It's not as much a fear of flying but I am clautraphobic and have major social anxiety issues. People that close to me - in my personal space bubble - *shudder*
I get a little nervous when there's turbulence, but for the most part I'm fine. My biggest problem is boredom on longer flights. I like flying during the day so I can look out the window.
Julie F - 14 years ago
OK, I'm probably to old to take up this hobby at 39, but I just started skydiving this year. After 2 tandem jumps I'm hooked! Solo lessons to come. :)
ANYWAY... There is a quote they use that I had to share: "If riding in a plane is flying, then riding in a boat is swimming. To experience the element, get out of the vehicle!"
Jennifer S - 14 years ago
There should be a different poll for 'flying with kids'. My vote would be very different...
Stephanie - 14 years ago
A *comforting* thought for me is to think that I am more likely to die in a car accident then on a plane flight.
Heather - 14 years ago
I love to fly, and I flew a lot before I got married (9 1/2 years ago). Since marriage, I've been on a plane 4 times...to our honeymoon and back and to New York City and back to try out for Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Pop Culture edition. The New York City trip I took with my then 8-month-old son and I had some anxiety about both of us going down in a fiery crash, but after take-off on the first leg to Cincinatti, I remember praying that God would calm me down and I actually had the thought, "If we do go down, I won't feel anything and J.J. and I will be whooshed off to Heaven, so it's not that bad." I calmed down after that. Until we were on our way home and got to Atlanta for our lay-over, found our flight was cancelled, switched our last leg to another flight, then realized that my son's carseat was checked and our luggage didn't get switched so I was stuck in a different town an hour away from our hometown with no way of getting my son away from the airport!
Judy - 14 years ago
I use to be a white knuckle flyer until my children moved so far away I had to fly to see them. On each flight I started praying, "Father God, I am your child whether I am in the air or on the ground. Please watch over me." and a peace comes over me that gets me through the smooth and not so smooth flights.
SERIOUSLY 20 thousand 833 votes as of saturday the 9th... You have that many readers... good lord... i feel so lost inthe sea of blogland.... WOW...
Carroll - 14 years ago
Flying used to be great but all the security and hassle really puts me off. It's a pain in the *** having to get there two hours ahead of time so you can go through security. And at a really busy airport, you need about 4 hours to ensure you make your flight. Frankly, I'd rather take a road trip now.
Shanelle - 14 years ago
It's not just that flying doesn't bother me; I LOVE flying. I even think turbulence is kind of fun.
I also love airports. They're better'n Disneyworld.
jess - 14 years ago
I don't mind flying itself, it's the take-off and landing that bother me. The pilot is then DRIVING the plane. So flying in the plane is okay; being in it when the plane is being driven kind of freaks me out.
Claire K. - 14 years ago
Love to travel, not so much to fly. I agree there should be something between mild and strong. With self-hypnosis I've learned to get past the total fear, the kind that had me gripping the armrests and leaving the plane exhausted from my terror, or requiring a chemical intervention. Now, I try to occupy myself during takeoff (reading, or resting) and am generally OK during the flight. However, as soon as we hit turbulence, I have to remind myself that I'm OK, and I do find myself looking to the front of the plane for reassurance that the nose is either level or pointed up. For my 50th birthday my husband booked us on a helicopter flight on Kauai. I decided to face my fear of that kind of flying too. All I can say is, I spent a lot of time looking at the ground saying "we could put down right there if we had a problem." Helicopters are not really in my future if I have any choice, but I'm grateful to my therapist that I can fly to some of the wonderful places in the world and not arrive destroyed emotionally.
Laurie - 14 years ago
I have never set foot on a plane. Went to Graceland with a friend about 20 years ago and could not even make myself walk onto his former plane. Would love to try it one day, but would have to be so tranquilized that I would need someone to carry me on-board and off. That wouldn't be good. They'd kick me off before I ever even got on.
Janie - 14 years ago
I don't like flying, but can do it (it's much better if my kids are with me, I guess I want us to all go down instead of my kids being left motherless). BUT I canNOT drive over a long bridge.
Mary Lynn - 14 years ago
This is why God gave us tranquilizers - He knew we needed them to fly and take closed MRIs!
Flying isn't so bad - its the waiting to get off. I'm claustrophobic so being trapped in a seat surrounded by people milling about and no way to climb over them - that's the scary part. I try to sit near the front and on the aisle so I can stand up quickly. It would help if they didn't turn off the airflow - as long as I can breathe moving air, I seem to be ok.
The airport scares me - not the flight - I am usually so excited to get where I am going and so happy to be sitting that I forget the fears - beside I can't show fear with the little ones around...Mommy's strong!
Love B
Christine - 14 years ago
LOVE FLYING - dislike airport security, dislike people who carry belongings in a hefty trash bag
Darcy - 14 years ago
My fear of flying has nothing to do with the actual flying part...My fear is from claustrophobia being "trapped" on the plane, in your seat, the bathroom facilities are limited and I am afraid to get stuck on the runway for hours unable to get off.
Katy - 14 years ago
It's not the flying that scares me...It's the potential for falling out of the sky and hitting the ground that scares me. My husband is in the Army and had to be flown around quite a bit on Blackhawks while in Iraq. He said now all his fears of flying are gone; he came to terms with the idea that his life will end when it's meant to end and not before. That little epiphany helped him, although I can't really say the same for me. It neither allayed my fear of "falling out of the sky" nor did it make me any more peaceful about his service while deployed! But it worked for him. ...All that to say, I fly only when absolutely necessary. Oh, and my husband made it home, safe and sound. :)
M Dixon - 14 years ago
Here is what comforts me about flying: Pilots have to go through a LOT of training to get their pilot's license.
Here is what disturbs me about driving: Any idiot can get a driver's license - and then text while driving down the road that they are sharing with me and my family!
