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I did it! I took my first flight!

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JerseyShoregirl.fearofflyinghel...	I did it! I took my first flight!	Lead	[-]
Posts: 12 (07/31/08 19:54:03) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None Hey guys!! I made it!! I was boarding my flight with shaky legs this morning, lots of jitters..but KNEW it was time...I was with boarding group A and got on the plane early...but, I got concerned when I first got on the airplane..it seemed small to me at first...but after I sat down and everyone was seated..it wasnt too bad. I took an aisle seat, had 2 veteran flyers next to me who were just AWESOME to talk to. I thank them sooo much for being there for me to talk to the whole flight! I liked the way the plane flew down the runway..I was smiling to myself..thinking..OMG..i am actually doing this...I can honestly say the only thing I really didnt like was the way I felt like I was "dropping" while taking off...it hit me only a couple times..but then I was OK. Like It only lasted seconds. While in the air..it was slightly choppy the entire flight..very slightly. My head felt weird at times..but I guess that was cabin pressure or whatever. I chewed my gum, and I listened to my MP3...talked to my seat mates..etc... During our approach..we had what the pilot called " moderate chop". I was a bit nervous then..but AGAIN, my 2 pals sitting next to me told me it was fine and sometimes normal during the landing process...we were getting to our destination quicker than expected....but felt like I was never gonna see the ground! I kept looking out hoping to see it closer....it seemed to take forever to get closer to the ground! Then of course..lots of clouds and very overcast too..but when I did see the ground..it still seemed sooo far away. Maybe that is normal...but we finally got there..and our landing was smooth....But at any rate... I think I did pretty well though.... I cant say that I loved it. ...but again, it wasnt horrible.. to me it was exciting, but nerve wracking during our approach...I didnt like the way the plane bounced for those 10 minutes or so. I wish my head didnt feel lightheaded during certain times..and Im not sure why it did...but the flight attendant told me it was just the cabin pressure. It wasnt horrible though. I was excited to see my parents, and call everyone to let them know I finally flew and that I made it safe!!! On my return flight back to St. Louis next week (aug 9th) ..I will have my boyfriend with me.. yay! I may feel a little better..but I cant worry about it yet. I know i certainly wont be like I was this past week leading up to it. Now i know what to expect while flying. I just pray this next flight is alot smoother while going in on approach! So is the lightheadedness from cabin pressure? I didnt eat at all. this morning...I was too nervous...I also took a Klonopin, dramamine and a Tylenol before my flight.. could that have contributed at all? I wasnt sick or anything ...just at times I felt it in my head in a weird way. It would only last seconds if anything. So I laid my head back on the seat and I was fine... Of course after landing, I was starved and couldnt wait to eat! LOL I took my snack from the airplane and ate it in the car!
MeghansNerves		#1	[-]
Posts: 136 (08/01/08 15:16:00) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Congratulations, JerseyShoreGirl! I'm so excited to read about how well you did. I'm also back home after flying today. Such a relief to do it, isn't it? And to remember how sort of basic and easy and simple it is? Keep that thought with you as you prepare to fly back. But in the meantime, enjoy your trip home without worrying about getting back! Oh, and to answer your question: "So is the lightheadedness from cabin pressure? I didnt eat at all. this morning...I was too nervous...I also took a Klonopin, dramamine and a Tylenol before my flight.. could that have contributed at all?" Ummm. Yes, yess, yes, and yes. Those drugs can really wreak havoc on you. Cabin pressure definitely was a cause, as was low blood pressure from not eating. But wow those drugs probably made it all worse! Capt. Tom has a thread on using these sorts of drugs when you fly. While I admit that I have gotten relief from Xanax before, I do think his read on the matter is worth taking seriously, particularly if you are mixing drugs like that! So something to consider. In the meantime, CONGRATS! Meghan
miss froggy		#2	[-]
Posts: 4 (08/08/08 06:30:08) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Jersrygirl, thanks so much for posting the outcome of your trip. I read this message board often and it is great to here about a positive outcome. Obviously the majority are positive, but it is great to read about it. Thanks for taking the time to write it. I am flying to Jamaica in November, with two flights each way, I figure by the time I land home I will be writing a great flying review. Congrats for facing your fears =) Susie
Capt Tom Bunn MSW LCSW		#3	[-]
Posts: 2338 (08/08/08 08:00:53) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Glad you did the flight. I need to caution you about the idea that taking something -- or a combination of somethings -- is a good idea; it sounds more like playing with stuff in desperation. Don't do it. You need your mind to be clear. Meds make flying worse; the research on that is now clear.

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Note from Capt. Tom

I know everyone worries about weather, but pilots really do not worry about it. We simply - instead of worrying about it - completely prepare for it. Before going to the plane, we review the weather at the destination. If it is not 100% sure to be within legal limits when we arrive at the destination, we must specify an alternate airport in our planning documents, and load on plenty of fuel for going to the destination airport, and then if need be, diverting to the alternate airport.

The legal limits are conservative. Even when weather is slightly outside the legal limits, any airline pilot could still land safely. You can rely on the captain never to land when the weather is not legal, and legality limits are reached prior to safety limits.

If you are still anxious, call me and we can talk it over. I'm at 877 332-7359 from 10 AM until 7 PM Eastern time.

For effective help, even if you are flying in a day or two, sign up now at www.fearofflying.com/fasttrack and call me when you finish Clip 9 so I can make sure you are all set.

Using Weather Information

If you enter your ZIP Code or City at the top of the weather presentation, it will give you weather for your area. Or, you can enter your destination ZIP Code or City.

Click on the "LOCAL RADAR" button to see whether or not there are thunder-
storms. Keep in mind, however, that we can either fly above the storms when cruising or fly through gaps between storms. During landing, we cannot fly above them, but fly through gaps, or through the area of the storms where the turbulence is least.

Turbulence, though it may cause anxiety, does not mean anything is wrong. Turbulence does not mean danger. The plane can handle far more turbulence than Mother Nature can dish out.

Though flying in turbulence is safe, it doesn't feel safe. And here is where the SOAR programs come in. We can help you feel as safe when you fly as you actually are.

You can see these programs at www.fearofflying.com/store.

For questions on aviation or the psychology of aerophobia, click here to e-mail Capt. Tom Bunn, MSW, LCSW.

To contact the SOAR business office (media contacts, brochures, replacement tapes, billing, shipping), click here to e-mail Lisa Hauptner, MS.