How can I relax on a plane when I am scared out of my mind of flying?

Question

I have been flying by myslef ever since I was six and now I am 17. I fly every year about 4-10 times. but last year I had an incident where my plane almost crashed.. very traumatic for me. no joke I was crying when I got off. Now whenever my family thinks of flying me somewhere I have panic attacks and start breaking down. and when I do get on a plane I listen to music and try to relax myself and doodle but still I think when I look around that I am going to die with the other paasengers and I have flashes of the news stations showing pictures of those lost in the crash. whenever I watch something that involves a plane crash I hold myself back from crying even if it is fake! I know the odds of the lighting and getting hit by cars are more frequent but wtf!!!

what can I do to help myself get used to flying again?? does anyone else get these feelings?

Answer 1

You just described like exactly how I feel!! Im 16 and I've been flying since around the age of 8 and I fly several times a year.. but I hate it!! I had no idea someone else did the flashes of the news stations thing.. I totally do that.  When I look around I'll be like omg these look like the kind of people that you'd see on the news after a plane crash.. and I know thats horrible but I get so paranoid! I too recently had a very bad experience on a plane.. I literally pulled out clumps of hair because I thought I was going to die.  I guess people like us just need to realize that everyone has good and bad experiences- keep in mind that you have a waaaayy better chance of getting into an accident on the way to the airport than you do on the plane. this probably isnt much of a help but sometimes its nice to know your not the only one!!

and i always travel with my sister so i never have the comfort of a parent. kinda sucks. but good luck :)

Answer 2

i fly a lot and one time i was in a plane where the motors blew and we emergency landed onto a strip with ambulances and fire trucks so i know how you feel. ever since then i have always been anxious of flying. i'm not a doctor, but you seem to be experiencing post traumatic stress disorder and if you feel it would help, a therapist is a good person to see to help your fear. this happened to me 10 years ago but i still fly because the destination is well worth the anxiety. all i do is get on the plane, drink a bunch of alcohol, and get through it. all you have to do is experience more flying to get over your fear. just think, it happened once, what are the chances of it happening again?

Answer 3

I fly weekly for business, both domestic and overseas, and the guideline I always follow during turbulence is to watch the flight attendants.  If they are still serving drinks, then all is OK.  You might consider a sleep mask and Bose noise cancelling headphones, so you can just block out everything and relax.  If you are on an overseas flight a sleeping pill might not be a bad idea either.  

I also agree with the previous poster to consider a bit of therapy before you take your next trip; you do not want to find yourself with a panic attack at 27k over the Atlantic.  

Good luck and...breathe!

Answer 4

I go on a  plane mabye 4 times in 1 vaction. and this year we have had 4. SO just dont think about it, I was on a plane and they said the plane is too heavy to take off and they shut the engines off,  but we still made it to our destination. I do get a little scared but just concentrate on something else and if you are that scared, dont look out the window. and lastly just think of the plane ride as a flying car

Answer 5

Oh im very scared of flying... I am always scared of crashing or something bad happening! But I love to travel, and so does my family. So I will either have a few drinks before to calm myself or take sleeping pill. Because music and all that does not help me at all.

Answer 6

you may want to consider therapy or counseling it isn't for crazies it helps alot and it may help you get rid of your fear

Answer 7

get an appointment with your doctor and ask him/her to prescribe you a order of only like 2 or 3 xanax pills for anxiety, and explain to them your fear of flying. My doc will usually prescribe them. take one before you go on the plane. You'll feel fineeeeeee

Answer 8

Just  take a deep breath, think of something good and just read a book , plus drink alot of water.