My DH wants to plan a trip to Australia in two years and even though I am over the moon about going.... I hate flying! I have such a fear and anxiety I don't know how i will survive a 14 hour flight! When I fly domestically, I usually have to take some dramamine or something to help with my anxiety, which is fine because usually our flights are only a few hours long. I think the longest flight i was on was three hours and by the time we were to our destination, I WAS READY TO GET OFF!
I have already started planning to take reading material and my ipad to keep me busy but i dont want to completely stress about this and think about it every single day until it is time to leave, which is what i usually do. Once we are in the air, i am ok, but take off and landing scare the S*** out of me! I know flying is the safest way to travel but being stuck on such a huge plane for that long is starting to freak me out! But i want to go! What are some things you guys do to calm your nerves? Can you offer some words of advice for me? Is there some therapy i can get before i fly? I wish i didnt hate flying because i love to travel! help!
Thanks everyone!
Flaming Turnip, the way you explained it is how i feel every stinking time! I agree, I think meds might be able to help me and HEAVENS NO KIDS!!! Heck to the NO! We are planning a trip just the two of us. My SN son would never be able to tolerate such a long flight and a change in schedule. Good lord, that would be HELL not a vacation!
Thanks everyone!
Call you doc, explain the fear of flying and the trip. Ask if you would be able to get a scrip for Xanax or something to keep you calm - or even a sleeping pill to knock you out. S/he'll write you out a scrip for 5 pills or something and you'll fly high while you're flying.
Have fun!
I don't like take offs and landings either. I stress the minute they start to taxi, once up I am fine. When they say we are about to land, here comes the stress again. The rest of the time I ignore the fact that at some point we will have to land. It didn't feel any worse cross country vs when we go to Europe...if that makes you feel any better. :)
Oh yeah and the planes are much bigger! which makes it easier to ignore you are on a plane...and they have movies but they sell you ear phones so bring a pair of ear phones with you.
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After reading your what happened, fly Delta, all the alcohol is free, or you can get meds. Every time, a couple glasses of wine, I don't really care where I am.
When I had a fear of flying, like you, the worst part was the couple of weeks leading up to the trip. I took Xanax or Serax on the flight, and that changed everything.
I suggest anxiety meds for the flight, but I don't know what to tell you about the time leading up to the flight, except to tell you not to think about it, if possible.
There are 20,000 takeoffs and landings per day, and there hasn't been a crash in the U.S. in ages -- has there even been one in the last decade? Do the math. You probably have better odds of winning the lottery.
You will be fine.
There are meds that the Dr. can prescribe that will help with the anxiety. I know someone who uses them because she freaks out when she flies. If you can plan a few days layover in Hawaii, it will cut the trip and make it more bearable. There was a flight to Sydney that left Honolulu at midnight. It made it easier to sleep. There are always movies to watch, too.
Adjusting to the time change is killer so be ready to force yourself to stay awake until their bedtime once you get there or you will be miserable!
S.:
So this is how your husband wants to take a break from life - go to Australia?
Will it just be the two of you or the whole family? If it's the whole family and your special needs son? I think it will be a VERY stressful flight for EVERYONE.
Flying doesn't bother me much - it's the take off and landings that "get" me...like you....what do I do to help calm my nerves? I close my eyes and think happy thoughts!!
I know that there are therapists who can help you NOW to start dealing the anxiety now.
Since you have such a long time to prepare, I would definitely look into therapy before going. See if you can find someone that might specialize in this type of fear. Sounds like a fun trip, but I would have trouble with the length of the flight, also!!
Can I have your husband talk to my husband???
I would love love love this!!!
I wouldn't stress so much about something that is so far away. It's not worth it if it's going to stress you out for two years :(
Put it out of your mind for now unless you are going to try the counseling thing.
We took a family vacation to Australia 2 years ago. It was fabulous. The 14 hour fight is so worth it. You can ask your doctor for something to calm your nerves and that should help you drift off to sleep easily if you get worked up. I fly overseas often and on my first overseas flight I was terrified beyond belief and took anxiety medicine. It did help, but the more I was occupied (take a kindle, magazines, games, etc), the less I focused on the time. I am so exhausted with planning to leave for a long flight trip, that I am totally asleep by take off everytime. Don't let the fear cripple you. You will be fine. Mention it in passing to your doctor now and see if he/she suggests some type of therapy in the meanwhile. You will not be disappointed once you get there. It is beautiful! Good luck!
I would consider accupuncture. We do it for my son, he has ADHD and sensory. But he said it makes him more relaxed.. Now I am not sure if they only offer this for kdis, but his is with out needles..
You have two years!!!! Find a group that deals with flying anxiety. Whoopi
Goldberg did it.
Ask the doctor for some anxiety medicine. It's easy and will get you through the flight. You can dopily watch the movies and then fall asleep easily. It's different from dramamine or sleeping medicine. You won't even care about it after taking the medicine.
