Flying for first time in 20 years

[DudeMan27]

My friend is getting married in 2 weeks and the best man, unbeknownst to the rest of us, booked us each a flight to Boston, MA to hang out for the weekend for the bachelor party. Most of the guys going are military and fly overseas very regularly so it is nothing for them. I have only been on a plane twice in my life, in the 2nd grade, roughly 20 years ago. I don't know if I'm really afraid to fly, or just uneasy because I have almost no experience with it. I'm just not sure how I'll feel once I board. I've found myself within the past year having mild anxiety attacks when I'm stuck in gridlock traffic where I'm surrounded by cars not moving, and have no idea when I'll be able to get out. Even sometimes taking a long trip with my friends, if I didnt drive, I'd have a feeling of minor anxiety because I'd think, I have no control over where I go because I dont have my car here.

 

I first realized this last winter on a ski trip. I went a few times on the ski lift (about a 20 minute ride) but all the sudden one day I skipped going because I got some anxiety thinking about being stuck up there with no control over where I go. I couldn't get out if I wanted to. At least in a car I could pull over if something happend or I started not to feel well.

 

So I'm really worried about this flight. Sitting there, no control over anything, on top of basically never flying before. ( i was really too young to think about it last time) I really don't know what to do. Sometimes I'm really nervous, and others I calm down becuase I'll be with my friends who are so used to it. I just dont want to sit there strapped in just before take off and get that "oh crap get me off this plane" feeling.

 

Does anyone have any relaxation tips for flying or sleep medicine I could take, or maybe just some flying tips period? I would really appreciate it. The flights are only a few hours but I'd rather talk it out with a few people to hopefully ease my nerves. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

[norajane]

After take-off, it pretty much feels like sitting on your couch for a couple of hours. Really, you'll be bored more than anything else. For me, the take-offs are the fun part. The rest...pure boredom. Take-off feels like a car picking up speed until the wheels leave the ground...then it feels a little weightless as the jet rises...then, couch time.

 

Bring a mystery novel, or something engaging to read. Or watch a movie on your laptop. Or bring your ipod. You'll be with friends, so you may not need those things to kill the boredom.

 

Don't think too much about it. It seems as though when you think too much about it ahead of time is when you develop anxiety. When you find yourself thinking about it, just let it go - think about the bachelor party weekend or the last time you had sex or whatever.

 

They'll give you beverages on the plane. Soft drinks, coffee, tea, etc. are free. You have to pay for any alcohol. They won't feed you on the plane, unless it's a cross-country flight, so eat before you fly or you'll be hungry especially if there are delays. Bring snacks in your carry-on - granola bars, fruit, raisins, whatever is easy to eat.

 

Bring a sweater or sweatshirt - it can be chilly in flight..or hot...depending on how they set the cabin temp. You can ask the flight attendants to change the temp if it's too hot or cold. You can roll your sweater into a sausage and drape it around your neck to support your head - like those U-shaped travel pillows - if you plan to sleep. Seats don't recline much, and pillows and blankets are scarce on flights these days unless you're in first class.

 

Oh, and bring earplugs if you plan to sleep, or the ipod! The last thing you need is some crying baby or loud talker/laugher in the row behind you and no earplugs!

 

If you are really worried, ask your doctor to prescribe a Valium for you. It's a mild sedative and will just calm you. A lot of frequent flyers take Ambien, but that's really due to changing time zones on frequent overseas flights, and you do need a doctor's prescription for it. You might want to try an over-the-counter sleeping pill if you think you need it.

 

Alcohol at 25,000 feet hits your system faster than on the ground, so don't suck down the drinks or you'll find yourself trashed sooner than you expect. One drink, on the other hand, might loosen you up enough to relax and have fun with your mates on the flight.

 

Honestly, don't make more of this in your mind than it is. It's just a big bus.

