I'm not flying to Florida after all.

[friesianrider]

I posted here last week about me fear of flying. Well, I'm officially a loser who can't get past a simple fear and canceled my flight. I'm depressed, sad, and angry that I'm this way. It drives me crazy! I can't stop thinking of what MIGHT happen.

Now I'm sure the boyfriend's parents are PO'd because I'm not going, and for sure the boyfriend is upset because now he's dateless at his cousin's wedding.

*sigh* I feel so pathetic right now :(

[Hugin]

1. It's okay.

You'll be fine...

;)

You're in no way pathetic.

[Shoeempress]

2. Yea, I'm terrified of flying, but I do it. Don't feel bad about yourself

it just makes it worse. Have you thought about taking a class to get over your fear?

[jody]

3. Don't be so sad. I know hundreds of people who are afraid of flying.

Many people who fly have learned to cope with their fear and the odds are that you can also.

Please don't give up.

I hope your boyfriend will understand. I doubt if he's perfect and he shouldn't expect/demand that of you.

Good luck! :hi:

ON EDIT ADD:

I noticed from your profile that you are the daughter of a Vietnam Vet. I was there also.

[amazona]

4. hey don't kick yourself

You are not a loser, however, you might be interested to know that a good doctor can prescribe Xanax or another medication to help you get over your fear of flying. You would be amazed at the numbers of frequent flyers who get by with an Rx for Xanax or Ambien. There is another drug that is specifically for the phobia, rather than just "nerves" but I'm blocking on what it is called.

I would suggest talking to a travel doctor or even a decent GP who has a good clientele of folks who HAVE to travel for business.

No one really knows the cause, and self-blame is silly when it comes to phobia. You can beat this.

I used to have an awful phobia of driving, and I actually got cured through an alternative cure, without need for medication, so you can try that route first if you like -- hypnosis or kinesthetics. While I believe kinesthetics is actually now discredited, it worked for me in just one treatment -- maybe it was really just a form of hypnosis for me. All I know is that I was terrified for years of hitting someone in a car, and in moments it was gone and has not returned in 15 years, including a LOT of business driving.

For most, though, the right prescription is what works wonders. I just didn't want to go the drug route because when the phobia is driving, you don't want to do anything that might make you feel impaired (such as Xanax). Not a problem with flying.

[friesianrider]

5. I would, but...

I feel like even if I take drugs or see a doctor, no one can *guarantee* my flight will be safe. Anyone who died in a plane crash "thought" everything would be fine and it wasn't. I can't help feeling: why couldn't that be me?

I know, I know, everytime I get in a car no one can guarantee me I'll be fine, but I always felt like driving may be more dangerous but you're more likely to survive a car crash...not a plane crash.

That being said, I suspect my fear may be exagerrated because of other reasons I may not even know about - subconsciously, I mean. I should really see someone, I guess.

[jody]

7. Don't listen to people who want to tell you how to overcome your fear.

Every person is so different. I strongly encourage you to locate a psychologist with a successful track record of curing your specific phobia.

There are lots of quacks around. You might want to browse the INTERNET and read ideas such as at Fear of Flying.

Good luck!

[amazona]

9. I don't know about digging around in the subconscious

That could take years! Plus if my experience is any guide -- and I can't guarantee that it is -- it has nothing to do with the subconscious. We don't seem to know why phobias develop. When I was afflicted, I read a theory that young women in the child-bearing years are most prone to phobia and it is thought to be nature's way of keeping us very acute to danger and to encourage us to stay close to home to protect ourselves and any children. So if it's some genetic hold-over like the appendix, I don't necessarily think that your subconscious comes into play.

But no one really knows the cause.

I wish I could give better advice but since my phobia was cured by unconventional means it is difficult!

As another poster points out, you don't have to fly. And you are in good company if you don't want to pursue this. Isaac Asimov, for example, would not fly.

[mark414]

6. you would die driving to the airport

before you died in a plane crash

[BikeWriter]

8. Don't feel depressed because you have an active survival instinct...

Fear is sometimes a good thing. I would never have flown the first time had I had a choice in the matter. The thing to do now is to decide whether you want to fly in the future and adjust to it if you choose to. Unlike the fear of spiders you can choose not to ever fly.

[Lannes]

10. Im in Florida and I can tell you that you arent missing anything!

Seriously,some scientists did a study and found that working with VR (virtual reality) Not virtual insanity.....





helps people overcome their fear of flying.Check out this article and good luck!

http://www.howstuffworks.com/news-item145.htm