I have a fear of heights. Which has, for reasons known only to itself, extended to flying. This last year, I've been on seven flights. So obviously I'm almost down to my last nerve ending.
I'm not too bad with the flying part and love coming back down (for obvious reasons) but I remain ever puzzled that I've never yet started gibbering just before take off.
That's the part I dislike intensely. The 'going up'.
I can hardly stand the belly drop feelings, the angle that the world adopts as the plane takes off. The sheer thought that I'm getting higher and higher.
In fact, I'm not sure why I don't just melt into a green puddle.
I know the stats, I've read everything I can get my sticky mitts on - but I remain ever __________________________ (insert any/all fearful emotions) prior to take off. None of my new knowledge makes me feel any better. I simply hate lots of space between me and the ground.
It's interesting that I know why I have a fear of heights. My dad's an idiot. But the flying escapes me. I've never had a terrifying experience for eg. I've experienced pretty bad turbulence and for sure, a couple of flights back I'm certain the pilot was a little too eager to have a break because of the speed and angle at which we hit the runway (incidentally I was the only passenger not in fear. I figured that we were only a few hundred feet from the ground so I'd a high chance of survival. I really don't care about risk when the ground's that close ... )
So, am I alone? Does anyone else share this seemingly common fear? Meaning the flying.
Thanks in advance if anyone shares their fear or offers some little nugget that stops me acting like a moron when I have to fly.
frogdropping,
I have to fly at least 15 times a year to DC it is only a 45 minute flight but I hate it, i would rather drive, they always stick me with a window seat and i look at the clouds thinking I hope there are plenty of angels in there cause i am not liking this.
I understand,
dori
Thankyou.
My flights are around the three hour mark. Should be 2 & 1/2 hours but I'm always dished with the go-arounds.
I hate it when I fly into Lisbon and start turning back to the sea - I know we're in a queue
I don't think I could fly over the ocean, nah
Weirdly, I enjoy looking out over the clouds or even at the land below me (if I can see it) but I do dislike know I'm over water for some reason.
But it's the turn I don't like. The plane almost feels like it's flying on its side.
I probably mentally exaggerate the angle (minds like to mess with you when you're already hald-crazed with fear. It's a mind thing I suppose) but I still prefer planes flying horizontally.
Try Hypnotheraphy, I dislike aircraft, but have No fear of Heights, its just the sensations I don't like, that vertigo feeling, same as on a ride at a funpark. Gross.
Hi frogdropping, my friend gets really scared too. Her dad died from an airplane crash when she was still 7. She's trying to overcome it though. I hold her hand and sing her a song (if we happen to fly together... It helps a little, I think.
Then you're a great friend and she has a lot of courage
One of my friends told me to look at the wing on one flight and pointed out (we were flying in heavy turbulence) that no matter how much it flexed, it wouldn't break.
That thought had never crossed my mind. Until she drew my attention to it.
Did that help? Looking at the wing? The two things I don't like about flying was because I experienced motion sickness (due to my chronic sinusitis) and my head would feel like it would crack when we are about to descend. But lately the motion sickness has improved a lot.
I don't fear flying but, my father was a pilot and I'm a qualified engineer so I know a bit too much about what can go wrong. Leaves me a bit on edge sometimes.
Thankyou big - I'm not sure that was helpful though ... It just adds to my reasons for not flying unless I have a very VERY good reason.
I've gotten better with the taking off part, but I'm still queasy. Landing is horrible, especially in places like Seattle, coming over the mountains and dropping so fast makes my head spin. I also hate long descents.
I don't flying over water...like the ocean.
I have drugs
You're not alone. That's for sure. I actually love the feeling of taking off, and I want to be by a window so I can see out. And yet...
I've already made up my mind I am not going to ever get into another airplane. I'm not necessarily against taking risks, but the particular combination of elements involved in that particular risk aren't anything I want to take a chance with.
See Lisa I totally understand where you're coming from. The risks have to considered beyond what the stats say.
I know damn well that my chances of surviving a plane crash are less than zero. Total annihalation with no time to do anything other than scream makes me feel ill.
Maybe I'm weird.
@ Jane - I'm with you on fast descents. I don't take drugs. Vodka yes but it actually just makes me cocky. Which isn't the same as fearless. Unfortunately. I also attempted one flight using purely courage alone. I honestly can't believe I did it. I trembled to the point that I think I lost a body part
@ Ripple. Looking at the wing doesn't really help. The only thing that does is not flying. However, I was never a person to give in. Call me stupid - but I like being in control - not my subconcious.
