Fear of flying!! Help!

[Serqet]

Yes every day, I have PTSD, that's why I recommend Cognitive Therapy or Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy.

You can do it yourself and then join a group if you need to.

Thank you for this Aqua. I will certainly give this a bash.

 

[Serqet]

I think one of the main reasons why people are afraid of flying is because they don't actually know why it is that planes fly. It's a bit like magic to them, yet everything can be explained through simple physics. Every little bump and wiggle tends to make people apprehensive, even though it is perfectly normal for planes to shake about from time to time. Like boats on open water. Sometimes the water is calmer than on other days. Same with the air.

My advice would be to go to your nearest airfield and speak to the pilots there. Ask to speak to an instructor and have him/her explain to you the logic of flying. He or she will be more than happy to do so, as pilots love nothing more than to speak about flying and aviation, especially if they have the chance to get somebody else excited about it. Very nice bunch of people.

And if you have some cash to spare and feel ready then ask them for an introductory flying lesson. Once in the air and at a safe altitude the instructor will hand over control to you and you can get the feel for the aerie. Turn the aileron to the left, then the right, then push the stick forward, pull it back and you will see that these planes (even the so called "small ones") are very sturdy and can handle quite a bit Good luck and let us know how you progress

I thought about doing something like this. I think to a large extent it is probably fear of the unknown. I just don't know what to expect when i get on the plane and that's quite scary.

 

[Sackboy]

My fiance is a great pilot, maybe we should organise a flip in a Cesna 182?

A light aircraft tends to be 'scarier' than a big airbus. I have why doubts about whether that would help.

 

[Serqet]

i think a flip in a light aircraft would put me off for life.

 

[daveza]

Can't help you with this one.

I used to fly regularly about 15 years ago until a bad experience in the States invloving dumping fuel etc.

The next flight home from Heathrow was a blur thanks to an air-hostess sitting next to me an plying me with Vodka

Nowadays I can't even watch an aircraft take off or watch a movie with people waiting for take-off. I need to travel to Joburg fairly regularly and now know the N1 like the back off my hand.

As they say, it's not the fear of flying but the fear of crashing.

Flight is supposed to be statistically safer than driving but you can tell that to all the air-crash victims. One in a million are not good odds - Denis Begkamp, Whoopi Goldberg, Cher are among the celebrities who refuse to fly.

PS: If you just need to be calmer when flying and you aren't completely paranoid to the point where you can rip the arm-rest off you can try xanax or zoloft.

 

[Serqet]

well i think i should try a domestic flight first. short trip to cpt or something.

 

[eek]

What about boats? Ever been on one? If you were ok with that then a plane is by far a walk in the park. Or if you're comfortable with a train, then you should know that planes are a far more comfortable ride. And I'd be more scared of a derailment than a plane accident.

I think you should take the leap and just do it! Start small, board a flight to Durban or somewhere. It's the only way you'll ever be able to beat your fear! I think the only thing scarier than a fear of flying should be a fear of not even trying. I'm sure, once you're on a plane you'll soon realize it's like sitting in a waiting room, about to receive something good! And you'll soon wonder why you've always been so scared.

 

[eek]

well i think i should try a domestic flight first. short trip to cpt or something.

Hehehe....funny! I was just suggesting that! And take someone supportive along with you someone that could "hold your hand as you cross the road".

 

[Sackboy]

lol, as a pilot of these light aircraft, I will try and not take offense to that
This is why I mentioned the thing with the instructor, as he/she is used to explaining whilst flying and can thus explain to you all the way through what is happening and why it is happening. But if you aren't ready for that, just go and have a friendly chat on the ground. I think that will help a lot as well.

I was flying to Germany the other day and had somebody very skittish sit next to me who would literally wince every time he felt a bump or heard a strange noise. So I tried to calmly explain to him that a bit of turbulence does nothing to the plane, only to idiots who have to take their seat belt off as soon as the seat belt sign goes off, and that the noise was just the flaps being extended, or the gear coming out for landing. Shame, poor dude. But it made him calm down a bit I hope.

You mean having control would remove some of the fear. Maybe that would work. Only the 'wavey wings' nature of your typical Cessna/Piper would be quite unnerving.

 

[diamondstar]

hmmm, I thought I posted something yesterday but maybe I didn't...anyway I also have a fear of flying came out of nowhere. I know when I was younger I went on a few planes and I don't recall having any issues. It just sort of happened. If and when I do fly I take one of those rescue remedy tablets.

 

[Serqet]

Glad to see i'm not the only one. I don't recall seeiny any thread about flying.

Does the medication work for you diamondstar? You don't get edgy or nervous? You're completely relaxed?

 

[Sackboy]

diamondstar is a plane make isn't it?

 

[Alan]

In the U.K you can go on a course and get taken for a flight on 737(IIRC) to help you get over your fears. Although considering how contagious fear is it's odd they take a whole bunch **** scared people on the same flight.

 

[Serqet]

lol that is quite funny as your fear would just feed off everyone else's fear.

i heard they have a flight simulator at the JHB airport for people who want to conquer their fear of flying. is this true?

 

[Picard]

I have never been on a plane.

 

[Morgoth]

fear of flight sucks , I get it a lot in a plane probably since I don't fly that often but I get airsick or just panic for no reason whatsoever.

 

[diamondstar]

@ Serqet: I took it like 10 minutes before I got on the plane and I did relax quite a bit, I might mention this was on a flight to Jo'burg and afterwards I was quite sleepy...but that could have just been me.

@sackboy: I dunno...google it maybe?

 

[eek]

I have never been on a plane.

You're not missing much....It's VERY boring!

 

[Serqet]

lol but at least you get to see other places as opposed to the great Gauteng.

 

[Picard]

lol but at least you get to see other places as opposed to the great Gauteng.

Fortunately I have only been in the great Gauteng once ... 16 years ago. Can't say I enjoyed it.