Fear of flying

golok

golok

Joined
Oct 20, 2000
Messages
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Personally, I love travelling on planes but a friend is suffering from an irrational fear of flying across the oceans.
Thus, for years he has turned down numerous free trips overseas.

My guess is there is a fair number of people out there who harbour the fear of flying but prefer to keep it to themselves for fear of being laughed at.

Is there any treatment for fear of flying? I am seeking a reasonable cure for my colleague's condition.
 
It was a great book by Erica Jong. It was a bit erotic, but I'm not sure what there is to be afraid of?

John
 
Golok,

As you say, his fear is irrational. There is no cure for an irrational fear.

You could take his tickets, though!

maximus otter
 
There are a couple of programs that seem to provide good results by using a gradual de-sensitization procedure; I'm sure they wouldn't be cheap.
 
Myself, I can't stand to fly. But, it's more of a claustrophobic kinda thing, that an actual fear of flying thing. I just don't like being cramped up in a little(airplanes were not designed for tall people) space. But, as long as the flight is not more than a couple of hours, I can deal with it. I just make sure I'm tired before getting on, so that I can sleep, and put on my headphones and listen to some Pink Floyd, usually "Wish you were here". :)
 
Maybe I'm weird, but whenever we go on a plane for vacation, I get excited and look forward to the plane rides. It certainly helps to keep me from being too disappointed when it's already time to go home :D Actually being in the airport is another issue :mad: :barf:

You chose the wrong time to be talking a friend out of flight-fear. With the terrorist threat being in the back of everyone's minds, it can only make their fears worse.

Your best bet is to relentlessly try to persuade him, and then get some form of a sedative...alcoholic or otherwise.
 
I love to fly. Here's what you do to help your friend; Next time you two need to fly together, after you are both seated, and when no-one is looking, punch your friend hard enough in the head to knock him out, cover his face with a large hat, then just wake him up after the plane lands.:D.:D.

(I saw it in a movie once, so I KNOW that it'll work.:D.).
 
Take a lesson. Most airports offer a $49 introductory flight. Everyone is amazed at how hard it is to get a plane down when all power is cut. I think it makes most people more comfortable to see that the plane won't fall out of the sky without power. In august 2002 a fully loaded Airbus lost all it's fuel and was able to glide over 20 minutes and cover more than 70 miles with no engines and only backup power and landed safely on an island.

You can also cover all the standard statistics about how unlikely it is for anything bad to happen compared to being struck by lightning, drowning in a bathtub, or choking to death on a hot dog.

On the other hand, the prospects of surviving a ditch into water with a jumbo jet are pretty low.
 
Here's something for you to think about:

I don't like flying on commercial jets but really like private jets.

For me, it's a control thing. Hate relenquishing the control to somebody else whom I've never met and am just supposed to blindly trust their abilities and decision-making skills. Plus, they're way up at the front, out of sight, etc.

One time a stewardess told us that the pilot was a former fighter pilot that flew ______(fill in the blank)______ . Anyway - that did not help at all. Just made it worse for me and the landing was indeed too fast and a bit rough.

I used to hate landings - nearly made me sick. Getting better now.

Still don't like to fly - prefer to be connected to the ground.
 
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