Spanish airline, prehaps the "aloofness" was cultural.

The topography of Luton will always make appraoches feel lumpy, crews not based there refer to it as the Luton Effect, we regard it as normal.

Please keep talking to the others on this site for reassurance, it sounds easier said than done but why brood? I hate injections and my wait in the doctors waiting room is always worse than the jab itself.

Feel free to get back in touch, I hope your flight goes well for you.