View Full Version : Best way to get over the fear of flying?
Penguin
2/3/2006, 06:01 PM
It looks like I might be travelling with my boss to a conference in a few months and I don't want to act like a chicken-**** on the plane.
I know the stats. Hell, I work in the aviation industry. I know I have a better chance of choking to death on my toothbrush than dying in a plane crash.
Here's the one thing that freaks me out. When the plane turns, all you can see is ground when you look out the window. I suppose I have a fear of heights rather than a fear of flying? Turning while descending is the worst.
I wish I could think "Wow. Look at all of those houses with swimming pools" rather than "Dear, God! I'm about to fall to my death!"
Any suggestions?
KC//CRIMSON
2/3/2006, 06:02 PM
Prescription drugs.
Octavian
2/3/2006, 06:06 PM
a blankie
Skydiving.
Worked for me.
bourbon not doing it anymore?
Tell pirate jokes. You'll likely get a raise and everyone will be laughing so harrrrd you'll forget about the impending crash.
Crimson_Balls
2/3/2006, 06:31 PM
Join the mile high club with the flight attendent and you will forget all about the flight.
IronSooner
2/3/2006, 07:01 PM
I was going to suggest sitting near the aisle and reading or napping, but given the theme of this thread I'll go with naked pictures of Bea Arthur. You'll be so stupified you won't be able to think about anything else.
OklahomaTrombone
2/3/2006, 07:58 PM
two chicks at the same time
OUHOMER
2/3/2006, 08:06 PM
just ask yourself .. ARE THE PILOTS DRUG TESTED AND ARE THEY SOBER.... Is it tax season and do the pilots owe the IRS more than they can pay.. did the wife ask them for a divorce and the house before they left for work..
these are the questions i ask myself when i board a plane.
seems to help me
royalfan5
2/3/2006, 08:06 PM
I used to really hate flying especially taking off and landing, cruising not near as much. What I did was to get a window seat and look out the window the whole time, and just looked for landmarks to distract myself till the plan got to cruising height. I repeated this for landing. If no window seat was available I would read or have a conversation if I was traveling with someone. You could also get a teddy bear or something.
Big Red Ron
2/3/2006, 08:10 PM
Tell your Dr. and ask for Valum. ;)
proud gonzo
2/3/2006, 09:06 PM
put on headphones, listen to music so you don't wonder if the sounds in the airplane are normal, read a book. start reading as soon as you get to your seat so you don't sit around waiting in anxiety for the plane to take off because it'll be a while.
Join the mile high club with the flight attendent and you will forget all about the flight.
Word. I'll spek to that!
SoonerInKCMO
2/3/2006, 09:10 PM
Nut up and be a man, dammit. :texan:
JohnnyMack
2/3/2006, 09:18 PM
I fly about 75k miles a year and have for about 7 years now. I still don't particularly like to fly, but I handle it.
One of the big issues I had for a while was control. When you're in a plane like that, you're not in control. You can't see what's ahead of you, you can't control where you're going, how fast you're going, any of it. What you can do is work on accepting that the individuals who are in control, are very good at what they do. To them it's literally like riding a bike. They've got so many thousands of hours logged that there likely isn't much they haven't encountered, haven't had to deal with at least once. Combine that with the state of the art nature of today's aircraft and the ridiculous amount of redundancies built into flying a jet like that and chances appraoach the tens of millions that something significant will go wrong.
Also, if you can keep yourself busy with work, a movie, a book, a magazine that can help keep your mind off of your lack of control.
One thing that also works well is conversation. If you're flying with your boss (and sitting next to him/her) it's a great time to spend going over work issues or time to get to know him/her on a personal level (which is a good thing). Amazing how fast conversation can get your mind off of your troubles.
If nothing helps, see a Dr. Get Xanax. And then have two vodka & cranberries. You won't give a **** about much of anything at that point (the aforementioned suggestion also makes trips to Europe easier, or so I've heard ;)).
