Fear of Flying

[AlwightDallin]

Omg I have flown but not since Covid. Me, hubby & kids drive to Disneyland once or twice a year but I really really want to do a traditional beach holiday & I’m just petrified I have panic attacks watching other people do things I’m scared of

I’m not even sure it’s the flying, it’s the extreme claustrophobia I get. I’ve been trying to be brave & this year I’ve managed a lift for the first time in years plus thd London Underground so I’m hoping 2025 is the year!

Worst part is I live next to an airport, I could day trip to Europe but I let this fear rule me. I owe it to my kids and hubby to treat them all to a lovely hot getaway. If anyone has any tips or courses I can take etc please please let me know!

 

[noseynora21]

Omg I have flown but not since Covid. Me, hubby & kids drive to Disneyland once or twice a year but I really really want to do a traditional beach holiday & I’m just petrified I have panic attacks watching other people do things I’m scared of

I’m not even sure it’s the flying, it’s the extreme claustrophobia I get. I’ve been trying to be brave & this year I’ve managed a lift for the first time in years plus thd London Underground so I’m hoping 2025 is the year!

Worst part is I live next to an airport, I could day trip to Europe but I let this fear rule me. I owe it to my kids and hubby to treat them all to a lovely hot getaway. If anyone has any tips or courses I can take etc please please let me know!

Some airlines do courses where they help with your fear whether it be flying or the claustrophobia. I think at the end of the course you do a short flight but just with the people from the course on board and it’s around half an hour if I’m not mistaken. Have a look online I bet it would help.

 

[AlwightDallin]

Some airlines do courses where they help with your fear whether it be flying or the claustrophobia. I think at the end of the course you do a short flight but just with the people from the course on board and it’s around half an hour if I’m not mistaken. Have a look online I bet it would help.

Thank you, I had a little look some time back and it was more focussed on the flying but, explaining how the plane works, not to worry etc whereas I get claustrophobic walking up a spiral staircase so I thought I’d be too tough a nut to crack I might give them a call & see. My mother in law suggested Valium but I can’t dance on the plane with two kids to care for

 

[laughing]

Try hypnosis.

A friend of mine was terrified of flying, a plane was once stopped on the runway to allow her off.

Hypnosis solved her problem.

 

[Snippysnips]

Try hypnosis.

A friend of mine was terrified of flying, a plane was once stopped on the runway to allow her off.

Hypnosis solved her problem.

Can second this, I work at a hypnotherapy clinic an we see a few for this an most have gotten back an said they felt so much better on their flights, usually between 2 and 3 sessions are required but it's dependent on the client

 

[KitKat2000]

The fear of flying has reached new heights after today's news

 

[honey&lemon]

I have a fear of flying and am due to fly twice next week. today’s news has really worried me. I know that’s selfish but it genuinely makes me so scared

 

[noseynora21]

I have a fear of flying and am due to fly twice next week. today’s news has really worried me. I know that’s selfish but it genuinely makes me so scared

It’s not selfish at all

 

[tazzy1998]

i’m about to fly on sunday. first long flight (4.5 hours) and i cannot stop panicking about it

 

[awh]

So, I didn’t fly for over 10 years due to claustrophobia and here are some of the things that helped me:

- Deciding that I wasn't going to let the fear stop me any longer. I had a family holiday to France booked and didn't want to miss out on ANOTHER trip
- Drugs; my doctor did prescribe me some diazepam. I know that they're being tighter with it now, but it helped me to take the edge off. I did a short flight to Edinburgh and was off my bits; have since done much longer flights without taking anything
- The DARE app/book is great. The app has some recordings that you can listen to; the SOS one has talked me out of a panic attack on more than one occasion
- Speaking to the cabin crew when I get on and letting them know I'm nervous. This can be hit and miss; really depends on the crew
- Booking a specific seat; I like to be up at the front or at the very least have some extra leg room to make it feel like l've got a bit more space around me
- I bring stuff onboard to keep me busy/occupied. I don't really like watching stuff (unless it's long haul weirdly) but I do like playing games or doing crosswords as it keeps my brain occupied

Honestly, the main other thing that's helped is just doing it, over and over again. Appreciate that this isn't always possible due to money/holidays, but spent last year taking one short flight per month, just to really cement that learning; the more positive experiences you can give your brain to convince it that it's totally safe, the better

 

[tazzy1998]

So, I didn’t fly for over 10 years due to claustrophobia and here are some of the things that helped me:

- Deciding that I wasn't going to let the fear stop me any longer. I had a family holiday to France booked and didn't want to miss out on ANOTHER trip
- Drugs; my doctor did prescribe me some diazepam. I know that they're being tighter with it now, but it helped me to take the edge off. I did a short flight to Edinburgh and was off my bits; have since done much longer flights without taking anything
- The DARE app/book is great. The app has some recordings that you can listen to; the SOS one has talked me out of a panic attack on more than one occasion
- Speaking to the cabin crew when I get on and letting them know I'm nervous. This can be hit and miss; really depends on the crew
- Booking a specific seat; I like to be up at the front or at the very least have some extra leg room to make it feel like l've got a bit more space around me
- I bring stuff onboard to keep me busy/occupied. I don't really like watching stuff (unless it's long haul weirdly) but I do like playing games or doing crosswords as it keeps my brain occupied

Honestly, the main other thing that's helped is just doing it, over and over again. Appreciate that this isn't always possible due to money/holidays, but spent last year taking one short flight per month, just to really cement that learning; the more positive experiences you can give your brain to convince it that it's totally safe, the better

oooo thank you- i plan to defo bring some distractions with me- im a massive reader so im bringing the biggest books i have so i can try and focus on that, and i am hoping to try and fly more often soon, its just scary- i think its the lack of control that terrifies me

 

[Mrsp2806]

I’ve a massive fear of flying.. previously was prescribed diazepam and definitely took the edge off however this year flew a short flight so didn’t bother. Or probably wouldn’t been prescribed. But I just kept reminding myself millions of flights are flown every day, I have a window seat and I tried to keep myself busy by reading. it’s lack of control but I managed the flight no problem and gave myself a high five I did prep myself by watching take off videos on tik tok so was used to what the wings were doing etc!

 

[noseynora21]

There are a lot of pilots on TikTok who answer questions and do daily videos generally talking about planes and procedures etc. I found those really handy to watch too