Am I going to die on my plane ride next week?

[friesianrider]

Yes, yes, make fun of me (my family does ha!) I'm TERRIFIED I;m going to die in a plane crash next week while going to a friend's wedding in Florida. I've flown several times before - twice to Florida - but am FREAKING out like a maniac. I just can't get thoughts of a mechanical malfunction out of my mind. I took this online "Fear of Flying" course thingie about a month ago and was like "no problem, I'll be fine." Now closer to the flight I'm having panic attacks over this. I even watched the course again and don't feel any better. Plus, I went to a plane crash site and see all the random shit that happens on planes and it's scaring the crap out of me. I know the odds and all that, but with my luck, I'd never win the lottery but would be on that 1 in 26 million flights that crash. What the hell is my problem? Is anyone else a loser like me and afraid to fly?

Maybe I'm just freaking out that Bush's approval ratings are dropping again so it may be time for another "rally 'round the leader" attack.

So tell me what to do. I can still back out of the flight (particularly because I hate the controlling fake-tanned bitch my friend is marrying as does the entire family)...I'll be pissed if I die going to this shindig.

[wtmusic]

1. You'll be fine

Get some Xanax, or have a stiff drink before. Get a good book to read.

Over 100,000 commercial flights in the US last year. Not one crash.

Your odds are very, very good.

One more note: the odds are *far* higher that you would be killed if you were driving there.

[Robeson]

2. Can you take a train?

[6000eliot]

3. 10 mg of Ativan

about 30 minutes before you board. Just enough to take the edge off for me. Works like a charm.

[carpetbagger]

11. Are you a horse?

Shit, 10mg of ativan will make Mike Tyson feel the love.

[6000eliot]

14. Is it possible I meant mcg?

No degree in pharmacology here!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Some airlines offer classes for people who are afraid of flying.

If you live near a major airline hub, you might look into that. You get into flight simulators, talk to pilots, get more of a feel for the real thing, then you go on an actual flight. They say it helps a lot. Though if this trip is next week there might not be time, and if you can't stand the bride you might want to skip the whole thing anyhow. But good luck, don't feel bad about it; you can get over it. I used to be afraid of flying, too; now I fly all the time and I love it.

[Catchawave]

5. I think it's just anticipatory anxiety.....

I beat myself up over every flight, but once I get to the airport, I'm fine. You will be too :hug:

[AndyTiedye]

6. Amtrak Runs Lots of Trains to Florida

If you're still in Pennsylvania, getting to Florida by train should be easy.

And since this is the off-season for Florida, you might be able to get
a sleeper for cheap. The conductors sell off any unsold bedrooms on
the train, usually for far less than the usual rate.

[Straight Shooter]

7. Are you highly intuitive? Is this coming from your fear or your gut?

Try to do a bit of meditation. If it's an inner voice telling you not to go, then don't go.

Don't put bush in the calculation. Just pay attention to your gut.

FWIW, the only time I "freaked out" over a plane flight and finally gave in and took the flight, we did experience problems but it wasn't with the plane, it was with the destination airport and we had to be rerouted, which added hours to the travel time. As I was disembarking the plane later that night, I overheard a passenger tell another passenger, "You know, I had a funny feeling about this flight ..."


edit: one more thing, can you "picture" yourself at the wedding and having a good time? If you're intuitive and you can do that with ease, then you'll be at the wedding, no problem.

[friesianrider]

15. Picture myself there, but not coming home...

It's strange, I've always FELT I've been very intuitive, but seem to rarely have my intuitions come true, but when they do they are "big events." I always think my inner voice is telling me something but don't seem to be right about it with any reliability.


Also, I see myself in Florida but not home afterwards. I hesitate to see things happening as a sort of "visualization" technique because of another weird occurance: Once one of my kitties disappeared, and I was terrified something bad happened. I visualized the next day my boyfriend would either come in and say "still didn't see Tiggie this morning" or he'd leave me a note saying the same thing. I concentrated very hard on "seeing" the writing on the note or him standing over me telling me he didn't find the kitty. Turns out none of my visualizations came true. We found the kitty the next morning, the exact opposite of what I visualized. Now I'm paranoid that if I visualize something, the exact opposite is what will happen.

Maybe I am just a total psycho, it sure sounds like it!

[lakeguy]

8. take the train.

[RebelOne]

20. I agree. Take a train. It's more fun anyway. n/t

[The_Casual_Observer]

9. I think about it every time. It's terrifying, but like everything else

you just have to put it out of your mind. Bring the latest New Yorker or a good book settle in and listen to your I-pod.

[lenidog]

10. Don't worry I have flow countless times

Commericial airliners, Military Airlift Command, military choppers and I am still alive and well. Hell! I have been on planes and choppers that were older than me at the time. It can be scary but just relax. I think the odds are better for you to get by a train than crash in a plane. I mean there are tens of thousands of commercial flights every year. When was the last time one went down?

[friesianrider]

13. See, this is what worries me...

I feel like I want to fly right after a big plane crash...it's like the karma is done and over with. There hasn't been a fatality on a plane in like, the last three years, which is worrying me more than helping!