I'll take a plane any day.
Marilyn (Bunny) - 14 years ago
I have a funny story about flying. I flew with my bowling team (and some other teams) to bowl in a National Tournament in Reno, NV. We traveled from PA to Calif. and had to take a smaller plane to Reno. We boarded the plane and kept waiting for take-off - it was a long wait. Finally, the pilot got on the loudspeaker and told us that they had to remove the bowling balls (many girls had two in their double bag) and fly them in another plane because there was too much weight for the plane to take off. Boy! Talk about being nervous after that!!! But the trip turned out great and I won some money in the tournament, and also got to go hang gliding while I was there - so the trip turned out to be fun after all - and our bowling balls were delivered to our hotel at 2 AM in the morning the day before the tournament started. PS: I'm a white knuckle flyer without problems!!!!
What!? I am shocked at the results so far! My main fear of flying is leaving my children behind without a mother.
Beth - 14 years ago
No fear , AND, my son is a commercial aviation major in college. He earned his private pilot's license at age 18. He's now working on his instrument ratings.
I'm glad you've conquered it, Ree. Now let's not talk about my fear of falling (not heights, falling).
About 6-8 years ago, for whatever reason, I had an irrational fear of flying. I think it developed after a long period of not flying and chatting with those who were also petrified.
About 5 years ago, I was required to travel quite a bit for work. Each time I went up in the plane, I became more at ease until finally I was no longer afraid. Now Ill go anywhere.
If you would take one flying lesson you would not be afraid of flying. It is one of the most wonderful experience and powerful feeling of control! Seriously, you would love it too.
PonyFla - 14 years ago
Flying is no fun anymore but I'm not afraid of it. It's just a big pain in the butt. Cramming too many people into too small a space with uncomfortable seats and too much carry-on stuff. No food. Surly flight attendants (not that I blame them), Grumpy, nasty passengers. Back in the day, it was an adventure! People were happy and excited. They dressed up to fly! Stewardesses were nice. Seats were comfy. Sigh! I miss that kind of flying.
Karen - 14 years ago
I had a couple of bad flights many years ago - lots, I mean LOTS of turbulance - we plowed through a thunderstorm and even the stewards were required to stay seated and belted. Once, when we landed, it sounded as if the tail hit the runway and from then on I have never been able to fly - luckily I have not HAD to fly and my sweetheart will not fly either so we are compatible that way! I admire those that love to fly tho!
I'm really only afraid of the TSA, so for that reason I don't fly on big commercial planes. HOWEVER my hubby and I own a small Cessna, and we fly everywhere we need to. TOTALLY FUN, you should try it.
kris - 14 years ago
I've been flying since I was a little girl and still travel for work on a fairly regular basis. I don't like landing, but there are other parts of flying that scare me more - like the pain I experience when my ears won't pop or the panic that sets in when I realize the chances of making my connecting flight are slim to none.
Jackie - 14 years ago
My view is that when your time is up...it doesn't matter whether you're in your big fluffy armchair at home or in a plane, you're done. Also, for me flying means I'm on another adventure, I love to travel & see new places so if I do crash, I hope it's on the way home...that way I'll have been on an adventure & 99.9% of the time happy as can be. It's attitude.
Jeannie - 14 years ago
I absolutely love to fly. I always have from my very first flight. Maybe there were 3 exceptions. 1. When I flew with my first husband in a teeny tiny plane into Washington National for the very first time. I wasn't worried until I watched him continue to try to wiped the sweat off his hands so he could grip the wheel. 2. When we flew to Germany to live. My youngest was 5 and he threw up all over first class. 3. When the boys and I flew back to the States after my husband left us for his German tutor - I could not stop crying.
Katie Archer - 14 years ago
Yeah. I was a travel agent for years, and I got tons of free tickets. And I hated every minute that I had to fly! I still do. It wasn't until my husband made me sit down at his flight-simulator computer game, and MADE ME PLAY, that I finally let go of some of my anxiety. It helped when he showed me how planes work, how they lift, and why an airplane *wants* to be in the air. Now I can fly under unavoidable circumstances, such as crossing the pond, and attending weddings and new babies, etc.
Stephanie - 14 years ago
I was never afraid of flying until I had children. Now there is just so much to loose should something happen. And when my husband I fly together, that's worse and when our kids our with us, that's 1,000 times worse!
I went from loving to fly, to being terrified of flying because of one really bad flight. So for years I would get physically sick whenever I had to fly somewhere. Then I had a major car accident that flipped my VW Cabrio (with the top down) up in the air and around 3 times before landing on a median strip in the grass... I only broke my arm! I was black and blue for a VERY long time, but came out ok.
As I was lying on the backboard waiting to be taken to the hospital I heard the EMT saying, "Come on...where's my bird?" and I realized they were going to take me in a helicopter! I panicked and started begging her not to put me on a helicopter, "I'm afraid of flying, please don't put me on a helicopter!' Then she said the words that put an end to my fear of flying... "Honey, if you were going to die today, you'd be dead now!"
I figured God wouldn't spare me from the car accident to blow me up in a fiery helicopter crash, which led to the realization that when and how we die is very much out of our control so enjoy the ride!
Jay - 14 years ago
I find take off exhilarating.
Jessica - 14 years ago
HATE flying!!!! On my very first flight at 10 years old, I begged my parents to take a train - they made my fly. The flight was uneventful, but the entire thing was like horror for me! I've made myself fly a handful of times over the years, but I had to get prescription meds to do it, and even they barely make it comfortable. Now I have a 10 year old daughter who will not get on a plane (and I never let her know of my fear). Poor thing she even has a hard time on the subway and elevators.
Ann - 14 years ago
Driving to the airport is much more dangerous than flying.
