Keeping feet on the ground now.

[lettucegrow!]

Hi! Back from our hols in very sunny Bulgaria and am afraid to say that will be the last time for a while I will be going on a plane. Not a good flyer and flight out was fine but coming home had half hour of turbulence bad enough for drinks to be spilt. I was absolutely terrified, hyperventilating and pathetic. I just wanted to get off, and all I could think was 'next year Devon or Cornwall are looking good' . OH has taken pressure off and quite happy to go uk or maybe France, no problem with ferries.
Anyone else like this? How do you deal with it? Tried watching a fear of flying you tube film but was straight back into panic attack mode and couldn't finish watching it.

[di]

I hate it and love it...the thought terrifies me and take off and landing are nasty,but once I get past my fear of heights there's something wonderful about looking out at the clouds.
Haven't flown since being a parent and can't start to imagine being on a plane without the kiddies...or them on one without me.

[HeyWayne]

I'm pretty cool with flying, and have done the 747 thing, and the little pond-skipper type planes - both very different experiences. However I find the bigger planes more unnerving - that much metal flying beggars belief. That said, it's very rare that they come down (when compared to how many are in the air at any given time), and overall they are safe - but it's the feeling of no control I think unnerves most people.

LadyWayne is talking about us going on a foreign holiday next year (our first since Bean came along) and I think it will be interesting to see how we cope. LadyWayne has always been fine with heights, but on a trip to Blackpool last year she felt sick and needed to get back down as quickly as possible - we can only put it down to hormonal and psychological changes since Bean's arrival. Conversely, I've become much better with heights since he arrived. Want to borrow him and see which way he sends you?

[Alison]

We took my Godson on a plane when he was 18 months old and were really worried how he'd cope. Turned out he pointed a lot at things while we were on the ground then fell asleep for most of the flight. No bother at all, so long as they're entertained kids are fine on planes although to me one of the worst things about flying is other people who let their kids kick your seat through the whole flight. Had that all the way to NY once, despite a polite word to the so called responsible parent who just said "he's a kid and he's bored so there's really nothing I can do" - arghhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Don't fear flying at all, people do it every day and it's a well known stat that it's more dangerous crossing the road but I do find it VERY boring, can't get comfy and can never sleep on long haul. That said, if you don't like it then don't let it cut you up, there are loads of nice places close to hand and to be honest a lot of us aren't jetting off much now due to the cost anyway.

[VirginVegGrower]

Working at Rolls-Royce and seeing the size of the engines helps. Planes are built to withstand anything and everything you can throw at them, except the vague and unknown quantities. Years of frequent flying helps get you beyond that "what if" too. Try some Bach's Rescue Remedy or calming remedy beforehand. Often people, especially the women, are fraught before they start; organising everyone, bag packing, etc. usually gets you to a heightened state of anxiety. Try minimising last minute stuff. Get there in good time, have a meal, shop and relax. Although I don't recommend the put your arms out and flap aeroplanes that I once flew to the Isle of Man with...shocking!
Beat your fear...don't succumb. Scary rides at Alton Towers or elsewhere might help with some of that sudden dip "oh no my breakfast is coming up" feeling. My son hates heights so where do we go every holiday - yes, up something tall. I walk slowly with him offering reassurance all the way. Always look out, never look down first. I hate old ships - they make me hyperventilate. Don't know why but just the thought of their dark skulking hulls makes me feel sick. Must conquer that one. x VVG

[Glutton4...]

I try not to think about it. Long-haul is usually a better flight, as it is higher, so less turbulence. (I did say usually.) Short-haul can be bumpy with landings like a tennis ball But not always. Both are cramped, and delayed, and unhygienic (you breathe everyone else's viruses, as the air is recurculated. , and one of us always arrives with someone else's cold! )

The parts I hate are the parts at either end - it all takes faaaaar toooooo loooooong, and the people; Why are most members of the travelling public so bl**dy rude, selfish and inconsiderate?

[TEB]

The perfumed Ayatollah works in Dublin, and was flying into the aiport (from Bristol) during the tropical storm/hurricane Katia, she said it was like being on a roller coaster, people were throwing up and the pilot had to abort touchdown at the last moment , this is a 4 engine prop jobby, she said she was equal parts exhilarated and terrified. In a couple of weeks she swapping Dublin for working in Cologne and back on the jets. She says a few people use the blowing in a paper bag trick, she just turns her IPAD on loud and reads and then falls asleep and starts snoring

[bearded bloke]

Wifey consoles herself by remembering that the pilot wants to get home safely just as much as she does

[Potstubsdustbins]

The only time I have been worried about flying is when I did my first parachute jump, being the heaviest I had to sit up front next to the pilot. Great until I found out there was no bladdy door on my side.

As to the problem with fear of flying I don't think it always goes along with a fear of heights, as posted above I think its more to do with not being in charge of your own destiny.

And if air turbulence make you icky poo a bad channel crossing will make you wish you were dead!

Colin

[Glutton4...]

I should travel more, as I was obviously built for it. I have been on the roughest sea crossings in large and smaller vessels, and my stomach is as calm as a millpond. A big bonus, is that I can often get first in the queue for brekkie on a cross-channel ferry, when it's rough!

[bearded bloke]

A big bonus, is that I can often get first in the queue for brekkie on a cross-channel ferry, when it's rough!

And I bet you have a good fry up

[Glutton4...]

Yup!

[Creemteez]

I'm afraid I've watched far too many episodes of "Air Crash Investigation" on the Discovery Channel to be terribly comfy with the thought of flying - though it's not so much the flying I've a problem with , it's the possibility of plummeting from 30,000 feet in a fire-ball that freaks me out.
However, I have picked up a few tips which should I ever be required to board a plane again, I hope I'll remember.
1. Count how many seats there are between yours and the nearest emergency exit. - So if you cannot see for whatever reason, you can still find the exit.
2. DO NOT ON ANY ACCOUNT inflate a lifejacket until you are OFF THE PLANE. You may have to swim DOWN in order to get out of a submerged aircraft.
3 Most survivors of plane crashes report that a wonderful sense of peace comes over them - so it's not actually as scary as you might think.
Sorry.....have I freaked anyone out?

[northepaul]

I dont travel well, particularly on a boat, but I get terribly sick on planes with turbulance too.

The only advantage to going on a plane is that the journey is over relatively quickly....maybe it would to worth trying to focus on that, Lettuce? Ie its only 45 minutes til we land (for example).... I also find I dont like to look out the window.
Hope that is slightly helpful x

[cptncrackoff]

I have never, and will never enter any aircraft of any kind!
The pure thought terrifies me.
Sometimes i have nightmares about it!