fear of flying

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mizznicole

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Does anyone else here struggle with the fear of flying?

It started for me in 2000, and escalated after 9/11. The other thread on the children’s section got me thinking about the flight I’m taking Thursday, and the dread just started hitting.

Anyone gotten over their fear successfully?

Now that I have a baby I’m even more scared. I pinned a miraculous medal to him on our last flight to make sure Our Lady would snatch him up immediately if something happened. :gopray:

I really hate this.
 
Hi,

Yes I am afraid of flying.:eek: I flew three times, once to the U.S. Army Reception Station Fort Jackson, Columbus, S.C., then on to my basic training at Fort Gordon, 12 miles from Augusta, Georgia. And then back from Fort Gordon, GA to Dallas/ Ft. Worth Airport layover then on So. Cal after my trainee discharge. I experienced some turbulance going through a storm near Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport. The airplane Captain said it was okay, we just experiencing a little turbulance.That we were going through a storm and not to worry, YEAH, RIGHT! :nope: I sat near the window and saw some lightning.:bigyikes: That was my first and only time flying.Boy I was glad when we landed.:bowdown: When I explained to my Mom (R.I.P.- 7 June 2007) she said she wasn’t afraid of flying and it was nothing to worry about, when your time comes it comes. She said she loved to fly.:ehh: (Note: This was when airplane safety was not as supposedly safer today. ) I blame myself for being such a scaredy cat, that we didn’t travel at all to visit family back in NJ and other places. She was probaly disappointed, but I don’t remember if she showed it. (I’m sorry, Mom for you not having a fuller life.)😦

Note: I hope to gain courage to fly to places and see Italy, Sicily, Rome, Vatican City, historial places of the U.S.

YES, I AM A MAN WHO IS AFRAID TO FLY! Any questions? Good! That is all.
 
nicole,

I’m not afraid of most things-- in fact, my friends think I’m crazy/ brave. (really what they’re seeing is imprudence, but I’m not telling…) but flying bugs me. it’s not so much the flying, really-- but I get anxious-- a little phobic even, thinking about being in the plane-- stuck on the runway most of all.

thinking of being in the cabin makes me claustrophic. i can feel the anxiety rising.

i’ve flown twice this spring with the baby. neither time my husband was there. i prayed a lot before. went to Mass the day before I left home both times. I’m sure those graces helped because on the way back from the last trip, we were stuck on the runway for a long time.

I did feel claustrophobic and it was a bummer, but it wasn’t as bad as I felt anticipating it. It felt worse to worry about it than to experience it.

Still, I was praying my rosary-- however well I could with a squirmy 2 year old on my lap.

I always have to imagine God the Father’s hand holding up the plane and guiding it down at take-off and landing.

I’m glad I don’t have to fly often, but I’m really grateful that my discomfort doesn’t keep me home when I need to travel.

maybe this doesn’t help so much?
 
I used to be afraid of flying but have overcome that fear through prayer and thinking about Scripture passages that remind me that God is sovereign and nothing will happen to me that He hasn’t permitted (like Jesus’ comments about a sparrow not falling to the ground with the Father’s consent and we are worth much more than many sparrows). I also remind myself that flying is much safer than driving!
 
Flying on a commercial airliner is much safer than riding in a car. Car accidents happen so frequently that we only hear about the truly devastating ones on the local news, yet commercial airplane accidents are so rare that they make international headlines. Most airplane crashes are caused by so-called weekenders who fly an airplane sparingly and then only for fun. Airlines hire the best pilots, often straight from the Air Force or Navy, and those pilots fly so often that it’s second nature.

Airplanes are almost virtually impossible to crash due to engine failure, since by FAA regulations each engine has to be serviced by a different mechanic, thus almost eliminating the chance that all of the engines fail; an airplane can land safely on one engine and can even glide into a safe landing without any.
 
I just flew yesterday (Saturday) and it was fine. I can understand your fear, honestly. But it is actually much safer and I heard somewhere that you are more likely to die by a deer killing you than by anything from an airplane.

BTW, mizznicole, I saw in your profile that you’re in “Monaghan land?” I’m moving there Thursday to attend Ave Maria University! Perhaps I’ll see you around town!

Alloho minokhoun,
Andrew
 
Remember, while your clutching to the arm rest for dear life during a bought of turbulence, the pilots up front have huge 😃 on their face and are enjoying it…they’ve been through a LOT of flying conditions and everytime they say don’t worry…believe them.
 
Several airlines have programs for people with crippling fear of flying… call and ask. It’s more than just explaining how safe everything is. It also has exercises for de-sensitizing you to it.

Good luck!

Ruthie
 
mizznicole said:
Does anyone else here struggle with the fear of flying?

It started for me in 2000, and escalated after 9/11. The other thread on the children’s section got me thinking about the flight I’m taking Thursday, and the dread just started hitting.

Anyone gotten over their fear successfully?

Now that I have a baby I’m even more scared. I pinned a miraculous medal to him on our last flight to make sure Our Lady would snatch him up immediately if something happened. :gopray:

I really hate this.
Click to expand...
It’s a matter of perspective. Remind yourself that aviation is a standard feature of modern life, and that thousands of people fly every day. Remind yourself that the pilots don’t want to crash and die, either. Therefore, they’re working hard to do everything right.
 
Thanks, everyone.

I come from an aviation family. My grandfather was an Air Force mechanic. My uncle was a flight attendant for 25 years. My brother is an Air Force pilot. So it’s kind of funny that I have this problem.