Mae - 14 years ago
I flew a ton from 6 or so into my twenties, international jaunts as well as USA. Only in my mid twenties did I become a bit nervous about flying. I started to get some side effects from landings and it's not every flight or predictable in any way. I still do it and love to go places but the flight itself is now more of a vague feeling of dread instead of non-issue. My mom lives in the UK so I not flying isn't an option and I only fly for maximum of 3 trips a year so I just deal and try to yawn like a mofo on the landings.
Oh and my best friend from HS still reminds me every time I see her how much I freaked her out when I went to the UK at 14 and told her I was pretty sure my plane would crash.
A fear of flying seems totally natural even though it is far safer than driving but really - how unnatural is it to hurdle yourself through space in a metal tube? It freaks me out but not so much that I won't fly. Getting to Hawaii or Mexico in the middle of a drab Seattle winter is worth the ulcer inducing anxiety.
oh, and a big THANK YOU to the man who talked to me for an hour and a half to calm me down from above mentioned humdinger of a panic attack. He was a gift from God.
Ten years ago I developed a fear of flying...among other things like tunnels. I sucked it up and got over it. That process took years. I was fine for seven or eight years. Then I had a panic attack on a cross country flight. I had to fly the next week and cried the whole way. My anxiety came back full force. I avoided flying when I could but there were some trips I had to take. I took pills.
Then I decided to move overseas. Hey, it was a dream. It was time. I took nine flights where I freaked out the whole way to the airport but was fine on the plane. Then, I had a humdinger of a panic attack two and a half hours into an eight hour flight. Hmmph.
I could say more about how the anxiety isn't really about flying and how it's more related to other areas of my life which I can usually do something about or distract myself from but when I'm in a big metal box miles above anything I panic.
What I will say is that I know it will pass. I would like it to be sooner than later. And, until then, I would prefer to not fly without someone I know siting next to me holding my hand.
If someone reading this suffers from flight anxiety. It does get better. It does go away. Just do it. Do it with medication if you need to. Get out there and don't let it hold you back. You're not alone.
I used to fly all the time as a kid, as a teenager, as a college student...to Hawaii, Mexico, Colombia, Las Vegas...and then one time after a nasty return flight from LV, I developed a phobia to flying...and i haven't flown in years.
Kimberfly - 14 years ago
When I went to Hawaii on vacation in college, I cried so hard I almost couldn't get on the plane. I called my dad and told him how much I loved him. The whole takeoff was petrifying, but once we were safely up there in the skies, I was fine. Still, I try to avoid it as best I can. I'm still trying to convince my dad to take the QEII to Europe next year. It isn't working.
LPARA - 14 years ago
My first ever flight, August of 1979, I was 22 years old and I flew from Greenville, SC to Milwaukee, WI--I don't know if I laid over anywhere lol. The boy (20's) who sat next to me asked me this one and only question (it could have been my answer)--"Do you like to get high?" My answer: "Only when I'm flying," which could be interpreted in so many ways as I'm of the 3% who said ENORMOUS, I never fly, but if I do, being high, however that feels in a drug induced condition would be my "druthers."
I get sick to my stomach thinking about flying. The last time I flew, I was 3 months pregnant. Spent the descent in the bathroom and got yelled at by the flight attendant when I came out.
I've never flown, but I don't know how I'd could enjoy it. I think I'd be afraid of getting sick the whole time! :)
Lynn - 14 years ago
There are only two things I absolutely HATE about flying: going up and coming down. Otherwise I'm just fine with it.
Patty - 14 years ago
LOVE love love love love love love to fly. LOVE IT.
I've flown in commercial planes since age 7, flew with daddy's friends at 13, flew alone when I was 18. I've flown in air shows on a Breezy, a frame of a plane, seat in the open air, dressed as Snoopy. Tied into the seat because there was no seatbelt. I've done loops and rolls in autumn over coloured leaves in crisp morning air. I've dreamed of dancing on cotton clouds all my life. And I live to fly.
And my husband is a sailor, adores sailing. Uck.
nicole - 14 years ago
I was never scared of flying and we flew a lot whe I was a kid. Then came the flight from hell. Basically we were stuck in a thunderstorm from London to Singapore. The plane nearly didn't make it off the ground at Heathrow (seriously, I saw the stripes on the runway that signal its ending and when we finally made it up we hit some kind of turbulence and dropped a got bit. And that was the harmels part. The fasten seatbelt sign was pretty much on for the entire flight (I know, now they never switch the thing off and tell you to buckle up the entire time you're in your seat but that was way back when you were still allowed to go to the pilot for a chat) Anyway, the plane shook so bad I could see inside the walls. I am not kidding. Some of the overhead compartments fell open during take off and some fell open during the flight.
We landed in Singapore, I got off the plane and told my boyfriend "Tha's it. We're going to live here. Or maybe walk back to germany. But I am not getting back on the plane." It took two airport staff guys and some british Airways crewmembers to convince me that the last leg of the trip would be better before I got back on the plane. We were going to Melbourne, which is my home away from home. There is no place on the planet I'd rather be than there, so you know how terrified I was of flying.
Now, year and years later, we flew to Austria to visit my parents. (Train 10 hours and changig trains twice, flying 2 hours. Me and two kids. With a LOT of luggage). The flight there was kind of ok. Lots of sweating and pretending we wre still on the ground, but you know, no major crisis. The flight back was my last flight. I will never fly again. We hit turbulence while circling Cologne Airport. The stewardess was crying. My daughter (now 3) was yelling "woooah woooooah wooooah, wobbly!" then she went really quiet, lookd up and said "we're all falling down." Let me tell you, that is about the last thing you want to hear while you're stuck in turbulence with a crying stewardess and a plane that's shaking in eery possible direction. Next time we're taking the train, even if it'll take 24 hours and 12 train changes and I have enough luggage to fill a van. Anything but getting on a plane.
