I think most of you know that I am not a fan of flying. As the saying goes, “If God had intended for man to fly, he would have given him wings!” Well, it doesn’t work like that, does it? Thousands of people fly every day, be it in a small twin engine or a large commercial jet. Flying is a major mode of transportation and for many, a popular one.
On the flip side, I am a big fan of traveling to places I want to see in a fraction of the time it would take to drive there. For example, Portland, Oregon – 2 hours flying vs 17 hours driving! And then there are the more exotic destinations – Europe, South America, Africa, etc. Places I want to go to but must get on an airplane to get there. Thus my dilemma. How to resolve?
I have researched the basic safety of airplanes. I have spoken to people (including crew members) who fly all the time without fear. I am in awe of these people. I will fly when I have to in order to get somewhere I want to be but to make it a way of life or a career, no thank you! Are they crazy?
Here are some fun facts about flying:
1. No other form of transportation is as scrutinized, investigated and monitored as commercial aviation.
2. Flying is proven to be the safest way to travel.
3. Turbulence will not bring the plane down nor will it tear off the wings!
Blah, blah, blah is what I hear. I try, I really do, to enjoy the whole flying experience. There are even moments when the flight is smooth, the sights out the window (Oh, I must have a window seat to make sure that the plane doesn’t catch fire!) are breathtaking and I think of God and the beautiful world He created. And then we hit some turbulence – big turbulence, and my blissful demeanor becomes one of sheer terror.
I had heard of people like myself who hate to fly and were given medication from their doctors to better endure the experience. Hmm. Let me look into that, I thought to myself. I did and now I take one low dose of Valium before getting on the plane. The last flight I took (2 days ago) I did just that. It calmed my nerves so much that when the turbulence hit, I glanced out the window (note the word “glanced” – I did not say “jerked my head around so fast I lost consciousness) and thought “Yes, it is indeed quite bumpy out there but somehow I’m not frightened. I actually don’t care what happens.” What?
Ah-ha! Here is my solution! It’s not 100% foolproof, however. There was some major turbulence that lasted seconds during which my nerves fought their way to the surface but it was mere seconds and I quickly recovered my equilibrium.
So, if you love flying or fly without fear, I salute you with great admiration. If you are a scaredy-cat like I am, give thought to a mild sedative. We need all the help we can get, right? Happy flying! :))
The problem with flying is stress hormones released when the plane drops, because that in a “knee-jerk” response you have no control over. Stress – and fear – builds up when the plane drops repeatedly, the stress hormones build up and cause pounding heart, sweatiness, and tension.
As to meds, according to research, they increase arousal when flying. Thus, they quickly become ineffective, and since taking them when flying increased your arousal, that increased arousal becomes associated with flying. So, what starts out as help soon backfires.
CBT helps with mild cases but does nothing to deal with turbulence or with panic (other than tell you not to worry about it because panic won’t kill you).
I know how frustrating dealing with flight anxiety (or worse, panic, claustrophobia, and even terror) can be because, as an airline pilot and licensed therapist, I spent years treating clients using exposure, CBT, and relaxation exercises (another useless method) before finally stumbling on a way to inhibit the release of stress hormones. Since then, research by Stephen Porges showed us how to override the effects of stress hormones if they are produced.
To gain an introduction to the comprehensive solution that has been developed, use Amazon’s “read inside” feature at http://a.co/0n0P5v2 on “SOAR: The Breakthrough Treatment for Fear of Flying,” chosen as Amazon editors’ 2014 favorite book.
Thank you for your in depth explanation. I will certainly consider everything you said, especially because you are the expert. Currently one 5mg Valium has been doing the trick. My fear is not as severe as it used to be. I’ve managed it fairly well by using my mind. The meds take me to a calmer place. I remember a 14 hour flight to Cairo in 2005.At some point during the flight I told myself it would take way too much energy to be scared for 14 hrs so I should let it go and enjoy the flight. It worked. Thanks again for your response.