Page 1 of S**t scared of flying, what should I do?

I`m 31 now and have been on a plane a few times now, but everytime I have to take Diazepam tablets to get on the bloody plane. The problem is before I get on the plane, when I board and then take-off, but when at 35000 feet and coming down I`m fine (slowly obviously!).

We are only travelling to Portugal (this Saturday) which is a 2hr 30 min flight and we are going 1st class which means I can have free booze, but only if I dont take the tablets!

Am I the only big girls blouse out here are do other people suffer from this silly phobia? What can/should I do?

Cheers

Yes you are a big girls blouse - pull yourself together man.

I hihgly recommend sitting down the night before and watching Alive - then at least you know the worst that could happen!

Pete,
I regularly fly for work - you`d be surprised at how many people I travel with from work are scared of flying - so nowt to be ashamed of. One girl I know has been to her GP who prescribed betablockers(?) and gets this on a regular basis. Others have tried these hynosis,etc.
On a lighter note - try the technique of a woman I regularly travel with who grips the armrests so strongly on takeoff & landing that I`m surprised the seat doesn`t come apart - along with a passable impression (through deep breathing) of the Flying Scotsman.
I know its a serious subject - but you have to laugh - best bit of advice is to let those around you its a fear - by the time everyone has talked to you about what`s best you`re in Portugal.

Regards,
Big Fat Billy

Tried a hypnotherapist?

Editor
DVD REVIEWER

No I haven`t Robert, would you recoomend one? Do you know people that have had success with them?

neal73, maybe even Final Destination!

I am OK at flying, but have a phobia/fear against needles and the dentist. I just bomb myself out on valiums (or equivalent) so I become apathetic to whatever is happening. takes quite a bit of valium, and I have to have someone with me just in case I am too apathetic. Alcohol not advisable at same time though. At least it gets me able to do what I fear, in the short term.

They say that flying is safer than crossing the road.

What "they" conveniently forget to mention is that planes actually cross several hundred roads per journey!

They also fail to specify which road they are referring to.

Never trust anything that "they" say!
Buy a parachute!

Never been to one, can`t recommend any, but I hear good things about them from (and for) some people.

Pills will supress various feelings temporarily, but if you really want to get over a fear you have to deal with it from a psychological point of view. Some people have their own ways of doing that, others need help from a third party.

Editor
DVD REVIEWER

A friend suggested sucking on ginger.
Lucky Ginger, I say!

Funny thing is that I am currently running a contract down in Heathrow and planes are going over every 40 seconds!!

I know its the safest form of travel, and I know the way a plane flies etc.. and I think your spot on Robert its just something thats in the back of the mind that need erasing/re-assuring! To me my girlfriends phobia of spiders is silly ie. the size of that little thing compared to us etc. but we are all different I guess.