I am just happy that I haven't passed my phobia on to my kids. It's been really hard hiding it but some strong medication seems to do the trick! The girls just think Mommy is extra tired when she travels. Hehehe.
My dad was an airline pilot for 30 some years. We flew a (whole) lot over the years. I am terrified of flying. I think it is about control. In a plane, there is absolutely NOTHING that I can do to change the outcome. I think about that fact in the days before, the morning of and 100% of the time that we are in the air. It's not fun, but I can't turn off those thoughts, so I avoid flying whenever possible.
Kelli K - 14 years ago
I conquered my fear of water (somewhat) by actually driving my snowmobile on a frozen lake last winter.
Do not ask me about ferris wheels though....
Marie M.C. - 14 years ago
I love to fly. Love, love, love it. Well, I'm not crazy about the take-offs and landings. But once I'm above the clouds I feel as though I'm in heaven. At least until we land. It's the nutty airports, endless regulations, officious officials, not enough leg room, ghastly airport food, no snacks even, Jeez Louise. That's what I hate about flying.
Pamela - 14 years ago
I used to CRY during every takeoff and landing - business trip or not. But one year I flew so many times, I just got over it. I still pray my socks off but I'm no longer terrified. Thank God - it was embarrassing to my husband when we would go on a business trip and there was his professional wife tear dropping next to him.
I dread flying and would be happy to never do it again, although I love to travel. I know, that's nuts.
But, since I'm an Army wife, flying is part of life and I can't avoid it!
My dad was a pilot, he flew small planes (cessna) and I was never scared and did fine while flying with him. However, when I fly on a big plane (which has only happened a hand full of times) I get really nervous and kind of scared. I would rather drive in the car for hours to get somewhere.
Erin-Joi - 14 years ago
My parents were born in different countries so my first flight was at 6 months old to visit grandparents. When I was 6, we began a 6+ year stint as ex-pats on the other side of the world. Flying isn't exotic or strange when it becomes the only way to see family. I still feel funky about boats, but I think that is the seasickness talking.
Tina S - 14 years ago
I used to have a fear of flying....until I did it! Now I'm not scared of flying. It's the possibility of the unexpected and sudden stopping that occurs when the plane crashes that I fear.
I always loved to fly growing up. My family traveled quite a bit so I've flown a lot over the years. After 9/11 I started getting just a little uneasy flying but I was still fine for the most part. When I was about 5 months pregnant with my daughter in 2005, my husband and I were on a flight and an elderly man got very disoriented and tried to open the plane door...while we were in the air. The flight attendants freaked out. People actually wrestled him to the ground (poor man). I didn't know it was an elderly man initially or what the circumstances were so I, of course, was completely freaked out and scared. Ever since then I've really dreaded flying. Unfortunately my family lives all over the country so I can't just NOT fly, but I still don't like it.
I think you need another choice between mild and strong. Now that I have a husband and five kids, flying makes me nervous b/c of the what if? However, other than that, I'm ok with it.
When I turned 50 I stopped being afraid of the dentist (a BIG accomplishment) and coincidentally, flying. Prior to that time I was only slightly short of terrified. I think the fact that my *little* children were nearly grown had something to do with that. If I died they would get along fine whereas before they would be left sadly alone.
Treetopbirdy - 14 years ago
I get such a delighted charge out of the fact that this enormous, multi-ton metal POD becomes airborne because of a change in AIR pressure to the wings. Love it love it love it. I love to fly. If I had a second life, I would be a pilot.
Kayla - 14 years ago
The slightest bit of turbulence has me hyperventilating and grabbing on to whoever happens to be unlucky enough to be closest to me. Flying scares the livin' pee outta me and I've discovered I'm happiest when I don't have any flights scheduled in the future. Right now I have one at the end of November and I'm just trying not to think about it!
Shelly - 14 years ago
I've never had a fear of flyinig. It was always something I longed to be able to do. Now here I am 20 or so flights later and I'm not scared but I have developed airplane sickness. My last flight I spent puking in the TINY bathroom. It was not fun.
Melynda - 14 years ago
I DREAD it and avoid it when possible (and voted as such) but I have to fly for work sometimes ... so I do!
I dread flying, but my husband absolutely loves it, so much so that he's been taking flying lessons and is one written test away from having his pilot's license. I'm so scared FOR him that he has to send me a text or call as soon as he lands, otherwise I start to panic.
I have a pretty strong fear. I get anxious and nervous and I have to take a chill pill, literally, before I can go up. Otherwise I wonder the entire time what the heck is going to happen when the plane crashes. Not if, when. And how do we get out cause we are all stuck inside.....!!!
Wren - 14 years ago
I don't hate the actual flying part, it's the before and after that I hate. Going to the city, airports, security, sitting on the tarmac, what's safe to pack, where's the gate, etc. So, I just don't fly. There aren't too many places I need to go that I can't drive, so, no flying.
I don't have a fear of flying at all, I just get so uncomfortable! I can never sleep either so long-haul flights are such a chore!
Stephanie S - 14 years ago
I love flying. I actually get super excited to get on a plane. Once on the plane, I settle down so I don't offend other passengers though :P A friend of mine hates flying because she's super type A personality and can't cope with the fact that she is not in control when in a plane. She actually has to tranquilize herself!
I lived overseas for six years. It did much to help me conquer my fear. I mean deal with my fear. I mean figure out my happy place and go there in my head when I fly.
Mary - 14 years ago
I said "mild," but in reality it's just take-off that bothers me. I know that landing is even more dangerous, so lord knows why that doesn't scare me, but I'm fine once I'm in the air -- it's getting there that scares me half to death!
Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. Flying makes me feel horrible. Like a humongous metal ball sinking in my stomach. Forever sinking and then resurfacing and then sinking again is the metal ball when I am flying. A slightly smaller metal ball when I am just thinking about flying. I am definitely on the far end of flight haters.
susan in colorado - 14 years ago
Ree: You missed one answer in your poll.
