I am flying to Las Vegas next Wednesday and am starting to get some anticipatory anxiety. Technically, this trip has been in my mind ever since we booked the
flight two months ago. (This is also my first flight in a year.) I am nervous about just being on the plane and then the feeling that you get after take-off.
Unfortunately, the crash that happened in my hometown on February 12th is also in my thoughts. I watched the first session of the Control of Anxiety last
night and that made me feel calm. I would like to know how to stop thinking about what it is going to be like on the plane before the actual flight. Any
advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
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Anxiety about flying next week
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 Anastasia875 |
Anxiety about flying next week |
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Posts: 13 (09/04/09 05:44:05) |
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Capt Tom Bunn MSW LCSW |
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Posts: 2693 (09/04/09 08:27:38) |
Hi Anastasia,
It really is a good idea to avoid imagination of what it will be like when you fly. If you imagine something repeatedly, the imagination becomes memorized. Then, what comes to mind comes to mind as if it were real. Then you can start believing what you have in mind will really happen. Or it can seem like an omen. Try using the 5-4-3-2-1 each and every time you start doing this and start feeling anxious. Just two minutes of it can burn off the stress hormones and return your ability to think more clearly. It is just that you will have to do this again and again, as the anxiety will come back again and again. But doing the 5-4-3-2-1 each time makes it evident to you that you have control. |
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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. |