All I can think is about the planes that did crash - their passengers all told themselves the same stuff I'm trying to convince myself of. I guess my problem is I always want to feel like I have an avenue "out" and of course, there is none on a plane. Ugh!

[lenidog]

16. All I can advise you is to take a stiff drink before you board

take a book and or a Ipod and you will be there before you know it. I wont lie to you planes do crash but its a VERY rare event. I am more worried driving sometimes than I have ever been on a plane and I have flown on some ratty aircraft. I flew in a chopper once whe I was in the army that had been in Vietnam. This was 1993, the reason I knew that was the pilot told me how when they stripped the chopper for painting it in desert camo they found the bottoms of beer cans welded on the side of the chopper. They used them to cover up the bullet holes back then.

[haele]

12. Old family ritual for traveling while afraid of not returning...

Three parts -

1) Get a picture of your loved ones that will be staying at home. My picture is usually my kitties; I've been their mommy since they were 8 weeks old. On the back, write "X (or "X,Y, and etc") loves me and needs me to come back home". Put it in your wallet.

2) Three nights before your travel, find something valuable to you that is a pair, like a pair of earrings, a necklace and pendant, etc. Wrap them into a package in gold cloth, tied with a blue cord. Before a white pillar candle, picture them "together forever, if parted, returned together soon and safely". Chant that or something similar to that if you wish. When you can feel that there is a strong bond between them, you can end the ritual and place the package in a secure place.
On the day of travel, remove the package, untie the cord and unwrap the package. Apologize for separating the items, indicate when you will return them to a state of togetherness. Take one item, pack it safely in a corner your carry-on, purse, or wallet. Re-wrap the remaining item and put back in the safe place, thinking of the day you will return them together.

In these two ways, you are "insuring" that the need to return on time is greater than a need for there to be an issue on your travel.

3) If acceptable to the recipient, alcoholic libation/sacrifice to the spirit(s) of your choice governing travel and mode of travel, air (for plane, sea for ship, etc...) before commencing the trip, just to get them in a favorable mood. If alcohol is not what that spirit wants, then whatever (some like aromatic smoke, some like shiny objects of some value, some like bodily fluids...you'll know your spirits better than anyone else)

Everyone's got their own rituals and rules governing travel. Some folks find they feel more comfortable if they "waste money" buying travel insurance at the airport. Some people carry a rosary and count decades. Some people get drunk before flying, or masturbate/have sex. Some people just "ignore" that they're going to be traveling until the plane leaves the runway. Find the one that suits you the best.

Haele

[montana_hazeleyes]

17. I'm usually good with these feelings and I see your plane

looking just fine. I see it almost just floating along in the clouds.
I get a peaceful, happy feeling about this flight.

On the other hand- if you do crash you get the satisfaction of ruining the bitch's wedding.

[friesianrider]

18. lol...

Amazingly, I feel a little better from your post (but everyone's advice and posts has been wonderful as well and my appreciation is immense!) My "intuition" is so whacky I can't rely on it, so hearing someone else's is good. The last thing this world needs is one less Dem ;)

[TrogL]

19. Lookit

If I can get through flying in a rusty old Bell 47 chopper during a thunderstorm with no door, no seatbelts and something wrong with the engine you can get through an ordinary commercial flight.

[peacebuzzard]

21. speaking as a flight attendant.....

I always like to know if someone has fear of flying....I can't speak for all attendants, but my suggestion is, when you get on board QUICKLY introduce yourself to the flight attendant, and/or pilot, whoever is there greeting the passengers (because boarding is the most hectic moment for the cabin crew, and they will all be very busy) and say something like:

"Hi, I'm seated in (xxxx-give your seat number) and I am terrified of flying--just wanted to let you know I am not a weirdo, just scared. " Don't forget your please, excuse me sir or ma'am and especially don't forget your thank yous. You won't believe how many rude people travel.

Leave it at that and QUICKLY get out of their way. And say the same thing to ALL of the flight attendants, not just the one or two at the boarding door. They may not pass the word around the cabin crew about you, and if you start feeling sick during the flight, you will have personally spoken to the whole crew. Don't feel shy, let them know you are OK, just scared. They will appreciate the information. That way, they will have personally interacted with you in case you really get sick or feel bad in-flight.

The reason I am suggesting this, is, say, during the flight you start to feel scared or weirded out, at least you told the flight attendants, and they won't think you are just one of the so many just normally strange people that fly every day.

As soon as you sit down, look for your sick bag and introduce yourself to your seat companions; and ask them if you can have their sick bags. When you are at that moment of explain your phobias to the flight attendants, ask them for additional sick bags, "just in case". Other suggestions:

a) bring books, magazines, reading material
b) bring a DVD, (because there may not be a good, interesting movie on board
c) bring a laptop, an Ipod, or something else to keep you occupied. (But pay attention
to the announcements as to when you can use the electronic devices--usually only
above 10 thousand feet)

Above all, try to relax, flying is much safer than driving. ;-)