I LOVE to fly.. that is my high in life. I could be flying to the middle of Kansas and be SOOO excited. Get me on an international flight (which has happened a total of 2 times) and I just get all giddy.. it's almost as better as the trip itself.
Katy - 14 years ago
I've never been on a plane or even to an airport so I have no idea on the scariness rating of flight.
It's not as much a fear of flying but I am clautraphobic and have major social anxiety issues. People that close to me - in my personal space bubble - *shudder*
I get a little nervous when there's turbulence, but for the most part I'm fine. My biggest problem is boredom on longer flights. I like flying during the day so I can look out the window.
OK, I'm probably to old to take up this hobby at 39, but I just started skydiving this year. After 2 tandem jumps I'm hooked! Solo lessons to come. :)
ANYWAY... There is a quote they use that I had to share: "If riding in a plane is flying, then riding in a boat is swimming. To experience the element, get out of the vehicle!"
There should be a different poll for 'flying with kids'. My vote would be very different...
A *comforting* thought for me is to think that I am more likely to die in a car accident then on a plane flight.
I love to fly, and I flew a lot before I got married (9 1/2 years ago). Since marriage, I've been on a plane 4 times...to our honeymoon and back and to New York City and back to try out for Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Pop Culture edition. The New York City trip I took with my then 8-month-old son and I had some anxiety about both of us going down in a fiery crash, but after take-off on the first leg to Cincinatti, I remember praying that God would calm me down and I actually had the thought, "If we do go down, I won't feel anything and J.J. and I will be whooshed off to Heaven, so it's not that bad." I calmed down after that. Until we were on our way home and got to Atlanta for our lay-over, found our flight was cancelled, switched our last leg to another flight, then realized that my son's carseat was checked and our luggage didn't get switched so I was stuck in a different town an hour away from our hometown with no way of getting my son away from the airport!
I use to be a white knuckle flyer until my children moved so far away I had to fly to see them. On each flight I started praying, "Father God, I am your child whether I am in the air or on the ground. Please watch over me." and a peace comes over me that gets me through the smooth and not so smooth flights.
SERIOUSLY 20 thousand 833 votes as of saturday the 9th... You have that many readers... good lord... i feel so lost inthe sea of blogland.... WOW...
Flying used to be great but all the security and hassle really puts me off. It's a pain in the *** having to get there two hours ahead of time so you can go through security. And at a really busy airport, you need about 4 hours to ensure you make your flight. Frankly, I'd rather take a road trip now.
It's not just that flying doesn't bother me; I LOVE flying. I even think turbulence is kind of fun.
I also love airports. They're better'n Disneyworld.
I don't mind flying itself, it's the take-off and landing that bother me. The pilot is then DRIVING the plane. So flying in the plane is okay; being in it when the plane is being driven kind of freaks me out.
Love to travel, not so much to fly. I agree there should be something between mild and strong. With self-hypnosis I've learned to get past the total fear, the kind that had me gripping the armrests and leaving the plane exhausted from my terror, or requiring a chemical intervention. Now, I try to occupy myself during takeoff (reading, or resting) and am generally OK during the flight. However, as soon as we hit turbulence, I have to remind myself that I'm OK, and I do find myself looking to the front of the plane for reassurance that the nose is either level or pointed up. For my 50th birthday my husband booked us on a helicopter flight on Kauai. I decided to face my fear of that kind of flying too. All I can say is, I spent a lot of time looking at the ground saying "we could put down right there if we had a problem." Helicopters are not really in my future if I have any choice, but I'm grateful to my therapist that I can fly to some of the wonderful places in the world and not arrive destroyed emotionally.
I have never set foot on a plane. Went to Graceland with a friend about 20 years ago and could not even make myself walk onto his former plane. Would love to try it one day, but would have to be so tranquilized that I would need someone to carry me on-board and off. That wouldn't be good. They'd kick me off before I ever even got on.
I don't like flying, but can do it (it's much better if my kids are with me, I guess I want us to all go down instead of my kids being left motherless). BUT I canNOT drive over a long bridge.
This is why God gave us tranquilizers - He knew we needed them to fly and take closed MRIs!
Flying isn't so bad - its the waiting to get off. I'm claustrophobic so being trapped in a seat surrounded by people milling about and no way to climb over them - that's the scary part. I try to sit near the front and on the aisle so I can stand up quickly. It would help if they didn't turn off the airflow - as long as I can breathe moving air, I seem to be ok.
The airport scares me - not the flight - I am usually so excited to get where I am going and so happy to be sitting that I forget the fears - beside I can't show fear with the little ones around...Mommy's strong!
Love B
LOVE FLYING - dislike airport security, dislike people who carry belongings in a hefty trash bag
My fear of flying has nothing to do with the actual flying part...My fear is from claustrophobia being "trapped" on the plane, in your seat, the bathroom facilities are limited and I am afraid to get stuck on the runway for hours unable to get off.
It's not the flying that scares me...It's the potential for falling out of the sky and hitting the ground that scares me. My husband is in the Army and had to be flown around quite a bit on Blackhawks while in Iraq. He said now all his fears of flying are gone; he came to terms with the idea that his life will end when it's meant to end and not before. That little epiphany helped him, although I can't really say the same for me. It neither allayed my fear of "falling out of the sky" nor did it make me any more peaceful about his service while deployed! But it worked for him. ...All that to say, I fly only when absolutely necessary. Oh, and my husband made it home, safe and sound. :)
Here is what comforts me about flying: Pilots have to go through a LOT of training to get their pilot's license.
Here is what disturbs me about driving: Any idiot can get a driver's license - and then text while driving down the road that they are sharing with me and my family!