@ Tksensei. As a young child my dad took me on a ferris wheel. He was extremly silly and we almost fell out. He really didn't think of the consequences of his playing around. Nor the fact that ferris wheels are not meant for swinging in. That's what swings are for. Anyway, that's when I developed a fear of heights. But then - so did he
My approach to anything that involves my worrying about what may happen is always to keep repeating to myself (over and over and over) something like, "People do this all time, and it's fine." I do that when I'm worried about someone having surgery too. It's like you have to step outside yourself and be "the voice of reason".
If you don't mind the flying part or the landing part as much, all you need to do is find a way to block out of your mind the take-off part. That's better than being worried through the whole flight.
Lisa I'm very aware that my anxiety prior to take of is probably the worst part.
Back in January I flew back via Heathrow. Got on the plane, quaking. Sat down but I was ready. Like - let's get off the ground now!
But instead the flight was delayed. Then more so because the damn thing had to be sprayed to combat the ice. We were sat on it almost 45 minutes. Then it was an incredibly long, slow trundle to the runway.
I was in abject panic when we took off. That was probably my worst flight - and it was the waiting that smashed right through my trembling little nerves. And then some.
When you're aiming to get some frazzling thing over one thing that certainly doesn't help is having people drag it out and delay the whole business.
I wonder if some kind of "lethargy-producing" food might take the edge off. I find coffee with an obnoxious amount of cream and one sugar is very calming (mild coffee, but you could go with decaf). I've also found that a tuna salad sub can seem to make anxiety die down. (A mental health facility in my state discovered the same thing.) I wonder if you know foods that do that to you, or if you could look up the "most effective" - whether that might help.
What about hypnosis or some kind of self-hypnosis-type techniques? What about telling yourself something like, "I'm not going waste my brain time and worries being anxious about something it, in all likelyhood, just is not going to happen. I'll deal with it if/when it happens, but I'm not going to waste my worries on it." ?
You're so lovely Lisa
I've tried self-hypnosis. Hypnosis (my brain seriously belonged to a mule in it's former life). Reading and gaining knowledge. Talking to people (most think I'm silly/stupid/a baby). I know about tapping, de-stress techniques and some cool distraction stuff.
None of which works.
I even understand irrational fear for crying out loud. My subconcious is simply running riot.
But try as I might, it won't behave or back down. I still fly Lisa but I am so fed up of feeling almost flattened by the time the plane takes off.
I just want to feel comfortable.
like I said in a prior forum, death of my kids is my biggest fear.
I am forced to be strong in everything I do in life.But this would kill me.
Asher - it would finish me. I barely got through the time when I lost my third son at birth.
Too horrible for contemplation
I wish I could say that I have the faith that you have. But I'm glad it helped you
Asher, for me, folks can believe in what they like. That's called free will.
I like folks for who they are, not according to whether they have faith in one religion or another - or not.
Besides, I have faith. In the Book Of Frog
But asher - I'm so full a misinformation it's impossible to misinterpret. Which is some of the problem with religion.
Everyone's got different ideas about the same basic principles.
I blame the apostasy
frogdropping, I hope you find some way to get rid of the anxiety. As I said before, my "solution" (for myself) is to just decide to never fly again. Most people think that isn't much of a "solution".
The fact that you still fly shows that the anxiety hasn't gotten the best of you so far. You can feel good about that much.
I don't mind having to fly, but I don't like it in these conditions: stormy weather, at night, on little planes. Stormy weather, the turbulence scares me. I'm scared to fly at night. I'd rather fly during the day so I can see if another plane is going to hit us! And little planes, I don't know, I guess the tight quarters make me nervous. Plus they seem to have more noise within the aircraft than the bigger ones and that creeps me out.
I am terrified of flying and nearly dirty my pants every time we hit turbulence!
I deff fear flying and unlike Cindy I do dirty my pants !
Fear of flying? uhhh yes and no. No bc I've never actually flown and yes bc im afraid to even try
Same as a girl I work with, she likes to go to Spain every year but she goes by boat because she fears flying. I lent her the Titantic dvd the night before her holiday though, that sure put her off sailing as well, I know, Bad by name, Bad by nature
I know I should stop laughing now. Especially because that's really quite cruel BC.
But it's funny cruel. Twisted cruel. Too cruel.
And so I'm still laughing ...
Probably so she could keep reliving the horror.
*still amused*
Big xo back at ya, back with a hub tonight that will deff make ya wet yerself, check my profile and await a funny hub on that topic
Stop pimping on my scaredy cat thread. Spammer
Noticed any other swashbucklers BC?
