I just got back from a weekend trip to Atlanta. It was my first round-trip flight in about 6 months and the first trip post-SOAR. (I was white-knuckling and
panic-attacking on three trips earlier in the year.) I thought I was getting really good at the strengthening exercise - I would get so relaxed I sometimes
dozed off - and I wasn't anxious watching videos of planes in flight anymore. The anticipatory anxiety wasn't even so bad until it was time to board. I
was put on with the first group and the flight attendent was wonderful, she just let me step into the cockpit and say hi to the captains. I was crying a little
but they were super nice and understanding - showed me the planned route, told me how long they'd been flying, and told me where to expect bumps (basically
all around Atlanta since they're in the middle of a week-long monsoon right now).
Unfortunately, the crying got worse as we waited for takeoff and I when we started to accelerate I completely lost it (I think that's where I sense is the
"point of no return"). I started hyperventilating and had to use the barf bag to stop breathing so fast. A nice man came to sit in the empty seat
next to me and just talked to me the whole way - I was quivering the whole time but he did a good job of distracting me with constant conversation, even
through an hour of circling while Atlanta dealt with the backlog of flights waiting to land.
The trip back was the opposite - I was SUPER anxious and shaky waiting in the boarding area (almost tried to delay to a later flight), but after a little
elevated heart rate, heavy breathing, and sweaty hands on takeoff I calmed down and was able to actually read a magazine for the rest of the (slightly bumpy)
flight. I know it sounds like a piddly accomplishment, but I haven't been able to focus on anything other than my anxiety for more than five minutes since
this all started - getting through a magazine felt like making it to the top of a mountain!
Another thing I learned - Capt Tom isn't lying when he says weather isn't a problem. When it is, they don't fly. It rained the entire weekend in
ATL and it was comforting to see that planes can still take off and land into rain, thick clouds, and the like. I even saw lightning out my window at 34000
feet and realized how safe we were because the pilot knew to re-route us around it.
I have another trip coming up in a little over a week, with a layover this time. I am hoping they just get easier and easier.
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Also made it, also was not so pretty
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 DoubleE |
Also made it, also was not so pretty |
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Posts: 3 (09/21/09 15:12:34) |
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OneAnt |
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Posts: 888 (09/22/09 01:06:12) |
Congrats on the trip(s)!
There's always a willing passenger to sit near you when you're feeling rough. I've been where you are, and I enjoy giving back now. Not sure if anyone has ever seen the movie French Kiss, but there's a great scene there when Kevin Kline is chatting up Meg Ryan on takeoff. He starts pushing her buttons and gets her to sound off. When she's done, they're up in the air and she's not so nervous. A stranger to take your mind off it can be a great thing. BTW, I LOVE the lightning in-flight. I've had countless flights where we carve our way between huge storm clouds, with lightning all around. The most recent was an ORD-DFW flight at sunset. Rainy and stormy in ORD, but clear in DFW. In between were storms. We peaked at, I think, 29000 ft. To the right was the sunset over the top of these dark grey clouds. To the left and the right was nothing short of fireworks. I settled back with my drink and nuts and enjoyed the show all the way to Dallas. It DOES get easier and easier. |
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Capt Tom Bunn MSW LCSW |
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Posts: 2715 (09/22/09 05:09:38) |
Hi Double E.
Please give me a call so I can see how you have the Strengthening Exercise set up. It should have given you a LOT more support than what you got. 800 332-7359. Tom |
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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. |