I'll take a plane any day.
I have a funny story about flying. I flew with my bowling team (and some other teams) to bowl in a National Tournament in Reno, NV. We traveled from PA to Calif. and had to take a smaller plane to Reno. We boarded the plane and kept waiting for take-off - it was a long wait. Finally, the pilot got on the loudspeaker and told us that they had to remove the bowling balls (many girls had two in their double bag) and fly them in another plane because there was too much weight for the plane to take off. Boy! Talk about being nervous after that!!! But the trip turned out great and I won some money in the tournament, and also got to go hang gliding while I was there - so the trip turned out to be fun after all - and our bowling balls were delivered to our hotel at 2 AM in the morning the day before the tournament started. PS: I'm a white knuckle flyer without problems!!!!
I don't mind flying but I do get nervous with the take off and landing.
i would really love to hear how you conquered your fear of flying. mine is getting worse as i get older. Please share!!
What!? I am shocked at the results so far! My main fear of flying is leaving my children behind without a mother.
No fear , AND, my son is a commercial aviation major in college. He earned his private pilot's license at age 18. He's now working on his instrument ratings.
I'm glad you've conquered it, Ree. Now let's not talk about my fear of falling (not heights, falling).
About 6-8 years ago, for whatever reason, I had an irrational fear of flying. I think it developed after a long period of not flying and chatting with those who were also petrified.
About 5 years ago, I was required to travel quite a bit for work. Each time I went up in the plane, I became more at ease until finally I was no longer afraid. Now Ill go anywhere.
If you would take one flying lesson you would not be afraid of flying. It is one of the most wonderful experience and powerful feeling of control! Seriously, you would love it too.
Flying is no fun anymore but I'm not afraid of it. It's just a big pain in the butt. Cramming too many people into too small a space with uncomfortable seats and too much carry-on stuff. No food. Surly flight attendants (not that I blame them), Grumpy, nasty passengers. Back in the day, it was an adventure! People were happy and excited. They dressed up to fly! Stewardesses were nice. Seats were comfy. Sigh! I miss that kind of flying.
I had a couple of bad flights many years ago - lots, I mean LOTS of turbulance - we plowed through a thunderstorm and even the stewards were required to stay seated and belted. Once, when we landed, it sounded as if the tail hit the runway and from then on I have never been able to fly - luckily I have not HAD to fly and my sweetheart will not fly either so we are compatible that way! I admire those that love to fly tho!
You need an "I love flying!" option.
I'm really only afraid of the TSA, so for that reason I don't fly on big commercial planes. HOWEVER my hubby and I own a small Cessna, and we fly everywhere we need to. TOTALLY FUN, you should try it.
I've been flying since I was a little girl and still travel for work on a fairly regular basis. I don't like landing, but there are other parts of flying that scare me more - like the pain I experience when my ears won't pop or the panic that sets in when I realize the chances of making my connecting flight are slim to none.
My view is that when your time is up...it doesn't matter whether you're in your big fluffy armchair at home or in a plane, you're done. Also, for me flying means I'm on another adventure, I love to travel & see new places so if I do crash, I hope it's on the way home...that way I'll have been on an adventure & 99.9% of the time happy as can be. It's attitude.
I absolutely love to fly. I always have from my very first flight. Maybe there were 3 exceptions. 1. When I flew with my first husband in a teeny tiny plane into Washington National for the very first time. I wasn't worried until I watched him continue to try to wiped the sweat off his hands so he could grip the wheel. 2. When we flew to Germany to live. My youngest was 5 and he threw up all over first class. 3. When the boys and I flew back to the States after my husband left us for his German tutor - I could not stop crying.
Yeah. I was a travel agent for years, and I got tons of free tickets. And I hated every minute that I had to fly! I still do. It wasn't until my husband made me sit down at his flight-simulator computer game, and MADE ME PLAY, that I finally let go of some of my anxiety. It helped when he showed me how planes work, how they lift, and why an airplane *wants* to be in the air. Now I can fly under unavoidable circumstances, such as crossing the pond, and attending weddings and new babies, etc.
I was never afraid of flying until I had children. Now there is just so much to loose should something happen. And when my husband I fly together, that's worse and when our kids our with us, that's 1,000 times worse!
I went from loving to fly, to being terrified of flying because of one really bad flight. So for years I would get physically sick whenever I had to fly somewhere. Then I had a major car accident that flipped my VW Cabrio (with the top down) up in the air and around 3 times before landing on a median strip in the grass... I only broke my arm! I was black and blue for a VERY long time, but came out ok.
As I was lying on the backboard waiting to be taken to the hospital I heard the EMT saying, "Come on...where's my bird?" and I realized they were going to take me in a helicopter! I panicked and started begging her not to put me on a helicopter, "I'm afraid of flying, please don't put me on a helicopter!' Then she said the words that put an end to my fear of flying... "Honey, if you were going to die today, you'd be dead now!"
I figured God wouldn't spare me from the car accident to blow me up in a fiery helicopter crash, which led to the realization that when and how we die is very much out of our control so enjoy the ride!
I find take off exhilarating.
HATE flying!!!! On my very first flight at 10 years old, I begged my parents to take a train - they made my fly. The flight was uneventful, but the entire thing was like horror for me! I've made myself fly a handful of times over the years, but I had to get prescription meds to do it, and even they barely make it comfortable. Now I have a 10 year old daughter who will not get on a plane (and I never let her know of my fear). Poor thing she even has a hard time on the subway and elevators.
Driving to the airport is much more dangerous than flying.
I flew a ton from 6 or so into my twenties, international jaunts as well as USA. Only in my mid twenties did I become a bit nervous about flying. I started to get some side effects from landings and it's not every flight or predictable in any way. I still do it and love to go places but the flight itself is now more of a vague feeling of dread instead of non-issue. My mom lives in the UK so I not flying isn't an option and I only fly for maximum of 3 trips a year so I just deal and try to yawn like a mofo on the landings.
