I will be flying to Europe in four weeks and have flown for years many many times (to Europe), BUT, everytime I wait at the airport gate before getting on the airplane, I always panic. I just hate to fly however I will still do it even though it gets real bad sometimes(the fear)because I love to travel. Does anyone have this problem and have suggestions on how to tame those fears while at the gate and on the 7 to 10 hour flight? Thank you.

British Airways run courses to assist people getting over fear of flying. I don't know what/why/how but its worth giving them a call to find out about it. <BR>

Valerie, I'll probably get some flack for this, but why not ask your doctor for a light sedative? I commend you for not letting the fear control you. I have some height related fears, but I try to continue to challenge the fears. However, if I experienced a full-blown panic attack, I would probably be on the phone to my doc!

Remember Valerie, Europe is only one valium away! <BR> <BR>Hope this helps: <BR>(Europe - 1 valium) <BR>(Asia/Australasia - 1.5 valiums) <BR>(South America - 1.5 valium) <BR>(South Africa - 2 valium)

Remember Valerie, Europe is only one valium away! <BR> <BR>Hope this helps: <BR>(Europe - 1 valium) <BR>(Asia/Australasia - 1.5 valium) <BR>(South America - 1.5 valium) <BR>(South Africa - 2 valium) <BR> <BR>The Inky rough guide to effortless airline travel.

While not afraid of flying, I am extremely claustrophobic and in order to prevent panic attacks at the airport, my doctor prescribed Ativan, and, boy oh boy, that stuff works. Plus, you don't get all loopy and there's no lingering effects as far as jet lag.

Thanks for your suggestions everybody! I must admit I was expecting people to tell me to try hypnotherapy, reading an engrossing book or listening to a CD of Ocean sounds! But drugs will work too! I actually did get a prescription for Xanax(sp)which did take the edge off the last trip. But I was still a bit wide-eyed, white-knuckled as I sat with a nervous chill in my seat. (I go through this little scene every once or twice a year for years now). I guess the Valium would be the last resort(knock me out and carry me off the plane in Europe). I suppose I was wondering if other people might have some tricks they use to keep their mind off of the flight in general. Thanks again everyone!

Inky, you really ought to get with it. Valium hasn't been the sedative of choice for quite some time.

Please dont resort to drugs - if you've ever gone through having a loved one become addicted to one of these "harmless" little happy pills, you'd never suggest such a dangerous solution to your problem. <BR>I suffered through exactly what you describe for many years - yet traveled a lot because I love it so much. Each trip became torture for the rest of the family who had to put up with my anxiety pre, post and during the trip. A few years back I picked up a paperback book which I have since passed along to a friend who shares our fear of flying. I think it is titled "How to become a fearless flyer" - it's a quick read and my "condition" improved dramatically right away. For a couple of years I'd pull the book out and read the first chapter or two before a trip - sort of a good luck charm I suppose. Eventually I found I was actually enjoying flying and now find myself looking wistfully as planes pass overhead wishing I was up there going somewhere exciting. I think the key to conquering my fear was realizing that a lot of people felt like I did - so maybe I wasn't just crazy after all - and reading over and over the reassuring statistics on just how safe air travel actually is - compared, for example,to how risky driving downtown to do an errand is. <BR>I still wish they'd let me sit up in the cockpit to make sure the pilot is paying attention to what he's doing, but I cant wait to board my next flight - and that feels great! Good luck.

You may not believe my personal experience, but I swear it is true. I, too, had fear of flying. It went away once we were airborne, but it was as real as it was irrational. I beat this fear by...getting my pilot's license. Months of pilot training, weather, navigation, FAA rules, tests and tests, plus many hours at the controls. The whole nine yards. And my fear vanished. Now I know what each squeak and roar and gurgle means, what the pilot and his crew are doing at takeoff and landing, how the electronics work, etc., etc. In effect, I am at the controls -- of the plane and of my fears. Drugs? Never.

<BR>Valerie - I'd suggest also requesting an aisle seat in middle or towards front of the plane. Let the flight attendants know too how you feel, they can be very helpful. If you don't wish to take drugs, perhaps a Tylenol PM will help you sleep. Avoid liquor, and bring stuff to do to take your mind off the trip <BR>- besides a book or two, cards, needlepoint, catch up on letter writing. Have a great trip and tell us about it when you return. While waiting at the gate, try walking around alot (browse in the shops), or while sitting, catch up on reading about your destination, learn some phrases etc.

Perhaps I was a little too flippant in suggesting medication. But I must take exception to the folks who say avoid drugs at all costs. Anxiety and depression are real illnesses that can have devastating results. Some of the modern anti-depressants can give a person back his life. No one should be ashamed of having an emotional illness or in seeking appropriate medication. And it is my understanding that these modern drugs are not addictive, whereas valium was. <BR> <BR>I AM NOT IMPLYING, VALERIE, THAT YOU ARE MENTALLY ILL! Please, Fodorians, don't get on my case about this. In fact, Val, your attitude seems very healthy. I was just trying to challenge the stigma that some people still place on mental illness and medication. <BR> <BR>Some situational anxieties, or panic attacks, like what Valerie described, cannot be easily overcome by books, training, music, and walking around the airport and chatting. And they can be very unnerving. In those cases, I think it is perfectly all right to have a medical standby. <BR> <BR>With all due respect Cheryl, I don't think flight attendants these days give a rat's ass if a passenger is afraid of flying - except that it might create a problem in the cabin. (Can I say ass?)

As long as it's only a rat's.

