Anyone afraid of flying?

[quinnox]

I used to not be afraid at all, I flew many times ever since I was a kid. But I had an experience with bad turbulence on my last flight, and it kind of freaked me out. Now I don't know if I want to fly again.

Anyone have a similar experience?

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

1. I'm okay with it as long as I'm in an airplane. n/t

[THUNDER HANDS]

2. I'm fine flying

Never bothered me. Except when the food sucks. Or when I'm sitting in front of two mexican girls who are having a shouting match in spanish with two French girls in front of me, who are shouting back at them in French....

....all the way to Florida.

:)

[Robb]

3. Yep.

Actually just over the last few years, since I've become such an aviation "mishap" freak.

I've mentioned this on an earlier thread, but I've got a little piece of titanium from an SR-71 I found on my keyring, with the idea "What're the odds of the same piece of metal falling to earth in an air crash twice?"

Doesn't work tho'. I've become a terrible flyer.

[TrogL]

4. Turbulance is normal

the aircraft are built for it.

Turbulance fun! Fly a Navajo between two thunderstorms with only a 1/4 mile clearance between them.

[Malva Zebrina]

5. Yup

scared to death

[leftchick]

6. I am scared of flying....

I hate everything about it, it freaks me out. I just flew to Zurich and back last month though. Xanax and a little wine can do WONDERS!

:)

[kayleybeth]

7. That would be me

Terrified. Phobic, even. I'd rather drive for 2 days than fly for two hours. I used to fly fairly often, but about 8 years ago I was on a plane in a bad wind storm... the turbulence was so bad the crew had to cancel the meals and drinks and buckle up in their seats for the entire flight. I won't fly anymore unless I can get a prescription for strong sedatives ahead of time :-)

[Jonte_1979]

8. More of a fear of not flying

I have a fear of plummeting to the ground surrounded by drunken scandinavian charter tourists.

[patdem]

9. The fear for me is fear of fear and nowhere to run....claustrophobia????

I think I would have the same fear being on a ship...or even a small island....I want the ability...though never used more than leaving a room and walking around the block...but I want as much space as I can imagine to leave a fearful place to a non fearful place? I think it is more claustophobia than fear of flying???

Of course NO ONE has a fear of flying ... it is the ALTERNATIVE to flying which is fearful ie..falling from the sky.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

13. Agoraphobia...

That's what you are describing -- the fear of not being able to get out of a situation/get help for yourself.

I've had it 13+ years -- not fun.

[electricmonk]

20. Me too

I'm usually good with flying as long as I have a window seat. I can freak out just as bad on a city bus or in a car going through a long tunnel as I can on an airplane.

[Nikia]

10. I get nervous

Take off and landing are my high anxiety portions of the flight. I also dislike descending because a couple times I had major ear pain. Both times were on relatively small,but commercial, planes. I don't know if that makes a difference.

[alwynsw]

11. My only fear

is going down over water and having to shove my face into a seat cushion full of beer farts while waiting to be rescued or eaten by sharks.

[Superfly]

15. Rescued or eaten by sharks?

How can you tell the difference between sharks coming to rescue you and ones with a meal on their minds? :shrug:

[alwynsw]

21. It's all in the grin...

thanks, I needed a little grammar nazi jolt.

AS IF MY FREAKIN' RETIRED ENGLISH TEACHER WIFE ISN'T BAD ENOUGH!

Better now. Thank you, Prozac, God of calm...

[RebelOne]

12. Love to fly

In fact, for a while I flew small planes until I ran out of money for flying lessons. Never did get my pilot's license, but the greatest thrill is flying in a small plane. It's not the same as in a commercial jet, which is really like a bus ride in my opinion.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

14. That's me....

I used to love ot fly when I was a kid, but I've become terrified of it since developing agoraphobia.

Lots of Xanax seems to do the trick for me now -- it;s the only thing that will get me on a plane.

[arwalden]

16. I Didn't Used To Be

But now I am... only because of the lack of security. It will be a long while before I feel safe again. (And THAT will be the VERY DAY that some terrorist hijacks MY FLIGHT.)

I'll stay home or drive or take the train, thanks.

-- Allen

[alwynsw]

23. Train?

Think "Under Siege II". That'll do ya.

[ironflange]

17. I'm not afraid of flying

I'm afraid of crashing!

But seriously, folks, I became afraid of flying as a teenager when we hit an air pocket over Greenland that left us weightless for a good ten seconds. I'm not afraid now, many many years later; I just don't like it. Especially landings.

My mom is a very nervous flier, she says that on takeoff she can get through the Lord's Prayer three or four times.

[populistmom]

18. Only perhaps in an Erica Jong sense

Seriously, not afraid to fly, but I don't like to fly. I tend to feel nauseas and a bit yucky for a day or so afterward, but I can't say I'm afraid to fly.

[kyrasdad]

19. Flying isn't the problem

Crashing is... I don't get on a plane without 5 mg of Valium and a few cocktails. Thank Goddess I don't have to fly very often... If it's under a 24 hour drive... I drive...

Sidebar... I've found the nicest and most understanding flight crews towards nervous flyers is American Airlines. Southwest comes in second. UScareways is dead last... you could be having a heart attack and they could care less...

[Bertha Venation]

22. HELL, YES!

There's something terrifying about hurtling along at 500 MPH in a pressurized metal tube 30,000 feet above the earth.

But since I moved to Maryland and left my family behind in California, I can't think about it. I just be sure my carry-on has plenty of Xanax, I have an author with me that I love, and I -- just -- don't -- think -- about -- it.

[rbnyc]

24. I don't like it at all.

I've been avoiding going to Europe actually because I just don't knoe if I can take a flight that's that long. If I had time, I'd go by boat.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

25. I was until I decided I'm not afraid to die...

Now I'll do anything anytime. I think I may be losing my mind...but oh well. lol
Duckie