Fear of flying

[bright.ton42]

Im' just wondering if anyone has, or knows of someone , who has done the Fear of Flying Course .  I flew a lot when I was younger but a few years ago developed this hateful phobia and refused to fly anywhere, which is so limiting.  For Christmas  I've been invited to stay with friends up at Cairns which I'd love to do and the flight from Melbourne is 4 hours. Right now the thought makes me want to throw up, so I'm considering doing the course though it doesn't come cheap. 

In the past I once got as far as crossing the tarmac to the plane , and ended up not getting on it and taking the train home which was 3 days, that's how crazy I am.

Anyway would love some feedback on this course if possible.

[imastawka]

Bright,  I have never flown - and never will.    I feel sick at the thought of it.

I've avoided all attempts to get me on a plane so far.

Maybe enough Valium will help.

Or just catch the damn train.

[tasfleur]

Bright, I totally agree with Stawks, why not considering taking the train?  It will take longer, but you will feel 'grounded' and at the same time, be able to enjoy the magnificent views of the Australian countryside ..  

[lyndal1838]

Yep, I agree....take the train.

I used to fly regularly to Port Mcquarie when I was younger but as I get older I would much prefer to go at a slower pace and enjoy the scenery.

[janeababe]

hypnotherapy might be cheaper.  

I think with age, these fears tend to sneak in a lot more.
I've never had any concerns about being at heights... yet now, heights scare me. (eg: climbing up ladders to get on the roof, looking over balconies on the 34th floor! etc)

Best of luck with your trip.....  one way or another, you'll get there. Safe is better than scared IMO though

xxj

[bright.ton42]

Thanks all very much for your feedback, and I'm glad others feel the same as me ....  well not glad but you know what I mean.  Some ppl try to play that 'all you need is willpower' line but doesn't work for me. You've really convinced me that it's just not worth the effort and bluddy sheer panic in doing it, and from what I can make out the train might be pleasant,  I've always liked train travel.

Janeababe I doubt that hypnotherapy would work for me as I tried it once for something and was left totally unmoved.  😞

And yes, since I'm older I'm now  scared of heights too, though with flying it's not the height just the whole thing of being out of control. Anyway I'm feeling much better about things and think that  now I may have a happy Christmas after all.  

[ecar3483]

I much prefer train travel to planes.

For starters the photos I take through the window are much more interesting...

🙂

[johcaschro]

I fear that I will never fly again . . . because the experience will be too darned uncomfortable.

In an effort to pack in more paying customers the plane-seat size has been considerably reduced and  (curiously) my tolerance for a continuous period of torture over eighteen hours or so has been reduced with it.

http://fortune.com/2015/09/12/airline-seats-shrink/ and that's just one of the many stories about this disgraceful, though profitable-for-them-though-not-for-us practice of the airline companies.

and all this hassle about not being able to take on board even a plastic bottle full of water or a bottle of shampoo (not that I'd want to drink that even though it might be of better palatability than airplane coffee)

The world's gone mad and there's no way I'd go up in a plane again with all their prurient rules about full body scanners, and racial profiling (every time lately when I go to an airport I have been pulled aside and been subject to a statedly "random" scan with weird electronic wand-type  instruments which apparently reassure the scanning persons that I am not in fact, an explosive device masquerading as a real live human being.

And this when I wasn't even attempting to board a plane!

It's happened to me three times out of three so far.

and don't even ask me or get me started about the quality of airplane food . . . just the thought's enough to make me airsick.

No. no more flying for me. The product which is now offered does not suit my requirements and is certainly not a product which I desire. (given the aforesaid circumstances)

In fact it is one which I will strive in future to never utilise again.