Airplanes

Does anyone out there share my anxiety about flying? And how the heck do you get thru it all? I have two planes to catch on saturday aarrrgh!

Maree

  Hi jordaNZone, I don't have a fear of flying but I do have a fear of highs funny EH but when I ride on a plane I like the window seat that way I can just look outside but if I were you I would bring along your anxiety meds like valium or whatever you have. I've owned my own plane for years before I got diabetes and had to sell it God I really miss flying my own plane but if you can fly in Alaska you can fly anywear and your flight team has had a lot of training and hours put in so you will be in safe hands.

  Cowboy up

Ok ok where to start...I guess I have some questions about the flights...first off are you traveling alone or with someone...I know it may not sound like it matters but does make a difference for me at least...Second how long is the flight... Third what is your biggest issue with flying?

Now some tips or tricks...I can not give pointers on a med to take or anything but if you take meds obviously bring and use as directed...For me it helps to have things planned out from the moment you leave the house till the moment you get to your final destination...ask lyn I showed up to her place in december with 6-7 different folders of information from flight infos to rental confirmations to identification etc...remember they suggest you be at the airport atleast 2 hours before your flight...check out the travel websites about what you can and cant take on a plane...The less problems you have getting through security the less anxiety it will cause...if you are traveling with someone make sure they are on the same page as far as plans...Do take with you something non electronic to do during take off or landing like a book or word puzzle or sudoku...if you are on a long trip i suggest a laptop or music or a dvd player if you can...they may sound like simple things but any distraction is a good distraction...also I find it helpful to check out a map of the airport before I get there...Helps to plan routes and you dont get lost so easy...less lost...less anxiety...be prepared at security to have your ID ready with your ticket and you might have to take your shoes off and send em through the x-ray and if you have a laptop take it out of your bag and run it through scanner seperate...Also be sure to take all metal off before going through metal detectors (watches belts phones keys change etc...I find im calmer if i make it through security without a hitch... Depending your airline you may be able to choose your seat...I have found that the isle works best for me cause I dont like to feel more confined than I am...you should be able to find out what type of plane you are flying and can google airplane seating charts or something to that effect and get a layout of the plane...

I hope some of that helps...I flew on 5 planes in 06 and 1 in 07 so far so if you have questions feel free to contact me... oh and I also chew gum while flying...

NO probs sweetie ,,,,,,.........YOU tried right thas what counts

Outta line that was ........

Luvs ya

sis

Hello Maree

Sorry I'm replying to this a little late. I see you have already recived some great advice here from our other friends. I have never flown but have always wanted too I just don't have anywhere to fly too...lol. Try to enjoy this new experiance and I will be waiting to hear how it went when you get back.

 

Lyn great job hun you are always on your toes.

 

Twiggy we love you always...

 

Normal great advice...

Better to have it fresh on the mind then try to ramble on about things you can't remember


hehehehe


Twiggygal~

Wow..I have the greatest support team ever! Thank you All sooo much for your helpful tactics..my flights are an hour each..which doesn't sound much now I am typing it but seems an eternity when you have to do it lol!

I have lorazapam to take for anxiety..and with all your warm and positive thoughts I guess I will be fine..

(special thanx to Twiggygal, Michelle, MsKittie, Lyn and Dave  ~ you all ROCK big time xoxoxo)

Maree

An hour each way is a good size flight...The one to buffalo for me (my most recent) was 1.5 hours out and 1 hour back...Definately bring a book or something non electronic to distract you because with an hour flight you will probably only have about 30 min or allowable electronics...books and such you can do teh whole time...take off and landing are most of the time worse for me so something non electronic works well for me...Also I am not sure if I said it before but if you are good at tunnel visioning (tuning everything else out) it is a good technique once you are seated and taxing...also you can try and guide yourself to a mental safe place like a river bank or and open fiels in spring etc.

I never was scared of flying until I developed GAD almost two years ago. I just get really freaked out during take off, especially when they make a turn while you're still going up!! AHH!! Anyways, closing my eyes and leaning my head back on the seat is the best way for me to keep myself oriented. Looking out the window or looking ahead of me is too much. Then once I finally feel that we have leveled off I will open my eyes. I just pretend I was sleeping or something :)

Also, once you're reached your flying altitude where they said you can take off your seatbelts the plane barely moves at all. Walking down the aisles is a sinch, so I wouldn't worry about it, its not at all like a train.

Makes me sad that I feel this way now because I never used to. I flew all the time as a kid and was never phased by it... oh well... hopefully I'll get back to that place again :)

Well, I know how you feel about planes. I flat out refuse to get on one and I have never been on one before. I have tried before to get on one but I cant I just cant. So All I can say is good luck and I wish you the best!

  Just remenber That your flight team has has gone tought so much trianing and have 1000's of hours logged in from power on full, pulling up hard and stalling the plane as well as power off stalls wear the plane is actally falling down from the sky and then able to control it back to a level fight and on a crosswind landing you will see that the plane is flying with one wing down into the wind (called crabbing into the wind on landing) this tends to keep the plane in line with the runway and at the last point he will level out the plane and point the plane straght with the runway and land, just a few facts to know about how your flight team has been trained.

  I have logged over 600 hrs of flying in a small bush plane pa12 piper here in Alaska sometimes useing only a GPS as there are little land marks to fly by and the only really problem I had was on a landing on a small strip and blow out a tire on a rock, had to stuff it with ground  moss and what ever I could find to fill the tire up with and deflate the other tire just to take off and land on the airstrip, had to bring it in at a very low speed just before stalling and then flaring it out to land

  So please remenber that you are safer in a plane then driving a car

  Cowboy up

Post Edited (freezinginAK) : 1/24/2007 10:13:14 PM (GMT-7)

Well I did it! Phew..I was really 'wired'  but hey, I managed all airflights without lorazapam..had a great holiday

Learned to lift my feet off the floor when the 'potholes' in the sky became a bit much lol!

Kinda proud of myself really

Once again I would have been lost without your support to start thanx soo much...

xoxo

Maree

Major congrats...Great to hear...