Then yes, that would be you
I couldn't resist slipping it in, said the girl to the soldier lol !
Oh Janetta. Now I don't know why but I never thought it's bother you. You're so ... I don't know, stretchy
And really, you won't know 'til you try my little frogdroplet. You may enjoy it - many do.
ru crazy??? no planes for J thank u very much. I mean...planes are good and all that and you should def go on one
Now you know I'm crazy. Why would you ask that?
@ Lisa - thankyou again. And I think your decision is a fine one. Your life is your own and what risks you choose to take - or not - does not need justifying.
I'm determined to continue flying because I'm really stubborn. I just will not give in. I really don't like feeling as though something I can't quite put my finger on has won. Maybe I'm weird.
@ Tinker - Now I prefer flying at night. I can't see how high we really are.
@ Cindy - oh I laughed out loud at your comment. Now THAT was funny And you fly long haul too! You're officially Dead Brave.
@ BC - and again, I was giggling at Cindy then read yours. Stop lolol!
I wish I could share some of my dumb 'cope with flying' tricks. But I don't think they're helpful. Probably slightly sad and a little amusing at best
Behave you two.
This thread is now descending. Like the pit of my stomach does when waiting to take off
Sorry Frog, I'll behave.
Back to topic...
You know more ppl die in car crashes every year than in a plane crash
And...you're more likely to drwon n a bathtub TWICE than you are to win the lottery
Prob drown if you were checking yer winning ticket at the time lol, ok Frogger I am done
lol guys I'm jesting.
Come on - if I haven't got a sense of humour we may as well bugger off home and put our slippers on and call it done
My worst flight was a night flight home from Spain, was sat beside 2 pensioners, nice couple who were afraid of flying as much as me. We hit really bad turbulence for about 20 mins, I mean really bad.
So I hear them talking, saying " Oh well at least if we die we had one of our best holidays ever "....So never sit beside 2 pensioners, jeeeez I swear that was the worst flight of my life.
That's horrendous! And you know, pensioners have lived a bit and all that.
Still. I'd have got my mad up and told them to knock it off. When it's time for screaming I like to scream in peace. Not have inane comments make me want to lower or higher the pitch some.
My screams are my own.
Sometimes I wish HP had a chatty box Janetta. Where we could add hubmates.
Be easier that going round replying to posts and a lot less tiresome for those that don't like this sort of thing
You're not alone froggy. I also don't like flying (I'd rather go for a 36-hour trip on a ship rather than fly for over an hour). Used to like it but, I don't know why, after my father died over two years ago, I started becoming afraid of flying. Can't explain it as I never experienced any trouble before when flying. With the recent plane accidents (such as the Air France), I am more uncomfortable flying. I know I should stop reading about those accidents, but I can't help it.
The weird thing is that every time I fly, I always update my "informal" last will and testament. That's how paranoid I am.
emi - I don't let plane crash bother me. It just doesn't bother me. In the same way as people getting injured in the home doesn't make me worry it'll happen to me.
In fact I'm remarkably rational about what could happen. I simply don't like it. Or like I said at the start, it's a heights thing?
I don't suffer claustrophobia or panic attacks either. I don't update my will either.
I have nothing to leave other than a scruffy teddybear, a dying pot plant and my string.
I want my kids to fight for what they want
I didn't mean I have lots of money or properties to give away. I just want my loved ones to know whatever it is that I'm leaving (or not leaving) behind. Don't have kids yet, so I don't worry about what I'll leave them.
I'm not really afraid of heights. I guess what I fear most is dying at an age when I haven't really experienced everything I want to experience.
I found that the best way to get over my fear of heights was to bungey off a bridge. 3-2-1 Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggghhhh
It didn't really work because I almost bounced right back again!
Soooo, On a plane at several thousand feet up my friends & I decided the best medicine was to just jump out.. so we did!!
3-2-1-Go... Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh... 120 mph heading for safety and then pop your shute & you slow right down!!
Never been afraid since then... Highly Recommended Drug!
Is that along the lines of 'feel the fear ,and do it anyway'
actually reminds me of this young guy in a wheelchair I got chatting to one day ,and when he said he was excited about an upcoming plane jump, he saw my face and laughed ....replying
awww its like I say to my mum , like Im gonna break a leg
That kid gave me food for thought all day!
Well it was either Marry her or do the decent thing and jump out of a plane
Pearl - not a bad way to deal with fear. But I don't know. I'm not much for grabbing bulls by the horns
Still, I admire you though
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