GEsssa

OMG!It's so comforting to know how many of us there are out there. I have been the whole nine yards with this phobia,once getting out of the boarding line and another time actually getting off the plane before they closed the dors. But I have still managed to visit about 35 countries on numerous trips, many long. Ativan has helped, being able to look out the window has helped, flying during the day has helped when it is possible. I'm still scared but I still buy the ticket and somehow manage to get on the plane. I sometimes think I just have to punish myself a little for all of the pleasure I'm going to have seeing new places and being totally surrounded by everything new.... go figure.

dutyfree

I know that this won't help or provide comfort but I have been flying as an international flight attendant for over 39 years and when I have passengers who are terrified of flying I try to remind them to keep "the prize" of their destination in their mind throughout the flight and what they are planning on doing when they get there.
Try to bring a good book,keep watching movies/TV on the flight and anything else that would distract you from worrying.Please don't over medicate on flights as it usually backfires!
The pilots have spent years getting their hours for flying along with extensive training and retraining every year for the FAA.Many have been in the military during "wartime events" and are VERY methodical about what they do.The planes are expensive and are checked out before and after every flight for the slightest nick or weird sound that someone thinks they heard.Flight attendants have retraining every year for several days with the FAA too.
Know that the entire crew wants to arrive safely and with no events so "sit back,relax and enjoy that trip to the Czech Republic and Austria"!

uhoh_busted

I like to have a good page-turner of a book that I highly anticipate reading, and a specially created playlist on my iPod to listen too. Get very involved selecting these materials, letting those tasks consume your time heading up departure so you don't have so much down time to get nervous in before you leave. Make a list of what you are packing, and plot out what items go well together. Make dream lists...what you would bring your friends and family if you had unlimited an unlimited budget, where you'd look for these items, etc. create a list on daydream topics that you can pull out to set your mind to. I've always been able to waste time thinking about fun things, in order to take my mind off troubles, but if you are prepared with a list of topics to engage your imagination, you can distract yourself. Maybe it sounds silly, but if you can keep your mind busy you can fight off your fears.

Uma

Enjoyed flying until I was in a very bad train crash years ago where our car came off the track and turned onto its side amidst lots of screeching and bumps. Ever since, have had a fear of turbulence on airplanes. Take offs and landings don't seem to bother me at all. Just feel very out of control up in the air. I take one mg of ativan right before boarding and find this calms me; takes the edge off. I too get an aisle seat whenever I can. Reality test by looking around at the crew and fellow passengers. Bring a good book to distract yourself, or a guidebook for wherever you are going; watch the inflight movies; listen to music. Try to close your eyes and rest. Chat up your seat mates. Think about all the things you have planned for your destination. Remember how safe flying actually is. Know that you are not alone in your fears and will be fine. Have a wonderful trip.

Shrink

Meriberi
At the risk of oversimplifying your situation, I do concur with Nytraveler. While its too late for this trip, there will be others. Your FoF is a Phobia and while it is absolutely terrifying at times, it is like any other Phobia - the fear is real, the response is irrational. Fortunately Phobias enjoy the highest cure rate in all of Psychology - in the 90 Percentile.
Any good Psychologist trained in the various techniques to combat and CURE Phobias will be able to teach you how to overcome and virtually eliminate your FoF. It should take about 60 to 90 days at the rate of once/week. Probably in your case, since you would be a dedicated client, it would take much less. American Airlines used to offer these classes for those businessmen who had to fly, but were terrified.
Dont worry - he wont ask you to delve into why you are that way. Frankly, it doesn't matter and probably cant be determined anyway. There are very specific behavioral excercises and things to do to eliminate this situation. Remember a Phobia is an IRRATIONAL
reaction to a feared thing. When that is overcome - you are golden.
Have fun on your trip - two of my favorite places to visit, and do look up a counselor that deals with this when you return. Believe me - it will work.

Shrink

Elyse_Dorm

calming music is good for this.... do what this singer says

Corinne Bailey Rae- put your records on

egobirchy

Good luck. Experience will help, over time, and the association of good travels with the flights. Hope you get through it ok.

sundriedpachino

Nytraveller thanks for not recounting your incident.
Duty free thanks for your reassurance.

We have a friend whose career was in the technical division of airplane maintenance. He also reassured us of all the backups there are for everything. I found that helpful.

And now that you're probably in the air I will tell you about the time a lady waiting at the gate with us saw me pacing and drying my sweaty palms on my pant legs. She said to me "I just figure if I die I die. Not likely to happen but what the heck...." I thought she was being crass till I considered her words and it put things in perspective for me and in some weird way took the drama out of my head.

I guess everone's got their own way of dealing. Mostly it's that we just want to get there! Have a great time.

TDudette

I'm wondering how it went! Heard about a plane being diverted to Maine today because of a passenger--thought of meriberi but she left on the 18th or 19th. Phfew!

meriberi

TDudette, thanks for thinking of me! But no, it wasn't me that diverted the plane - LOL.

I was a bit panicky but I made it, and y'all's encouragement was a big part of that. Thanks so much!!

LSky

Go to Amazon and download a meditation. Spend time blessing the plane and everyone working in and around it.