My nervousness is getting worse

Please someone try and calm me down I'm a nervous flyer, I get like this about a month before every time I fly but this time it's getting stupid - my next flight is LGW to MCO on the 7th May.

I imagine every possible 'horrible' scenario one could imagine, I travel UC and I'm just not enjoying it any more, I fly because to go on holiday I have to, but it's not by choice lol

I'm trying to think positive and reassure myself that Virgin is a reputable airline with well maintained aircraft, etc., etc., but I'd appreciate any tips to try and relax and enjoy flying a little more.

Thanks

Clare

Hi Clare

If it helps I used to be just like you. When I was a child I was a very frequent flyer but after a very rough flight back from Barbados I developed a fear. Firstly I avoided flying for 10 years then thought it was about time I conquered this fear. I would normally lose about half a stone in the weeks leading up to a flight and then sit on the plane feeling incredibly scared and unwell. Nothing anyone could say to me would help.

Decided to persevere and visited my doctor who gave me some diazepam. This I would take the night before I flew and carried on until I got off the plane. After doing this for a few flights I decided to be really brave (well for me anyway) and in 2007 booked a non stop flight (refuel Hong Kong) to Australia (Upper class of course as it used to make me feel better) and on top of that booked 6 internal flights. By the time I got on the 5th flight I was totally cured of all fears. I threw the diazepam away and have never looked back since. I do the Sydney run normally once a year, was in New York in February, am off to Miami on Friday and Barbados in September. Conquering this fear has really changed my life for the better, dare I say that I now adore flying and so wished my job involved travel. Only down side I as I se it is I don't suffer from the weight loss!!! LOL

I guess what I'm saying is that if you subject yourself to as much flying as possible in a short space of time you can desensitise yourself. Please keep trying I promise you it will be so worth it.

Oh by the way maybe it's in the name, mine is Clare too. y)

I wish you the all the best.

Apple

[mitchja]

On the IFE, there's a relaxation audio channel. This always chills me out (and quite often sends me to sleep). This might help you once your on board.

Also, have a word with the crew when you get onboard to just explain your situation. I'm sure the crew will be more than happy to just keep an eye on you and offer reassurance.

If you have an iPod Touch or iPhone, there's a VS flying without fear app which only costs £2.99. This might help before you fly as well.

I'm no expert but I'd personally advise against taking any prescribed drugs during the actual flight.

[Scrooge]

As Apple/Clare says, there is really only one way of curing your fear and that is to face it head on, while VS does offer a very good "fear of flying course" you may want to talk to your doctor about getting something to take "the edge off"

My wife had similar issues, to the point where she had never traveled outside the US until we started traveling toegether.

After many flights she has pretty much been cured, so take a deep deep breath and be brave.

[Pete]

As others have said, there are a number of options and strategies you can use to cope with your fear, including the excellent Flying Without Fear which Virgin themselves organise.

You may also consider therapy from a professional in CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) which will help you deconstruct what you're actually afraid of and be able to rationalise and face that fear. Help and support is out there.

It's an oft-quoted saying, but flying really is one of the safest forms of travel by any measure.

Thanks guys, and Clare it's good to know I'm not alone.

i've downloaded the flying without fear onto my iphone so will have a look at that shortly, thanks for that tip.

It's so stupid, I've not got to the stage where I'll not get on a plane or break down in tears but really I should be enjoying flying UC not dreading it.

Unfortunately I can't go down the prescribed meds route as I take quite a few for different conditions already and my GP wouldn't prescribe anything, but I take my trusty Dr. Bachs rescue remedy and keep it close by just in case.

I tried acupuncture a couple of years ago and found it worked for me. I now see my acupunturist the week before my flights - it has eliminated most of my symptoms.

Suzy

Thanks Suzy, that's interesting.

Please someone try and calm me down I'm a nervous flyer, I get like this about a month before every time I fly but this time it's getting stupid - my next flight is LGW to MCO on the 7th May.

I imagine every possible 'horrible' scenario one could imagine, I travel UC and I'm just not enjoying it any more, I fly because to go on holiday I have to, but it's not by choice lol

I'm trying to think positive and reassure myself that Virgin is a reputable airline with well maintained aircraft, etc., etc., but I'd appreciate any tips to try and relax and enjoy flying a little more.

Thanks

Clare

Few other ideas, which work for some..
Avoid caffeine 12 hours before you fly & and whilst flying
Try and do some exercise prior to going into the airport, to an extent to feel you've got out of breath. (stiff walk up & down stairs etc)
avoid excessive sugar intake, (avoid "sugar rushes")
Bit of Booze to take the edge off- if suitable, don't get drunk!
Get absorbed by book, magazine, film, music- or the best is get your traveling companion to keep you talking- have a debate about something-anything.. You're in UC so not side-by-side, so suggest something brain taxing- Nintendo DS brain training?? (you want something to stop you Dwelling on possibilities and focusing on something else..)
EAT.
Invest in some noise-canceling headphones (decent ones)- if not all out Bose ones, audiotechnica & others do some half decent ones for similar affect (stops you worrying about changes in noises etc..)

I've spent years overcoming this, tried it all and depends on you as a person as to what will work, keep flying - as others say: more-you-do-better-you'll-be, is very true. y)

NH

you are not alone in being a nervous flyer.
i would recommend the iPhone app. i was a nervous flyer until i made the decision to fly on my own from London to Manchester for a day trip to try and cure my fear.
one very bumpy but enjoyable flight later i am almost and now enjoy flying (but don't like the small Embraer 145's)

i am off to Orlando on Virgin on Thursday.

Chris

I was exactly the same! I hated flying and really got nervous, so much so I went almost 15 years not flying anywhere.

Then in 2004 I was offered the chance at getting a villa in Orlando - I weighed it up and decided to go for it - although I did everything long-distance (my friend and co-owner did all the hands on stuff there)
Then in 2005 when the villa was built I knew I'd have to go. Then a month or so before the completion date I was invited to a wedding in NW Spain, which meant flying to Madrid then a long drive. I did the Spanish one (hated every second) and then was dreading the trip to Orlando.
We made the ground crew aware I was very nervous - and they upgraded us so we could sit together. They did this again on the return flight (although we had decided that PE was the only way to go after the outbound)
I flew twice a year and am now confident enough that the last two Christmases I've flown over alone, as everyone else spends Christmas there and I go just after.

Also, as strange as it sounds, tv shows like 'Air Crash Investigation' really help - as every time I watch one I see another thing that can't go wrong with a flight!

Thanks again for the replies everyone, I've started to try and think more positive and am psyching myself up.