How would my fear of flying resolution idea work?

[manlymatt83]

So I get panic attacks when flying. Last December, I forced myself to fly, but I was anxious the whole time, and I couldn't relax, and I was nervous - fight of flight response.

So I have an idea. What if I booked 10 flights over a period of a week. I KNOW I can do the first one, I did it in December, even though I was completely anxious. Then, I go to a city, and then that night, I get on the plane again, and then go to another city... and I fly about 10 times in a period of a week, with one of my friends. Expensive, I'm sure....

But shouldn't my fear be gone after flight #10? Or at least a lot better?

See, I really don't want to have the attitude towards flying of "lets just get this over with". I'd rather know that I'm so used to it - who cares...

 

[Mr Incognito]

Wow, take some pills or something that knock you out on the plane.

Statistically you should be way more afraid of day to day (especially if you drive at all, I know you live in Boston so I assume you take the T) and not so much flying.

 

[Pepsi90919]

you'd probably be more anxious about declaring bankruptcy from all the flights rather than the flights themselves so i'd say go for it

 

[OdiN]

mind over matter, n00b.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: OdiN
mind over matter, n00b.

So it wouldn't work, or it would?

 

[tasmanian]

Ive never been afraid of flying so I cant really relate. However I would just fly when you need to/ want to instead of wating thousands of dollars.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: mjuszczak

Originally posted by: OdiN
mind over matter, n00b.

So it wouldn't work, or it would?

You shouldn't even need to do that.

Just get on the freaking plane and relax.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: mjuszczak

Originally posted by: OdiN
mind over matter, n00b.

So it wouldn't work, or it would?

You shouldn't even need to do that.

Just get on the freaking plane and relax.

Tried in December. Pulse was racing to 120 and I tried everything I could to slow it down and it wouldn't. Even deep breathing.

 

[Dacalo]

What is it about flying that freaks you out? Are you scared that you will crash? Or the altitude?
The speed?

 

[Platypus]

jesus fucking christ.

 

[Throckmorton]

LOL you want to spend the money for 10 flights just to get over your fear? There are drugs you can take for anxiety that will be a lot cheaper.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: Dacalo
What is it about flying that freaks you out? Are you scared that you will crash? Or the altitude?
The speed?

Fear of having a stroke. I'm a hypochondriac.

 

[manlymatt83]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
LOL you want to spend the money for 10 flights just to get over your fear? There are drugs you can take for anxiety that will be a lot cheaper.

I like doing things naturally

 

[HardcoreRobot]

That won't work for the same reason you are scared in the first place - its not something that is logically explained or resolved. If that were the case, all your research would convince you it was safe, then a couple times to experience the airport and the nuances of air travel you should be all set. You have established this fear is beyond rational.

I say take proven drugs prescribed from a licensed professional, but I know you say you would rather be incapacitated by fear and pay a premium in time and money instead.

 

[TuxDave]

Originally posted by: mjuszczak

Originally posted by: Dacalo
What is it about flying that freaks you out? Are you scared that you will crash? Or the altitude?
The speed?

Fear of having a stroke. I'm a hypochondriac.

So what does a flying have to do about strokes?

Fear of having stroke --> Increased Heartbeat --> Fear of Having Stroke?

 

[Farang]

I used to get freaked out flying. What helped me was, ironically, 9/11. That was the day I realized thousands of commercial jets are flying at any given moment. Bumpy rides seem scary, but consider how rare a commercial airline crash is on any given day, and then on top of that the chances that your plane is the one that crashes out of thousands. I know the logical track doesn't work for many, so maybe trying hanging out at the airport and watching planes take off and land, and see how normal and safe a process it is. Then multiply what you're seeing by some thousand and that's what is going on all over the world, all day, every day.

If the world averaged one or two horrific crashes per day I think I'd still fly. Still good odds for the convenience.

edit: another thing that helps me is remembering I have no control anyhow, so fear serves no purpose on a flight. You're stuck there so fuck it, keep reading your book.

bah nevermind you arent afraid of crashing

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: OdiN

Originally posted by: mjuszczak

Originally posted by: OdiN
mind over matter, n00b.

So it wouldn't work, or it would?

You shouldn't even need to do that.

Just get on the freaking plane and relax.

Why aren't you banned yet?
Were you not loved enough as a kid? I don't remember the last time seeing one of your posts that wasn't some totally inane asinine comment.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

This is why you don't ask for medical advice on the internet. A phobia is an irrational fear; "get over it" is not a terribly useful solution, as it is not rational thinking which is causing this fear. I don't think that flying back to back to back for a week is going to help much, honestly, but I'm not a psychiatrist. I would recommend you talk to a psychiatrist. 2 or 3 trips to the shrink will be far cheaper than 10 plane tickets, and probably a whole lot more helpful.

You probably won't get over your irrational fear by simply powering through it; you need to discover where the fear stems from and tackle it there.

But, seeing as how I have as much medical expertise as anyone else on these boards (except the people who are actually doctors/nurses), you should take what I say with a grain of salt.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

The plane takes off.

 

[effowe]

Get some valium from the doc and you will be solid. Usually when I fly I have a nice buzz before getting on the plane so that may help as well.

 

[summit]

take some xanax and pass out.

 

[everman]

Just do one long flight to Australia, stop over in Cairns for a while, then head back. that's about 28hrs of flying right there. There's always the risk of crashing on your way back from australia though, so if you do crash, just don't get Lost. and don't trust the fat guy, he's crazy.

 

[Demo24]

I think it might help you. Once you get use to doing certain things the fear perhaps may not disappear but the overwhelming anxiety should be reduced. I doubt you'll ever overcome it but forcing yourself to fly more is a step in the right direction, and over time it will become more bearable.

 

[db]

If you are afraid of dying in a crash (or something else horrible happening), think this: "There is nothing I can do about it. So I might as well relax."
You'd be surprised--it works for a lot of people.

 

[arrfep]

You should just take the 3 grand that your plan would cost, and buy two tickets on one coast-to-coast flight. Then you hold a contest on ATOT.

The winner gets the leftover money and gets to fly with you, and karate chop you in the throat everytime you start to get anxious, thus conquering your fear of flying by conditioning into you a fear of fear of flying.

Voila, problem solved.