As I’ve done some research on this phobia I’ve learned that it is a smoke screen for other issues. Figuring out how to deal with the real issues is the hard part. I’m stressed right now because of a deadline and having to relocate shortly. I felt more relaxed before all this came up.

I’m sure that some cognitive behavioral therapy would be good. I say that every time I get off a flight - and then never go about doing it. Right now my excuse is that I can’t afford it. You know, anything to avoid doing what you have to do. That’s my story. 😊

Hopefully meeting my deadline will help ease the anxiety.

God bless!
 
It’s not “when my time comes” that bothers me; it’s the question of what if it’s the pilot’s time 😃

Actually, I love to fly, and if I were rich, I would have a license and my own plane. That said, the airport hassle has just gotten to be too much, and I won’t go anywhere now that I can’t drive.

DaveBj
 
I don’t have a fear of flying… I have a fear of crashing.

Sorry, I am probably of no help. I have to fly on occasion and I grip the armrest the entire time. Once when it was especially bumpy and I was flying alone, I actualy asked the man next to me if he’d hold my hand.

I take along a rosary & Saint cards and I just pray pray pray the entire time. I try to tell myself… what’s the worst? I could meet my Lord today. Not so bad when it’s put in that perspective I don’t think?
 
Dh works in aircraft engine maintance. Every few months he looks at videos of what happens when you don’t do your job properly.
We don’t like flying.🙂
He says there a a major aircraft incident every 2 weeks. A lot of cargo planes included in that of course. Also foreign aircraft with non-westerners aboard doesn’t get much press when it downs.
 
I’m not afraid of flying but my stomach still sometimes drops when we hit turbulence. My last flight with turbulence, I was with my dd and I said “let’s ask our guardian angels to spread their wings and help the plan fly.” (my 3 yo dd didn’t want to because it felt like a ride). The minute we started praying, the turbulence stopped (and we were told to expect it for a bit, not the whole single minute it really lasted). I also have a Bible I’ve traveled with since I began traveling on my own, so I’m not afraid with God, prayer and the Bible at my side.
 
apricot_yogurt said:
Dh works in aircraft engine maintance. Every few months he looks at videos of what happens when you don’t do your job properly.
We don’t like flying.🙂
He says there a a major aircraft incident every 2 weeks. A lot of cargo planes included in that of course. Also foreign aircraft with non-westerners aboard doesn’t get much press when it downs.
Click to expand...
Well if i wasn’t already afraid to fly, I would be now.😛

nicole I loathe flying and have had full blown panic attacks; crying uncontrollably, hyperventilating etc., when I have flown which is not often. I do not even have panic attacks for any other reason.

The only way I get over it is
  1. only fly when necessary
  2. no small planes…no can do MD 80-s are even small to me
  3. request a seat on the wing. This makes a BIG difference for me as the plane feels most stable when you sit here.
  4. have a drink before the flight, and on the flight. :o
  5. window seat; if I cant see what’s going on that’s BAD
    6 pray my head off the entire time.
    7 kava kava tea. before and bring some on the p[lane and ask for hot water. this has really helped me keep calm.
I can never be calm enough to sleep on a flight. I flew to South Africa years back and that is a LONG flight and I was awake the whole time. Good news is I got over jet lag sooner than anyone else:D
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mizznicole said:
Does anyone else here struggle with the fear of flying?

It started for me in 2000, and escalated after 9/11. The other thread on the children’s section got me thinking about the flight I’m taking Thursday, and the dread just started hitting.

Anyone gotten over their fear successfully?
Click to expand...
9/11 did a number on lots of us…hate it too…for me
prayer + valium… and I’m not sure which is more effective.😊
 
Pray, the last flight I was on I found myself sitting next to the CEO of EWTN, Deacon Bill (surprise). He appeared to pray a good bit as did I also, look at the flight attendant if they are not worried you do not need to be worried. I HATE flying but, praying helps and realizing that God has HIS plan…
 
hate it too…the first time i ever flew in my life was from detriot to china! i was in nursing school and felt quite adventurous to go there for 3 months to learn traditional chinese medicine…later,I had to fly four days after 9/11 and believe me, even though it was probably one of the very safest times to fly, I had written a will and everything before I left home because I was absolutely convinced i was not coming back. Now it’s just about a crippling fear. i have skipped major conferences for work because i’d have to fly there…ever since DD was born it has been the worse. even medications don’t help. flew 2 yrs ago with my boss (she flies about weekly) and she laughed at me! Dh and i would love to finally take a honeymoon, but I will only go where I can drive. Too bad there’s not a bridge to jamaica…lol! twk
 
I too am always scared of flying, but since I have to go overseas several times a year not flying is not an option. I found knowledge helps! Inform yourself about aviation, there are great websites out there. Prepare, find out which planes will be used wherever you go, write down the reg numbers and you can research the history of your plane and, of course, I always take my rosary and pray, especially during turbulences.
The more you will fly the less scared you will get. Good luck!!
 
I too do not like to fly. I tend to grip the arm rests and also listen for noises and notice any little bit of turbulence or change in altitude. I’m truly a nervous Nellie on a plane and just can’t comprehend how people can fall asleep while flying. I’m not sure what it would take to get me on an airplane again, since I haven’t flown anywhere since February, 1999, going/returning from the baptism of a nephew in Florida. I have no desire to ever get on another plane or fly anywhere ever again, but I guess if I had to do so, I would pray a lot before, during and after the flight. (After to thank God for landing safely if that were the outcome.🙂 )
 
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