Oh and my best friend from HS still reminds me every time I see her how much I freaked her out when I went to the UK at 14 and told her I was pretty sure my plane would crash.
A fear of flying seems totally natural even though it is far safer than driving but really - how unnatural is it to hurdle yourself through space in a metal tube? It freaks me out but not so much that I won't fly. Getting to Hawaii or Mexico in the middle of a drab Seattle winter is worth the ulcer inducing anxiety.
oh, and a big THANK YOU to the man who talked to me for an hour and a half to calm me down from above mentioned humdinger of a panic attack. He was a gift from God.
Congrats!
Ten years ago I developed a fear of flying...among other things like tunnels. I sucked it up and got over it. That process took years. I was fine for seven or eight years. Then I had a panic attack on a cross country flight. I had to fly the next week and cried the whole way. My anxiety came back full force. I avoided flying when I could but there were some trips I had to take. I took pills.
Then I decided to move overseas. Hey, it was a dream. It was time. I took nine flights where I freaked out the whole way to the airport but was fine on the plane. Then, I had a humdinger of a panic attack two and a half hours into an eight hour flight. Hmmph.
I could say more about how the anxiety isn't really about flying and how it's more related to other areas of my life which I can usually do something about or distract myself from but when I'm in a big metal box miles above anything I panic.
What I will say is that I know it will pass. I would like it to be sooner than later. And, until then, I would prefer to not fly without someone I know siting next to me holding my hand.
If someone reading this suffers from flight anxiety. It does get better. It does go away. Just do it. Do it with medication if you need to. Get out there and don't let it hold you back. You're not alone.
I used to fly all the time as a kid, as a teenager, as a college student...to Hawaii, Mexico, Colombia, Las Vegas...and then one time after a nasty return flight from LV, I developed a phobia to flying...and i haven't flown in years.
When I went to Hawaii on vacation in college, I cried so hard I almost couldn't get on the plane. I called my dad and told him how much I loved him. The whole takeoff was petrifying, but once we were safely up there in the skies, I was fine. Still, I try to avoid it as best I can. I'm still trying to convince my dad to take the QEII to Europe next year. It isn't working.
My first ever flight, August of 1979, I was 22 years old and I flew from Greenville, SC to Milwaukee, WI--I don't know if I laid over anywhere lol. The boy (20's) who sat next to me asked me this one and only question (it could have been my answer)--"Do you like to get high?" My answer: "Only when I'm flying," which could be interpreted in so many ways as I'm of the 3% who said ENORMOUS, I never fly, but if I do, being high, however that feels in a drug induced condition would be my "druthers."
I get sick to my stomach thinking about flying. The last time I flew, I was 3 months pregnant. Spent the descent in the bathroom and got yelled at by the flight attendant when I came out.
Flying is fine. Airports, connections, and TSA all suck.
I'm a flight attendant...it would be a problem if it bothered me LOL
I've never flown, but I don't know how I'd could enjoy it. I think I'd be afraid of getting sick the whole time! :)
There are only two things I absolutely HATE about flying: going up and coming down. Otherwise I'm just fine with it.
LOVE love love love love love love to fly. LOVE IT.
I've flown in commercial planes since age 7, flew with daddy's friends at 13, flew alone when I was 18. I've flown in air shows on a Breezy, a frame of a plane, seat in the open air, dressed as Snoopy. Tied into the seat because there was no seatbelt. I've done loops and rolls in autumn over coloured leaves in crisp morning air. I've dreamed of dancing on cotton clouds all my life. And I live to fly.
And my husband is a sailor, adores sailing. Uck.
I was never scared of flying and we flew a lot whe I was a kid. Then came the flight from hell. Basically we were stuck in a thunderstorm from London to Singapore. The plane nearly didn't make it off the ground at Heathrow (seriously, I saw the stripes on the runway that signal its ending and when we finally made it up we hit some kind of turbulence and dropped a got bit. And that was the harmels part. The fasten seatbelt sign was pretty much on for the entire flight (I know, now they never switch the thing off and tell you to buckle up the entire time you're in your seat but that was way back when you were still allowed to go to the pilot for a chat) Anyway, the plane shook so bad I could see inside the walls. I am not kidding. Some of the overhead compartments fell open during take off and some fell open during the flight.
We landed in Singapore, I got off the plane and told my boyfriend "Tha's it. We're going to live here. Or maybe walk back to germany. But I am not getting back on the plane." It took two airport staff guys and some british Airways crewmembers to convince me that the last leg of the trip would be better before I got back on the plane. We were going to Melbourne, which is my home away from home. There is no place on the planet I'd rather be than there, so you know how terrified I was of flying.
Now, year and years later, we flew to Austria to visit my parents. (Train 10 hours and changig trains twice, flying 2 hours. Me and two kids. With a LOT of luggage). The flight there was kind of ok. Lots of sweating and pretending we wre still on the ground, but you know, no major crisis. The flight back was my last flight. I will never fly again. We hit turbulence while circling Cologne Airport. The stewardess was crying. My daughter (now 3) was yelling "woooah woooooah wooooah, wobbly!" then she went really quiet, lookd up and said "we're all falling down." Let me tell you, that is about the last thing you want to hear while you're stuck in turbulence with a crying stewardess and a plane that's shaking in eery possible direction. Next time we're taking the train, even if it'll take 24 hours and 12 train changes and I have enough luggage to fill a van. Anything but getting on a plane.
I am just happy that I haven't passed my phobia on to my kids. It's been really hard hiding it but some strong medication seems to do the trick! The girls just think Mommy is extra tired when she travels. Hehehe.
