Aerophobia

[Sefka]

I hate flying. As far as I’m concerned, planes are giant, scary vehicles of terror – huge lumps of metal that hurtle through the air without any sense of control. I also suspect they were designed purely to scare me, but that could be slightly irrational Anyway, it’s a problem as I travel a lot.


I did some reading around the Internet. I now know quite a bit about the technicalities of aircraft flight, all kinds of safety statistics, none of it seems to make me feel better once the plane starts moving. I also found that fear of flying can be a symptom of other psychological issues which makes total sense as this phobia has only developed since I started having MH issues – before that, I was fairly indifferent to flying.


Anyway, in 2 weeks I’m leaving Vietnam (thank god) and flying back to UK (mixed feelings). I’m already worrying about this damn flight – 2 hours to Bangkok, then 12 hours to London and it’s with Thai Airways who suck at long-haul (almost no in-flight entertainment.)



So I guess I was wondering if anyone could sympathise and/or give me any advice on how to not drive myself mad over the next two weeks and how to deal with 18 hours of extreme terror

Thanks

[Stellata]

I'd suggest a good book, a puzzle book, an mp3 player, and possibly a mild sedative [speak to your dr/psychiatrist] to help you get some sleep over the long flight.

[zivalover16]

Hey, I have brother who is going to school to be a pilot. In order to even think about flying big planes they need a ton of flight hours in smaller planes. In school they learn to handle just about anything that could happen(though it is very unlikely that something does happen). I don't know if it helps but when flying a plane the pilot has complete control over how fast the plane goes, where it's going and how high the plane is. I don't know if that helps at all, but I know it gave me a comfort when I went to Prague that my brother was going to be a pilot and how smart and how much training you need to be a pilot.
I understand the phobia, I don't have it myself but thats because I've been flying since I can remember (to Florida about 2hrs, at least once a year until I was in middle school, then in 11 grade to Germany then 33 years ago to Prague) I think I am starting to form a phobia of at least taking off and landing. When I went to Prague 2 years ago and Florida last year(emergency trip to see my grandparents who aren't doing well:() I had to close my eyes taking off and landing..... I almost held my breath too but I don't think that would have been good.....Anyway I would bring a mp3/ ipod. Eye mask if you don't mind them and something that would make you sleep for the flight...Maybe get something that you know will distract you from the fact that your on a plane... I find that if I close the window I can imagine I am on a bus...

[whirlpools]

Some airports offer training courses for people with flying fears/phobias, it might be worth looking into as they'd be geared up for helping people with just your sort of situation.