Anxiety Support Group

Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...

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Fear of flying...

kaysmom
kaysmom

So later this week my husband and I are going on vacation. And we are flying. I hate hate hate flying! It is only a short flight too - 1 hour 45 minutes there and 1 hour 30 minutes home. I am terrified of everything and anything that could go wrong. Like what if my plane collides with another in the sky? Engine failure? Terrorism? I don't worry about germs n stuff, I work retail haha. I am not worried about having a panic attack in the sky. I am scared of no control of my surroundings. I can't escape. My husband doesn't have one anxious bone in his body and just simply says its all in my head, everything is ok, just tell yourself everything is ok. Gosh, why didn't I think of these tactics before?! Grrrr... Anyway, anybody else have a fear of flying? Or maybe what are some ways you deal with this? Thanks for your time... 

applezzz
applezzz
I know exactly how you feel, just the thought of flying on a plane make me shake.
arfie
arfie
Does it help to know that flying is much, much safer than driving?

I don't share your fear of flying, but fellow passengers who do respond well when I give them chewing gum to help them with the pressure that builds in the middle ear at high altitudes and show them how to use fidgit doodads as a channel for that anxiety.

While I am not afraid of flying, it isn't the funnest part of travel. Navigating airports, waiting and riding are wearisome. Carrying a "Busy Bag" full of stuff to pass the time helps, as does keeping the focus on the destination. The flight is merely the means to the end.
Community LeaderMid
Mid
Your husband is supporting you in the way he understands. Smile and tell him thank you.

Focus on what you CAN do for your flight. Little busy tasks to keep your mind distracted.

Practice positive images and words to distract you from this pattern of thought.

Enjoy your trip! Arfie's suggestions are in the toolkit!
kaysmom
kaysmom
Thank you for all of your suggestions... I really do appreciate it :) I just got done packing and now we are waiting for my son to take us to our hotel to catch our flight in the morning. I am a wreck right now! I am shaking - my whole body, my brain is giving me all the different horrible scenarios, I can't think... I am going mad! Legit. Then, a weird moment of clarity comes occasionally and I think about how wonderful this trip will be - get out of town, visit friends and family, all the good things - how in the world can I enjoy these things if I am going to die in the air? Makes no sense to me?! How can my brain tell me both of these things at once. Grrrr.... I hate this. I am sure everything will be fine - when I arrive home I will tell you all everything :)
kaysmom
kaysmom
Well I survived! BOTH plane rides haha. The first was actually a smooth flight but very bad anxiety. The trip as a whole was wonderful. Wonderful visits, cities, all that. Then the flight home was very turbulent! Ughh it was horrible however, my anxiety was very mild! So weird. I don't think I will ever fly again. It is just horrible on my mental health. Thank you everyone for your thoughts during this. Have a wonderful day :)
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