My dad was an airline pilot for 30 some years. We flew a (whole) lot over the years. I am terrified of flying. I think it is about control. In a plane, there is absolutely NOTHING that I can do to change the outcome. I think about that fact in the days before, the morning of and 100% of the time that we are in the air. It's not fun, but I can't turn off those thoughts, so I avoid flying whenever possible.
I conquered my fear of water (somewhat) by actually driving my snowmobile on a frozen lake last winter.
Do not ask me about ferris wheels though....
I love to fly. Love, love, love it. Well, I'm not crazy about the take-offs and landings. But once I'm above the clouds I feel as though I'm in heaven. At least until we land. It's the nutty airports, endless regulations, officious officials, not enough leg room, ghastly airport food, no snacks even, Jeez Louise. That's what I hate about flying.
I used to CRY during every takeoff and landing - business trip or not. But one year I flew so many times, I just got over it. I still pray my socks off but I'm no longer terrified. Thank God - it was embarrassing to my husband when we would go on a business trip and there was his professional wife tear dropping next to him.
I dread flying and would be happy to never do it again, although I love to travel. I know, that's nuts.
But, since I'm an Army wife, flying is part of life and I can't avoid it!
My dad was a pilot, he flew small planes (cessna) and I was never scared and did fine while flying with him. However, when I fly on a big plane (which has only happened a hand full of times) I get really nervous and kind of scared. I would rather drive in the car for hours to get somewhere.
My parents were born in different countries so my first flight was at 6 months old to visit grandparents. When I was 6, we began a 6+ year stint as ex-pats on the other side of the world. Flying isn't exotic or strange when it becomes the only way to see family. I still feel funky about boats, but I think that is the seasickness talking.
I used to have a fear of flying....until I did it! Now I'm not scared of flying. It's the possibility of the unexpected and sudden stopping that occurs when the plane crashes that I fear.
I always loved to fly growing up. My family traveled quite a bit so I've flown a lot over the years. After 9/11 I started getting just a little uneasy flying but I was still fine for the most part. When I was about 5 months pregnant with my daughter in 2005, my husband and I were on a flight and an elderly man got very disoriented and tried to open the plane door...while we were in the air. The flight attendants freaked out. People actually wrestled him to the ground (poor man). I didn't know it was an elderly man initially or what the circumstances were so I, of course, was completely freaked out and scared. Ever since then I've really dreaded flying. Unfortunately my family lives all over the country so I can't just NOT fly, but I still don't like it.
I think you need another choice between mild and strong. Now that I have a husband and five kids, flying makes me nervous b/c of the what if? However, other than that, I'm ok with it.
When I turned 50 I stopped being afraid of the dentist (a BIG accomplishment) and coincidentally, flying. Prior to that time I was only slightly short of terrified. I think the fact that my *little* children were nearly grown had something to do with that. If I died they would get along fine whereas before they would be left sadly alone.
I get such a delighted charge out of the fact that this enormous, multi-ton metal POD becomes airborne because of a change in AIR pressure to the wings. Love it love it love it. I love to fly. If I had a second life, I would be a pilot.
The slightest bit of turbulence has me hyperventilating and grabbing on to whoever happens to be unlucky enough to be closest to me. Flying scares the livin' pee outta me and I've discovered I'm happiest when I don't have any flights scheduled in the future. Right now I have one at the end of November and I'm just trying not to think about it!
I've never had a fear of flyinig. It was always something I longed to be able to do. Now here I am 20 or so flights later and I'm not scared but I have developed airplane sickness. My last flight I spent puking in the TINY bathroom. It was not fun.
I DREAD it and avoid it when possible (and voted as such) but I have to fly for work sometimes ... so I do!
I dread it, but has been a necessary evil for a long time. I lived in Alaska for a looong time so if you want to go anywhere, it's on a plane!
I dread flying, but my husband absolutely loves it, so much so that he's been taking flying lessons and is one written test away from having his pilot's license. I'm so scared FOR him that he has to send me a text or call as soon as he lands, otherwise I start to panic.
I have a pretty strong fear. I get anxious and nervous and I have to take a chill pill, literally, before I can go up. Otherwise I wonder the entire time what the heck is going to happen when the plane crashes. Not if, when. And how do we get out cause we are all stuck inside.....!!!
I don't hate the actual flying part, it's the before and after that I hate. Going to the city, airports, security, sitting on the tarmac, what's safe to pack, where's the gate, etc. So, I just don't fly. There aren't too many places I need to go that I can't drive, so, no flying.
I don't have a fear of flying at all, I just get so uncomfortable! I can never sleep either so long-haul flights are such a chore!
I love flying. I actually get super excited to get on a plane. Once on the plane, I settle down so I don't offend other passengers though :P A friend of mine hates flying because she's super type A personality and can't cope with the fact that she is not in control when in a plane. She actually has to tranquilize herself!
I lived overseas for six years. It did much to help me conquer my fear. I mean deal with my fear. I mean figure out my happy place and go there in my head when I fly.
I said "mild," but in reality it's just take-off that bothers me. I know that landing is even more dangerous, so lord knows why that doesn't scare me, but I'm fine once I'm in the air -- it's getting there that scares me half to death!
Yuck. Yuck. Yuck. Flying makes me feel horrible. Like a humongous metal ball sinking in my stomach. Forever sinking and then resurfacing and then sinking again is the metal ball when I am flying. A slightly smaller metal ball when I am just thinking about flying. I am definitely on the far end of flight haters.
Ree: You missed one answer in your poll.
I LOVE to fly.. that is my high in life. I could be flying to the middle of Kansas and be SOOO excited. Get me on an international flight (which has happened a total of 2 times) and I just get all giddy.. it's almost as better as the trip itself.
I've never been on a plane or even to an airport so I have no idea on the scariness rating of flight.
I really enjoy flying! But, it still scares me...