Any if so, what do you do about it? My husband is very phobic. It starts to rub off on me! And I have to admit, it is a little unnerving to me to be on a plane for over 10 hours...(it's not like you can just step out for some fresh air!)

I hate to fly period, end of story. Having said that, if I don't fly I don't go anywhere and I'm not willing to do that, I need to get to Paris, London etc. So, I just do it. I meditate, take my CD player and earphones and do some meditation on the plane, I do visualizations of safe arrival etc, I have some other too, but lest you all want to commit me I'll not share them with you. I don't do any pills, drugs, or alcohol, and once I'm in the air, I'm pretty much fine. There are millions of people that fly all over the world every day and get where they are going in perfectly fine condition and I remember that. My love of travel is greater than my fears I guess. I DO hate that flight to Europe from the west coast, but by the time I have dinner, meditate, get up and walk around, go to the bathroom etc, and then am ready to scream "let me outa this d--- plane!!!!!!!!" they serve breakfast and we land. So it all works. That's what works for me...everyone is different so you'll have to decide how you and your husband want to deal with it. Some take pills like Ambien etc to relax, some have a couple of drinks with dinner and then are able to sleep...so you'll just have to figure out how to handle it. Good luck.

I have been working on my fear of flying for years now, and I'm getting very much better. I don't drink alcohol or use medications, but for long overnight flights, I do use sleeping pills (Ambien) perscribed by my doctor. Here are the things I do to "make it better."

1. Years ago, it was suggested to me to practice mindfulness. There is an awful lot written on this subject, and I am sure you can get a book at the library or online.

Mindfulness, as I understand it, has a lot to do with being in the moment, rather than being in the future where "what might happen" might happen. No matter what I am doing, I try to be aware of it, and concentrate on it.

So, if I am just breathing, I pay attention to my breathing. If I am reading, I pay close attention to my reading. If I am packing (pre-flight) I keep my mind on my packing, and not what "might happen" on a plane.

2. I make sure I am as comfortable on the plane as possible. Everyone has their favorite seats, and I try to choose the seats I am most comfortable in.

I pack my own first class amenities kit. They get those things up front to make them more comfortable. If I am comfortable, I am less anxious. Hence, why shouldn't I have the same goodies they do?

My kit (actually two kits: one for me and one for my Valentine/husband) has a blow up neck pillow, a soft eye shade, Earplanes, ear plugs, saline nasal spray, hand wipes, lip balm, moisture cream for hands and face, air sickness medication, and gum.

Additionally, I take good reading material, wear comfortable clothes, and have a comfort snack with me on a long flight.

3. I pray. I try not to pray for a safe flight, which I of course want, but more for an abatement of my fears and the ability to enjoy my life where ever I am, including on an airplane.

Now, all of this works for me. I hear lots of folks talk about chemical solutions, but I don't think they attack the fear at its root. I prefer to train myself, and pamper myself, into serenity.

In terms of the "feeling trapped" stuff: I tell myself that I am, after all, trapped. I can freak out, but it won't change the fact that I'm trapped. So, a little meditation, some contemplative prayer, and distraction and entertainment seem to work best for me.

Hope this helps.

There have been several long threads on this if you search above - including fear of flying classes and psychotherapy to help relive the control issues.

(I don;t have fear of flying - but would love it a lot more if I - instead of the pilots - was in charge of the plane. I'm also a really bad rider in a car unless I trust the driver.)

nytraveler, isn't that the truth!?
If we could only get behind the wheel~
I have gotten worse about flying in the past few years, but this is what I do.
Take Xanax, a good book, good music, my pashmina to snuggle down in and I eat very little plane food and go to sleep if at all possible. My husband will play cards with me or just chat if I cannot sleep, he helps keep me from worrying.
Watch the movie, even if it is bad, it makes the time go more quickly.
and do get up and walk back to the bathrooms a few times. It helps with that cooped up feeling.
This is what I dread about flying to Japan- 17 hours

Ditto to all the above. We leave for a trip back East for two months in May and already I am nervous. I look at it as a practice for the trip to France in September.

I found a book in the library about the fear of flying written by a psychologist and I read it last month. I found it helpful. But that was a month ago. It's easy to read about reasons for the fear when you are on the ground.

For me it's an issue of control. I hate to lose it. Simple as that. And if Ambien, Xanex help so be it. It doe make me more comfortable to know others feel the same way.

I have found deep breathing exercises and concentrating on my breathing in and out help. (that's till the beverage cart comes).