OUinFLA
2/3/2006, 09:21 PM
http://www.csuohio.edu/internat/greyhound_bus.jpg
bigdsooner
2/3/2006, 09:23 PM
i hate flying as well, i have to get a window seat, look out at all times, and when the turbulence comes i lean off the back of the seat til we are thru it. i never watch the wings either, these helped me alot
OUthunder
2/3/2006, 09:25 PM
Xanax, Ativan or lots of Bourbon.
MiccoMacey
2/3/2006, 11:12 PM
In the psychological world, it's called flooding. Fly for 28 hours straight. Combine that with your fear of the dark and have the stewardess turn out all the lights in the plane. Two for one deals are always the best.
There was a Cheers episode about this that would probably be very helpful.
IronSooner
2/4/2006, 12:30 AM
There ya go. Take a portable DVD player and watch Cheers episodes. Ask the stewardess for beer so you feel like you're really there.
BillyBall
2/4/2006, 12:31 AM
Xanax, Ativan or lots of Bourbon.
This man reads minds...
Octavian
2/4/2006, 02:57 AM
One of the big issues I had for a while was control. When you're in a plane like that, you're not in control. You can't see what's ahead of you, you can't control where you're going, how fast you're going, any of it. What you can do is work on accepting that the individuals who are in control, are very good at what they do.
control freak :texan:
jthomasou78
2/4/2006, 09:26 AM
I hate to fly, and I had to do it alot for work for a while. My Doc gave me Xanax and it helps alot. If there is bad turbulence I am sill a wreck but 95 percent of the time Im good.
jk the sooner fan
2/4/2006, 09:40 AM
whatever you do, dont pull a "rainman" act as you're walking down the jetway
seriously, i remind myself every flight that the pilot wants to crash as much as i do....i have a fear of heights (or falling from them)...take a book or something to keep your mind occupied elsewhere
Flying around the nothern rockies in a small helicopter, sitting in the passenger seat without a door while wearing just a seatbelt and the eggbeaters being flown by an ex Vietnam pilot who knows how to fly it anywhere in any condition pretty much took care of my fear of flying.
I did that for about 3 weeks up near Cody Wyoming while monitoring some oil exploration activities back in the late 80's.....
JohnnyMack
2/4/2006, 10:44 AM
control freak :texan:
Yup. Once you learn to let go and trust other people, it gets LOTS better.
Yup. Once you learn to let go and trust other people, it gets LOTS better.
http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/jc46.2003/eig.mindfilms/images/tyler.meets.tyler.jpg
insurance pays off triple on a business trip
JohnnyMack
2/4/2006, 11:02 AM
http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/jc46.2003/eig.mindfilms/images/tyler.meets.tyler.jpg
insurance pays off triple on a business trip
How's that workin' out for you?
What?
Being clever.
Penguin
3/18/2006, 06:23 PM
Tomorrow's the big day. I'm actually not too nervous. I'm looking forward to the conference. It should be fun.
Tomorrow's the big day. I'm actually not too nervous. I'm looking forward to the conference. It should be fun.
Weather sure isn't looking good. But I'm sure that won't matter.......much.
Just kidding. It's not that bad. I don't love it either but once you get on the plane, it's kind of fun. Plus, they serve alcohol. :D
handcrafted
3/18/2006, 07:28 PM
The vodka and cranberry idea is solid. Follow it up with some red wine. Works for me every time.
leftfield
3/18/2006, 08:46 PM
There ya go. Take a portable DVD player and watch porn. Ask the stewardess to meet you in the bathroom so you feel like you're really there.
yep, I agree:D
Penguin
3/24/2006, 03:30 PM
I just got back last night. I was just fine on each flight and both were bumpy as hell, especially lats night's flight. In fact, something pretty bad happened on the flight, but that's my next thread topic. :D
I found a lot of help at www.fearofflyinghelp.com (http://www.fearofflyinghelp.com)
Once I understood what fear is, I was able to control it. I learned that fear is simply our primal fight or flee response. When you are on a plane, there's nobody to fight and there's nowhere to flee, so you might as well sit back and relax. I'm still not crazy about big turns, but closing my eyes and taking a deep breath helps a lot.
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