XOXO

DH has this intense fear(even before 9/11, so it ie worse now than ever). To get him to go visit my family in London I have to take the red-eye, so he will be asleep and then I have to go to the Dr. & get him a vallium & a sleeping aid.

We usually have a good time & he does not think about the flgihts until we are packing & getting ready to go.

Good Luck

Hearzbellz-

Thanks so much for the quick response. So, the sleeping pills work for him? I'm afraid of falling asleep and then waking up in the middle of the flight in darkness over the water - ugh, you get the picture, I'm nuts! Also, I will have to take three flights!

Was it an OTC sleeping pill? Any suggestions lol?

Thanks again - I have to buy my tickets today or tomorrow and I am freaking out!

I fly back and forth from London to NY quite a bit, and while I don't have an intense fear of flying, it's not my favorite thing in the world to do. DH is very nervous, but he's much better if he has a few drinks. I would definitely recommend the redeye and a cocktail or two, or something to make you sleep.

Good luck!

NP Annie. He did wake up, but we flew Virgin Atlantic & the plane is large on VA, so we did not feel any turbulance or plane movement. There are 3 aisles of seats (10 seats across), so he sat where there was no window. Also, VA has the TV screens on each seat, so when he woke-up he watched TV until he fell back asleep.

The Vallium & sleep aid were both prescription, but I cannot remember what the sleep one was.

I've had a huge fear of flying ever since a girl I was friends with in college died on the Valujet crash over the FL Everglades... 9/11 and the Queens crash did not help after that either, but my original fear started with her death.

Anyway, I avoided flying for a LOOOOONG TIME. I didn't go anywhere. I had to travel between NY and FL a lot, and I would drive EVERY time (like 1-3 times per year, over about 7 years)...

So then FH and I moved out of state, and we're planning our NY wedding from a distance. Plus, this year we have several other weddings to attend in NY. Suffice to say, I've flown up to NY about once a month for the past year, and it's weird, but the fear is going away.

The first couple of times, I cried before getting on the plane. I read up on flying safety and learned how safe it really is. Of course I was still scared, b/c it was more of an emotional fear, so I would drink two glasses of wine on each trip and get a little tipsy and then would be alright as long as there was no turbulence. I was so scared, that LITERALLY every time I landed, I would actually be SURPRISED that I survived!

Anyway, after doing this so many times, the fear has really started to go away. I don't even need to drink on the plane anymore - For the past two months I've actually had no alcohol and STILL been fine. I won't say I don't ever have any thoughts about what it would feel like if something went wrong, but it's gotten a LOT easier. And now FH and I plan a lot more trips that we never would have before, and I feel like there's a lot of fun stuff in our lives that I'm so glad we're not missing.

I say go for it. If you can, fly somewhere close first, and take a short, inexpensive flight somewhere for a weekend. It will make it easier to take the long flight when you see it's OK on the shorter one. Before you go, read the websites for scared fliers, they really do help! And once you're up there, have a glass of wine to calm the nerves if you need to!

back in 96, i flew to europe.. the larger plans dont take as much tuberlance as the smaller ones do. there are so many people that you feel more secure..(not sure why).

Just make sure you keep yourself busy and relax.

Beleive it or not, air travel is the safest form of traveling (besides walking but its hard to walk on water)

Enjoy europe.. i had one chance to go and i went. i wish i could go back but its soo much money $$$$

aww i get scared too. ive had some crazy flight experiences -especially when i travel by myself.

Stories I heard scare me so much but i dont and cant let it get in the way of my awesome vacations and valuable business trips.

a bloody mary usually does the trick for me. also my fh being there helps as well.

honestly, if you look at the statistics, you have a better chance of drowning in a bathtub than you do dying in a plane crash.

so, go for it!! it will be a great experience! dont let your fears get the best of the great times to come!

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Posted by Preshy7

honestly, if you look at the statistics, you have a better chance of drowning in a bathtub than you do dying in a plane crash.

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It's true, and when you think about it, you expect to feel little bumps here and there when you're driving in a car - minor turbulence is perfectly normal.

