conquer my fear of flying

It’s been about a year. I haven’t missed the 4 flights I took over the last year. I successfully finished counseling and I felt so comfortable on my last flight. I know that this fear will always have to be managed, but I’m at a very good place. I no longer stop at the entrance and turn around crying. I no longer need so much xanax that I don’t remember anything (even changing planes once).
I am taking 4 flights soon: 1 this weekend, 1 in may from denver to another u.s. city, and in sept and dec I am going to Germany and Costa Rica! Very excited! I love to travel!

There’s just so many things that can go wrong. I can’t stand this country and want shot of it as soon as possible, but it’s not the anxiety of starting up in a new country that worries me, it’s the f’ing flight to get there.

I flew denver to kansas city with no xanax!...I was very nervous, but I was able to make it!!! yeah!!! Great strides…this is such a real fear…but it’s amazing work on conquering it! especially since one of my passions is traveling!

I used to breakdown at the entrance of the plane and I would freeze/cry/run off the plane before the door closed/I’ve cried throughout a whole flight once (so embarrassing since with the exception of flying I’m a super mellow person and I never had this fear until 3 years ago during a random panic attack while flying (apparently this is common for women my age to just develop this fear for no reason—encouraging to know))

I’ve made some progress with this fear. I’ve seen 3 therapists…first one didn’t help me (she focused on positive self talk…which in conjunction with relaxation techniques helps, but doesn’t work as the only coping skill). Second therapist was the best…she walked me through meditation and relaxation techniques…desensitizing the experience by imagining a safe/relaxed place and experience. My second therapist went on maternity leave and refered me to another psychologist that is an actual pilot. With him I practiced flying in small planes and even took control of the steering at one session. We also did a bunch of touch and go’s at one session. All of this has been helpful. I can fly with a relatively low dose of Xanax and have had a few flights without Xanax (I hate how it makes you feel “out of it”). I would recommend “The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook”...also helpful.

This is something I will always have to work on…after each flight I book, I have to remember to practice relaxation/positive self talk, exercising, cutting out caffeine, etc.

Well, one strategy that seems to work is forget about withholding the pleasures of wine from myself. You only live once…oh yeah and stop watching those A&E network disaster documentaries about air travel disasters.

After many years of being terrified of being on a plane, I’m slowly starting to get a little better. I’m actually flying less often than before, but it’s getting easier to get on the plane. I still need the Xanex, but it’s actually enough to calm me down. I’m also not getting sick for the month before I fly.
I’ve flown 4 times in the past year, including one transatlantic journey!!

As soon as i find out that i have to fly somewhere, the dread begins to build. Usually force my husband to come with me on work trips. Went so far as to write up our wills before a trip to Europe, so great was the belief that we’d go over that horizon and never return! Now that drinking isn’t an option for me, I’m looking for ways to deal with the anxiety. Kind of embarrassed to ask my family phyisician for a prescription, but it may just be the way to go. Didn’t Mr. T. do that?

I got it – in order not too be afraid while airbourne I have to knock up couple of wine glasses – and it doesn’t seem so bad at all!! I flew to and from Spain recently and except for the take offs I quite enjoyed the flights. I was even watching when we were landing :))

I dont even know where to begin with this goal…someones gonna have to drug me to even get me up to the door of the darn plane.

And it is a godsend for those who are afraid of flying.

HOWEVER, it is in the same family as valium, so you have to be careful. I hide it away until I am going on a long-haul trip. It would be tempting to sneak a few to help me sleep, but I have enough problems. Don’t need to add prescription addiction to them.