Fear of Flying

[ellieboxer]

Hi
We are off to Orlando in under a week.
My daughter who is 23 has a real fear of flying, a few weeks ago she had hypnotherapy, she has also been listening to the CD provided by the hypnotherapist every night as instructed.
Nothing seems to be working at the moment..............[msnscared]
She is taking PSP with her and MP3 player to occupy her mind.
Our GP has given her some Diazepam to be taken as a last resort.
I just wondered if anyone has any other tips or ideas?
Thanks
Ellie

[LiesaAnna]

I hate flying but am ok once up in the air so i guess i hate take off and landing, maybe this will be your daughters area of fear? i think shes done as much as she can to help herself? maybe go to a health shop and see if theres anything else she could get to help calm herself?
im sure once up in the air she will feel fine as i do myself as i tell myself its a bus ride!!
i so hope you all have a wonderful time... this is coming from the lady who said she was never going abroad this was in 1999, after losing several family members close together we said "lifes to short go grab it and enjoy it!!!"
so have a holiday abroad every year mainly florida!![high5]

[Majik]

I have a friend who after years of flying developed a fear. Managed to get her on to the plane but she had panic attack and got off again! The Captain and crew came out to see her and tried to talk her through her fear. She would not get back on so the luggage had to be unloaded and the plane was held up for an hour. One of the party got off with her and they made their way home.The rest of the party carried on to Orlando.

She went to the doctor who gave her Diazepam with instructions to take one before leaving home, one at check in and another on the plane (depending on the strength.)

She did this for two flights and is now able to fly again with out taking anything.

[Katys Grandad]

Of course, while its completely illogical to have a fear of flying (or more accurtely, a fear of crashing) to people who have it, it's perfectly logical. Medication will probably help but you will need to be prepared to provide a lot of support and to give her the option to stay at home if she really doesn't want to travel.

[andrewandcarole]

Too late for this trip - but how about a fear of flying course with one of the airlines?
My daughter did the BA one a couple of years ago - it was very good.
I believe Virgin do one too.

[ellieboxer]

Hi
Thanks very much for all the replies.
We did think of the course they hold at our local airport but left it too late for this flight.
I am sure it wont be as bad as she thinks,its often the thoughts of things going wrong leading up to the flight, than the actual flight itself.
She said its not a fear of crashing, the problem is being in a confined space...........[msnsad]


Ellie

[blott]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by ellieboxer
She said its not a fear of crashing, the problem is being in a confined space...........[msnsad]

Ellie[/quote]Ah, make sure she asks for and gets a window seat then. I hate confined spaces too and I find that a window seat allows me to look outside of the confined space and try and convince myself I'm not in a metal tube. It really does help to look at the sky and the clouds rather than the interior of the metal tube...

[steph_goodrum]

Ellie
She might be surprised at the effect the hypnotherapy has once she actually gets on the plane. It worked for our friend even though he was convinced it hadn't, it wasnt till he got onto the plpane that he relaised he felt much calmer than he usually did and coped and he had given up flying about 5 year previously even though he had been to the States a few times by then.

If she copies her cd onto her mp3 player as well so she has it handy. Make sure you tell the checkin and cabin staff etc and they will help as much as they can.

[berni_richards]

I hate take off too but once I am up in the clouds I am fine. Landing is not a problem for me as I am somewhere when I land be it home or on holiday so I enjoy landing even if it is bumpy tell her not to sit near the window as that might scare her too, seeing hte funny angles of the plane.

[mary and colin]

I also stuggle with flying, it has got worse each time i have flown.
My advice is take it a stage at a time, i have Diazepam and also rescue remedy. My family are really good and the understanding is if i cannot get on the plane they go without me. It is not to spoil their holiday and i will get home from the airport fine. It's amazing how much pressure that takes of.(even though i bet they wouldn't)
I like to sit in a window set, as i feel safer tucked in out of peoples way. I dont mind looking out of the window either, so i have stuggled to find out quite what part of flying my fear is, neither the less it is real fear.
We have been flying to Florida for years now, some times its worse than others.Last trip i froze at the door and the cabin crew had to help me on, very embarassing but uncontrollable so I too have just taken a course on Hypnotherapy, feel it has not done alot and hope Steph's post is true and it works on the day.
Good luck and focus on the holiday because trust me it makes it all so worth while. You will love Florida and have an amazing time.
I will be thinking of you

Flying is the safest form of travel.[msnsmile][msnsmile]

Mary