Valerie <BR>I had a fear of flying, especially in the last couple of weeks, as I am about to undertake the longest flight I've been on (Australia - Europe). <BR>I intend taking 'motivational' material and tapes with me (just-in-case I need a 'faith' boost). In life we live and walk by one of two choices 'faith' or 'fear'. The biggest challenge is to 'push through', because once you do, you win in that area. I believe to achieve this you need a 'point of contact' to be able to release faith to overcome fear, so I suggest you find your point of contact re medication, books etc (whatever it is that you have peace with) and just DO IT. Personally mine is 'the power of prayer', in fact I had a flying adventure recently when there was a buring electrical smell on the airplane, in which even after the captain walked the aisle, he didn't really know what it was! Did I pray! I was, however greatly relieved when I was reminded of when Jesus disciples where in the boat in the fierce storm and thought they'd die. I was going to a convention, and was reminded that I was being sent there. The Lord reminded me, just as he had his disciples "didn't I say you were to go to the other side?" That's it, When you know you are to 'go' He'll make sure you get there. <BR>Remember just have faith and the'storms of fear' will subside. <BR>All the best for your next flight of victory! <BR>Lisa

Valerie, The truth is that almost everything that you can do is more dangerous than flying! I was afraid, would wake in a cold sweat in the week or so before a flight and think I just couldn't do it! Then, about five years ago, something terrible happened to someone dear to me, and I saw something worth worrying about! Right after that, I got on a plane to Hawaii and never had that same kind of fear again. The truth is that something could happen to anybody at any time; they don't have to be on a plane. Once you accept that, a lot of the fear goes away. There's nothing wrong with taking a pill to zap that anxious edge, though, if that prevents you from the full-fledged fear! <BR> <BR>When I look at the statistics about what's dangerous, though, the flying is the least of them. Try to remember that, and have a wonderful time on your trip!

Dear Valerie, <BR> <BR>I agree with Lisa's methods, and to add to them, I read Norman Vincent Peale's book, THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING, a number of years ago and it revolutionized my entire personality and changed my life from fear to faith. I quote Bible verses appropriate to situations and "stand on the Promises of God." For example, when I'm flying I quote 2 Timothy 1:7 from the Bible over and over again until it gets into my spirit: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Another great scripture for fear to repeatedly quote is Jesus speaking in John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." This method works for me everytime. I promise you that if you read THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING and let the positive words of the book getinto your heart, you also will begin to lead a fearless life. One of the wisest men who ever lived was Marcus Aurelius, and he said, "A man's life is what his thoughts make of it." If we put into our mind thoughts of fear, we will get thoughts of fear out of our mind. If we fill our mind with positive words and thoughts, we can transform our lives for Proverbs 23:7 says, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he..." <BR> <BR>Beverly

Amen Beverley! (faith COMES BY HEARING the WORD...over and over)

Thanks everyone for your comments. AJ, I definately saw your point and you are right on the money. For those who are concerned about me becoming a drug addict for taking a pill or two to relax on an airline, you can be rest assured that it won't happen.(although I do appreciate your concerns). I drug up my dog for long car rides and he isn't an addict because he doesn't get any more meds after the trip is over, like myself. The point is that I have self control with medication, food, alcohol, etc. I have found that there is no alternative but to take a mild sedative and still I am a bit frighten. <BR> <BR>Everyone's words of encouragement about the statistics are great and really help me as long as I remember that in the back of my mind.(ie more likely to die by another means than in a plane) <BR> <BR>Thanks Lisa and Bev for your words of encouragement! I am a very positive thinking person to begin with, it's just that I can imagine everything going wrong in a plane while enroute! My only fear in life (well, that and heights) You say that you prayed while there was a burning smell in the plane and that you feel that God would help you though. But my obvious question would be what about the 500 people on the TWA plane to Paris that all died? You don't think there was a lot of faith and prayer happening in those last final mins? Yes maybe it was God's will that a plane should crash at that time but I don't want to be one of the victims! Thanks again everybody!

It has been interesting For me reading all these responses.I am like you Valerie I have flown countless times and the fear dosen't get much easier to deal with. A week before I travel the nightmares start, fiery crashes, plunging into the ocean. <BR>Somethings that help are the bible. Like Lisa I think about Jesus in the boat, with the disciples on the stormy lake, Galilee.The words ring in my mind "be still and know that I am with you" I wear a crucifix and hold it during take off and landing. The other hand digs into my husbands arm. I have drawn blood ,but he knows how scared I am so he keeps quiet. <BR>As for the people who die I think that God would give them a special peace to help them cope. <BR>Ten years ago I went to England on my own to see family. Two hours out of Heathrow when we were over the Atlantic,the pilot announced an engine had failed and we would have to fly back to London. I was terrified. Out the window we could see all the fuel being dumped. <BR>The stewardess was kind she could see the sweat literally dripping off my hands with fear. She made me look into her eyes and kept saying it's going to be alright. the nice man I was sitting next to, kept trying to make me laugh by telling me what had happened on air Nigeria flights. It's a good job he wasn't my husband I would have had his arm amputated with my nails. <BR>Anyway the two hours flying back to London were filled with a strange peace.There was a stillness a resignation hard to describe.When the plane landed, fire engines and ambulances raced up to the plane.We were safe and the whole plane was cheering and clapping .For Conservative Canadians they did a good job.After that we had to wait until the next day to fly again. It was strange how everyone on that flight was best friends after that. All the usual barriers between people had been broken down by fear. <BR> <BR>As well as the crucifix I hold my dead mother and mother inlaws lockets.For comfort during the flight I have a native American healing stone that I roll between my finger and thumb.

Can we please not discuss Jesus on a travel forum...come on people...isn't there some 700 Club forum for that kind of stuff?