Help for fearful flyers??
 

Hi. Any advice for those feeling very anxious of flying?? Looking foward to visiting the islands, but extremely fearful of plane ride. (Not because of any bad experiences I have had, just an unexpliciable fear that began in my 20's & got worse)
Any advice would be appreciated.

My doctor gives my Zanax. I take one right before I get on the plane then my wife wakes me up when we get there.

Another vote for Zanax........don't leave home without it:)

What can I say? I wouldn't be able to get on those prop planes without Xanax. But, those "hard to reach islands" are totally worth a couple of pills. I take 1/2 of .25 mg a half hour before my flight, and half when I board. It makes all the difference! Give it a try!

beccam

I get very nervous flying too, but I get over my fear by thinking how much safer you are in the air, and a few drinks later, I have forgotten why I was so afraid!!

Zanax + booze + humor = reduced fear of flying. One our twin-prop coming back to Miami encountered a terrible storm with winds, lightening. The woman pilot was incredible. We circled over the Everglades for 40 minutes because the tricky winds prohibited control to give us the OK to land. As the winds buffeted the plane, the woman handled the plane with expertise, and finally with the OK, she landed so smoothly in the cross-winds that we didn't even know we touched down. As we taxied to the terminal, there were problems, though. It was as busy as a mall parking lot, and she spent another 40 minutes trying to parallel park. See, humor helps reduce fear of flying. Excuse me while I duck. Robert

One word for fear of flying: XANAX.

Just be careful that you don't medicate yourself to the point that you would be unable to act in an emergency situation.

I also would not recommend mixing anti anxiety medications and alcohol. I realize Robert was joking, but heaven forbid someone takes him seriously.

While you are perfectly free to medicate yourself into oblivion and thereby overcome your fear of flying, there are many other methods to help you conquor these fears. Several airlines (Northwest among them) offer courses designed to help people overcome their fears. Research has shown that most fears are based on a lack of understanding of flight and the physiology of flying. Ask your TA for information on courses that might be offered by an airline near you. There are also many other resources. Here is a very partial list of some of those resources.
Be scared, be medicated,or overcome your fears..... the choice is yours.

Love to Fly
Steve

http://www.fearofflyingdoctor.com/

http://www.fofc.com/

http://www.anxieties.com/7Flying/fea...ng_summary.htm

http://www.conqueranxiety.com/?mfindwhat1gr17

http://www.fearlessflying.com/

Yes, meds can help, but look at it this way, your odds of being in a plane crash are astronomical!! Besides, if I had to pick a way to die, being in a plane crash (preferably on the way back) would be right up there. No kidding.

So true....
I loved your "on the way back" remark.
I 100% agree. I guess it comes in 2nd on the "ways I want to go" list. Dying in your sleep would definately be #1.

Oceanolympia; two airlines, Continental with Gulfstream and American with American Eagle, fly to most northern Caribbean islands. I was flying into Marsh Harbor airport in Abaco, when I overheard the Control Tower say, "Continental and American, you both arrived here simultaneously...who wants to land first?" I witnessed my Continental pilot speak into his microphone, saying, "Continental...you go first." See, humor helps in addition to the meds. The pilots know what their doing. Robert

A couple years ago I did the SOAR course with Capt. Tom Bunn. I think the web site is www.fearfly.com. It helped immensely. I know he does one on one sessions too. Check it out.

I usually don't comment negatively on this board, unless it's real deserving. Last Sunday's plane crash that took the live of several passengers, including a toddler, has affirmed my uneasiness about flying chartered flights into the Bahamas. Air Sunshine out of Ft. Lauderdale has once again crashed; this last incident where Air Sunshine crashed into the ocean only 6 miles before the Treasure Cay Abaco airport makes about a half dozen crashes in the last 9 years. Most have been pilot error. The plane lies in 50 feet of water off Abaco, and will be lifted by crane and analyzed by the National Transportation Board to determine what happened. According to safety board records, charter airlines, such as Air Sunshine, have a fatal accident rate about 18 times greater than the regularly scheduled airlines. So, I will take Continental's Gulf Stream or American Airlines American Eagle to the out islands from now on. It would appear some "fear of flying" is justified. Robert

Here's a newspaper recount of what happened on Air Sunshine to Abaco, Bahamas. Robert

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/loc...home-headlines