I think I found my cure for my fear of flying! Dating a pilot:)! Takeoff is what really bothered me, I love it but hate it! My sinuses would cave in and there's that closed in feeling being inside a plane. He flies a single engine Cessna, so quite a bit different than a commercial jet. I have flown several times before, but the take off feeling got REALLY bad on a flight in May of 2002 from SJC to Pittsburgh,PA. My ears killed me, my face felt like all this pressure against it. I flew again three years later on a commercial jet and it wasn't as bad. Now when I first flew with him, we took off. I felt that same pressure in my face/sinuses again, not as bad as the 2002 trip,thankfully. He asked me if I was OK, we can always turn around and land. He kept talking to me, and at two points I felt like telling him let's head back. But I decided not to give in. Alot of the fear and worrying about that weird feeling was physicological. If I didn't stay so focused what I was feeling and more on the scenery outside, or having him show me how everything in the cockpit works, I felt alot better. We flew for half an hour. The next weekend, we flew for an hour. Again, a little nervous, but alot better. He is very patient and reassuring. It's funny how I came to meet someone at a time that I really want to control this! I am getting ready to fly to Ohio this Oct. from SJC.I was worried I would freak out and have no one to scream or talk to! Now I feel so much better about going! He said alot of the pressure I feel is due to lack of working the sinuses, the more you take off and land, your body will acclaimate to it. Well, that's my story:) good luck to everyone here!
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Cure for fear of flying? Date a pilot!
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 arewethereyet |
Cure for fear of flying? Date a pilot! |
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Posts: 4 (08/11/09 19:46:47) |
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Capt Tom Bunn MSW LCSW |
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Posts: 2713 (09/20/09 08:10:50) |
It will help, but it may still not help when flying alone. With him in a small plane, you still have control. You can tell him you have had enough. That, like
control when you are driving a car, keeps anxiety at bay. But when you fly on an airline, control will be the same issue as before.
The other thing is he is with you. If he is with you when on an airline, it will help. But it will not help when solo an airliner. |
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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. |
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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- 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. |