Edited July 22, 2010 by norajane

[westrock]

So I'm really worried about this flight. Sitting there, no control over anything,

 

Focus on the things where you have lots of control over... especially the parts that Norajane suggests (watching a movie, listening to music, reading a book). The flight will go by much faster if you keep busy compared to just staring at the ceiling. Also, planes today are much more safer with better systems on board to ensure a safe flight. Listen to the safety instructions they give at the start of the flight so that you can feel safe. Remind yourself that the pilot / co-pilots are professionals who have flown the same plane and same route many times.

 

One suggestion.. bring some chewing gum in case you feel a change in air pressure in your ears as the plane ascends or descends. Some people don't have any problem, but if you sense pressure in your ears, the mechanics of chewing a piece of gum will help equalize the pressure in your ears.

[DudeMan27]

Thanks for the advice guys. At times I'm really calm and saying "lets do this" and there have been times I've started getting anxious again. I keep trying to tell myself that two people I'm going with just flew back from Iraq, one just went back and forth to Tampa and Utah, and I know a ton of people that have flown recently.

 

Also, I wanted to apologize, when I posted I thought this forum said "General Discussion" I didnt know it was for relationship stuff.

[norajane]

Thanks for the advice guys. At times I'm really calm and saying "lets do this" and there have been times I've started getting anxious again. I keep trying to tell myself that two people I'm going with just flew back from Iraq, one just went back and forth to Tampa and Utah, and I know a ton of people that have flown recently.

 

3 million people worldwide fly every day. Yes - every day, 3 million people pack their suitcases, head to the airport, catch flights and fly somewhere.

 

That's equivalent to every single person in the city of Chicago getting on a plane every day and flying somewhere.

 

I used to work for a consulting firm, and probably have flown over 300,000 miles over the years, maybe more. My colleagues have many, many more miles flown - many of them get on a plane every week, or on multiple flights to multiple cities every week.

[Treasa]

It sounds like you have claustrophobia, which is what I have. You don't fear the safety of flying as much as you fear feeling trapped in a place from which you cannot escape.

 

The worst part for you will be the part where the flight attendant is closing the door, because that's the last moment you can choose to either stay or get off the plane. Trust me, once you make it past that part, you'll be fine.

 

Make sure to turn on the air thing overhead. That will give you a feeling of having plenty of oxygen. I would also do a progressive muscle relaxation both before you get on the plane and once you get on the plane. You can Google it if you aren't sure how progressive muscle relaxation works.

 

Definitely bring a book, iPod, something to entertain you.

 

Once you start taxiing down the runway, you'll be fine. Once you're in the air, you'll be fine.

 

The other part that may be stressful is at the end of the flight where people start to crowd you trying to get off the plane. If you haven't already made seat arrangements, try and sit as close to the front of the plane as possible, or in an exit row, and just remain calm and breathe.

[tman666]

Some Meclizine will probably help you keep chill. Take it about an hour before the flight.

 

If you're on a anything larger than an A319 (you can check the type of aircraft prior to the flight), you'll probably feel fine, especially if you're not in a window seat. Try getting an isle seat if you want a little more head room.

[DudeMan27]

THanks everyone for the advice. I'm back from my trip and did great. A little nervousness at times, but nowhere near what I thought I'd be like. It helped too that each flight was only around an hour each. There were times I couldn't stop looking at the view out the window. We got delayed for a while due to rain, dark clouds, and bad weather and just had to sit on the plane. It didnt bother me at all. And like Norajane said, i was more bored than anything. Not sure how i'd do on longer flights, or ones where I dont have my friends to joke around with the whole time, but it feels good that I handled it so much better than I thought I would. I kept thinking of the things said on here as well. So thanks again everyone.

[amerikajin]

I usually like to have a few drinks before I fly. I don't know if it's so much anxiety about crashing as it is the whole process of just getting on and getting in my seat.

[skydiveaddict]

Take a skydiving lesson before you go and you will instantly lose your fear of flying plus you will get the biggest rush of your life

Edited August 3, 2010 by skydiveaddict