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Posted by MCDO15


Beleive it or not, air travel is the safest form of traveling (besides walking but its hard to walk on water)

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I tried the walking on water thing....I guess you have to be the Messiah to pull that one off

In all serious-ness, it is very VERY worth it to travel to Europe. You will be happy you did it

Girls - Thanks so much for all of your support and advice. So, I did it - I booked the trip...I'm hoping for the best and planning on getting some meds

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Posted by Annieb

Girls - Thanks so much for all of your support and advice. So, I did it - I booked the trip...I'm hoping for the best and planning on getting some meds

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wonderful!!!!! thats great! i am jealous!
you will be so happy you went.
the fun thing about going trans-atlantic- they give you 2 s hitty meals instead of just 1!
LOL

have a gret time!

I have heard about a product called Rescue Remedy when I've listened to Dr. Joy Browne on talk radio. It sounds pretty good. Here is a website.

Rescue Remedy by Bach Essence

I just wanted to offer you some hugs I am extremely afraid of flying and have not gotten over it. I dread it. I can't sleep nights before the trip, I cry when I leave for the airport and board the plane. I hate that I am afraid of flying.

I have flown all over the United States...mostly when i was a kid...Alaska, Hawaii, California and use to love flying. In 1990 I had to fly down to Florida last minute because my Grandpa was dying of cancer....all i can say is that was the scariest flight ever! Even the stewards were getting scared. The turbulance was so bad that the pilots were putting the plane into dives to get out of it.

After that i would not fly for awhile...between 1990 and 2001 i flew once.....to California and was fine. Now i am back to flying all over the place. Don't really love it, but i like to travel so that makes it worth it.

Someone told me once that the fear people have from flying is the not being in control of the plane. Like you probably are more antsy being a passenger in someones car then driving yourself. You just have to realize that it is so safe to fly......there has not been a big aircrash since November 2001 too....and at this point if anyone tried to take over the plane passengers would not sit around and let it happen...that is for sure.

Go to Europe!! It will be so worth it!

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Posted by SeptWed

Someone told me once that the fear people have from flying is the not being in control of the plane.

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This was definitely an issue for me. I feel in control when I am driving, but think about it: do you really have control when you're driving?

I hate to fly, but I am usually ok once I am at the gate. It's usually the time leading up to the flight where I have the most anxiety. Thinking about people who do the Amazing Race and friends who fly often for business usually make me feel better. Like, this person flies four times a month and is ok. I can fly a few times a year.

I say go for it.

I NEVER used to be afraid of flying. Now I get a big knot in my stomach and a lot of anxiety. I had to fly a few times recently (went to FL and just got back from my HM). The turbulence is the worst! I can't look out the window (or I feel nauseous) and during turbulence I silently keep praying to land safely. Not sure if it'll get easier, but I still HAVE to do it. Dramamine definitely helped on the return flight.

I'm determined to break the fear, though. So I hope it does get easier the more I do it.



ETA- It's a good opportunity and you guys shouldn't miss out on it! I'd MAKE myself go!

You girls are all so sweet Thanks so much for the support. It is sort of nice to know I'm not alone. After I got married in 2003, I forced myself to go to Hawaii on my honeymoon. Well, the first leg of the flight was so bad - it took almost 14 hours instead of 11 with the fasten the seatbelt sign on the whole time. My husband, had taken some otc sleeping pills and I was shaking him the whole time like 'wake up we are going to die these are the last moments we have together' UGH I'm surprised he didn't serve me with divorce papers after I got off the plane. At any rate, after this flight, I swore if God got me through it I would never fly long distance again.

Well my trip is booked - 8 hours to germany and then 3 hours to Athens and then another hour to the island...Yikes...what did I get myself into

But, thanks again so much for all the input!!!!!!!!!!

I am petrified of flying. I want to go to school to get over my fear but I am too afraid of dying on the final flight

My Dr. gives me tranquilizers for the flight. But in order for them to work I have to almost OD. I also tried hypnosis and it worked great but it got too expensive.

Good Luck