General Discussion

DeadLetterOffice

(1,352 posts)

49. My "fear of flying" has nothing to do with planes, or turbulence, or crashing.

Wed Dec 17, 2014, 07:52 PM

Dec 2014

My problem is that I have a panic disorder, and part of my personal coping strategy for dealing with said panic disorder is having an escape plan in case a panic attack starts at any given time.

Having an escape plan on an airplane at 35,000 feet is pretty much a non-starter. This, in and of itself, is enough to give me a panic attack -- it's kind of like telling people not to think of pink elephants, and suddenly all you can think about is pink elephants.

I can drug the crap out of myself and pull a direct flight off (I think), but if I'm going to have to change planes I MUST have someone go with me, no matter how good or plentiful the tranqs are.

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How many of you are scared of flying? [View all] darkangel218 Dec 2014 OP

For me, it's the height and the hassle Union Scribe Dec 2014 #1

After 9/11 i developed phobia darkangel218 Dec 2014 #6

+1. I've been to South America, Africa, all over Europe ... closeupready Dec 2014 #9

Not fear, just stress. BillZBubb Dec 2014 #2

I dont mind the wait darkangel218 Dec 2014 #12

Scared but fly anyway. Shrike47 Dec 2014 #3

Same here. I have to darkangel218 Dec 2014 #7

Look at the bright side, there are less wrecks in the sky than with automobiles Jamastiene Dec 2014 #17

you may walk away from a car wreck... wildbilln864 Dec 2014 #40

As the immortal Satchel Paige noted regarding air travel ... 11 Bravo Dec 2014 #41

Like flying, it's the lines, packing, crowds, searches, etc., that make me avoid it. Hoyt Dec 2014 #4

I don't blame you. But I love going to Europe so I put up with it all... CTyankee Dec 2014 #61

I get it. But I'd need heavy anti-anxiety meds for that. Hope the trip lives Hoyt Dec 2014 #65

My aim is to go and go before I get too old to travel abroad. CTyankee Dec 2014 #87

Only a little rock Dec 2014 #5

I have no fear of flying, either in aircraft or in reading the book. Agnosticsherbet Dec 2014 #8

I remember the book well. Laffy Kat Dec 2014 #57

I won't even try to fly. A jump from a diving board is as close as I'll get to flying. NYC_SKP Dec 2014 #10

No problem sarisataka Dec 2014 #11

I fly often for my job and am always somewhat scared. JaneyVee Dec 2014 #13

Ever Fly from LA to Australia ?? The plane (747) (at First) feels like the dog-gone.. BlueJazz Dec 2014 #50

I'm not scared of flying, but I rarely fly anyhow. Jamastiene Dec 2014 #14

I have to fly ti see my family darkangel218 Dec 2014 #16

I'm sorry it bothers you to fly. Jamastiene Dec 2014 #22

Thanks Jamastiene darkangel218 Dec 2014 #25

Yes, sometimes relatives can be difficult CreekDog Dec 2014 #64

Not at all. tammywammy Dec 2014 #15

Its not that rare. darkangel218 Dec 2014 #18

Considering the thousands of flights per day, even if it happened once a day it's rare. tammywammy Dec 2014 #21

A daily event would be considered common. morningfog Dec 2014 #84

Love it, because it's totally worth it to go far away! bettyellen Dec 2014 #19

I understand probability and statistics, so no. Nye Bevan Dec 2014 #20

Try crazy cab drivers in Belgrade darkangel218 Dec 2014 #36

Try ANY traffic in China hifiguy Dec 2014 #43

I'm not scared but I try not to think about it too much. DawgHouse Dec 2014 #23

Just turbulence...try being in a near crash.. HipChick Dec 2014 #24

I actually enjoy turbulence - the more the better. GliderGuider Dec 2014 #26

Holy shit.. darkangel218 Dec 2014 #28

You need to fly next to me, to keep me calm darkangel218 Dec 2014 #32

As long as I won't need to have your fingernails surgically removed from my arm! GliderGuider Dec 2014 #35

I could always wear gloves darkangel218 Dec 2014 #38

I get that Nevada Blue Dec 2014 #55

I used to be. a la izquierda Dec 2014 #27

+1 for xanax. darkangel218 Dec 2014 #30

i'm not, but my Mom was terrified. bluesbassman Dec 2014 #29

Sweet sight! nt GliderGuider Dec 2014 #37

I like pie shenmue Dec 2014 #31

I don't mind flying... giftedgirl77 Dec 2014 #33

not afraid of flying just crashing. n/t wildbilln864 Dec 2014 #34

I am terrified of flying etherealtruth Dec 2014 #39

I was scared until I understood the physics of flight. hifiguy Dec 2014 #42

Not a bit afraid, I actually like it. Love small planes too. What I hate now is the airport TheKentuckian Dec 2014 #44

Business class is nice :) kentauros Dec 2014 #46

I figure there's only one crash to the average customer and I've had mine Warpy Dec 2014 #45

My dad was in a small plane that made a forced landing in the 40's. He wouldn't fly after that. mnhtnbb Dec 2014 #53

I haven't been in a big plane since the 737 madokie Dec 2014 #47

Not afraid, but it's a pain in the ass MurrayDelph Dec 2014 #48

My "fear of flying" has nothing to do with planes, or turbulence, or crashing. DeadLetterOffice Dec 2014 #49

I used to be wicked scared frazzled Dec 2014 #51

I'm not afraid of flying, I just hate the experience! mnhtnbb Dec 2014 #52

I'm scared of landing JonLP24 Dec 2014 #54

Love taking off and landing - KT2000 Dec 2014 #56

Those were the only parts I liked! The climbing and leveling off, and the amazing "coasting" down WinkyDink Dec 2014 #73

oh no - sorry to hear that KT2000 Dec 2014 #79

Oh, it's completely irrational, but I own it, as the kidz say! Grasp the physics, understand tur- WinkyDink Dec 2014 #83

I'm nauseous a lot when I fly, does that count? Erich Bloodaxe BSN Dec 2014 #58

Always try to get the window seat dhol82 Dec 2014 #59

My gut finds it un-nerving but my rational thinking reminds me it is much safer than driving Quixote1818 Dec 2014 #60

Not the most pleasant experience tabbycat31 Dec 2014 #62

Flying sucks. hunter Dec 2014 #63

I'm not afraid of flying, but Pakhet Dec 2014 #66

it's the "I can't get out" feeling of claustrophobia TorchTheWitch Dec 2014 #67

I can relate laundry_queen Dec 2014 #69

I love flying. In fact, I was flying a small single-engine RebelOne Dec 2014 #68

I went through a period of fear of flying shortly after 9-11 MiniMe Dec 2014 #70

Everyone who is passingly familiar with how machines work... lumberjack_jeff Dec 2014 #71

Used to fly almost annually to Europe. Then finally the phobia set in. Never will fly ever again. WinkyDink Dec 2014 #72

I'm afraid of landing. Iggo Dec 2014 #74

This message was self-deleted by its author WhiteAndNerdy Dec 2014 #75

Who cares if one is on the 'no fly list'? Purveyor Dec 2014 #76

Terra Firma for me. nilesobek Dec 2014 #77

Um, I must have not gotten that memo. What in thunder are you talking about?? Major Hogwash Dec 2014 #78

Here... pinboy3niner Dec 2014 #81

Flying is the safest way to fly! RushIsRot Dec 2014 #80

Nun better! pinboy3niner Dec 2014 #82

I've been in lots worse than turbulence. hobbit709 Dec 2014 #85

I fly.. sendero Dec 2014 #86