ME!
And to make it worse, my 8 year old said to me the other day "Mom, I'm scared about flying! What if the plane crashes?"
Needless to say, I had a panic attack that night.
We leave on the 29th march....

i do hate the discomfort of flying (as i fly coach). that part i hate...17.5 in by 32 inch area. it's almost criminal to be put in that position for 10 hours, but it's only 10hours.

as for the fear of crashing, it's just the glorfication of plane crashes that makes it stand out. otherwise (i'm sure the stats are out there) there are a ton more deadly car crashes on a per minute basis.

still hate turbulance...try to get my 3 minutes of sleep in and rattles you awake.

As a long haul flight attendant I am aware of how many people are afraid to fly. Many different reasons,men and women but I have only had one person ever get off before the flight. When you get on make yourself known to the cabin crew and explain your situation. Never feel embarrassed as there are probably many others like you that havent said anything on that flight. Get up and walk around during the flight.Dont feel you have to stay in your seat. If you are too afraid to get up ask one of the cabin crew to walk around with you. Get them to explain what the eg.noises are or bumps etc. And as tuscanlifeedit says take your favourite things with you. Put on your favourite comfortable clothes,listen to some music or watch a movie. Read about your destination. And if you are wide awake during the night and still feeling nervous go and talk to the cabin crew. Just ask,ask,ask,never sit with white knuckles wondering. And I believe everyone has a fear...I hate lifts. I am still working on that one!

I hated flying until I started using airplanes ! Now I am more scared driving to the airport !

Add me to the list of fearful flyers.

I practically jump out of my chair every time I hear a noise, a thump, or feel a change in altitude. Don't even get me started on turbulance.

My very patient hubby helps by identifying all the noises and he seldom fusses when I leave fingernail indentations in his hands.

Having said that.....

I've been around the world five times and I've lived in four countries. None of this would have been possible without getting on a plane.

Hi. I became a nervous flier after my kids were born and when I flew without them. Every time the plane would shift direction, I'd look all around, and it would always seem like no one else was concerned about anything but me.

I recently read the book, Ask the Pilot. The author is a pilot who flew a commerical airplane and a cargo plane. He answers all sorts of questions about flying, from the logistics, to airports, etc. It's an interesting book.

His answers to many questions put my mind at ease, especially about turbulence. He said that is rarely something to be concerned about - the unsafest part of flying is taking off and landing. And even then, well, I'm sure you're heard all the statistics.

I get sweaty palms just HEARING a plane fly overhead. It doesn't stop me from flying though. Have a big trip coming up this summer. I'll start hoarding valium from relatives like crazy between now and then. (Maybe I should just get a prescription from my doctor-duh!)

I don't mind flying.

I do mind flying with my younger brother the airline mechanic. One time landing in Indy the pilot had to pull the plane up very hard. My brother asked me quietly if I heard that pinging sound. I did. He explained it was the anti-stall warning and smiled.

Yes, there are lots of threads about this. I am afraid to fly but I don't let it stop me. I white knuckle through a good portion of our flights, especially when there is turbulence. My husband sleeps like a rock, so I am sitting there teeth chattering with my heart in my stomach. I make the usual deals with god asking that if something must happen please let it occur after the trip. I realize this is illogical and know the flight safety statisitics but it still doesnt stop me from worrying.

My solution is that I just keep telling myself that this is how I get from point A to B, and that I will learn so much and will encounter so much happiness once we arrive it's worth it. I won't let the fear overwhelm my happiness when traveling.

indytravel,
anti-stall warning ...didn't need to know that.

Long ago, yes, but after hops in F-4's, F 14's and F 18's...
M

I went through a period of about 6 years where I was scared of flying. It really got bad to the point that I was almost in tears during one flight.

I decided to take control. I read everything I could find about planes. I learned how they work and why they fly. I read all about plane disasters and lots of near misses to educate myself about what causes a crash. Being armed with knowledge, I can now control my perception of flying and dont really worry about it. I do get a little tense still the day before the flight but once on board I am fine.

However, I will NOT fly in severe weather. You can count me out. I will fly another day before I board a plane in a blizzard or a major thunderstorm.

tuscanlifeedit - I love your travel kit idea! I'm going to make one for myself.

I am also afraid of flying - especially over water and for such a long distance, but I am trying to focus on my excitement of my first trip to Europe instead of the flight itself. I plan on bringing a couple of my small travel books to look at (since I can rarely concentrate on any deep reading while flying) and taking a Xanax (helped tremendously on my last flight).

I like the idea of reading the Ask The Pilot book. I feel safer on the ground but any small fear of flying cannot stop me from travelling. I have finally convinced myself that each time the plane hits turbulance it does mean we crash. I feel safer flying over water. What I really like is the little radar tracking screen sometimes called airshow which seems to make you feel you are getting closer to your destination--the same one that you watch the movie on.