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my upcoming flight/story of anxiety

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flyingJman	my upcoming flight/story of anxiety	Lead	[-]
Posts: 1 (05/12/08 21:54:51) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None Okay, so now I'm starting to have my "anticipatory flight anxiety" as of the last few nights. I used to love flying so much so that I used to want to be a pilot. I even took a few flying lessons some time ago. Then I had a massive and major panic attack on the red eye flight home from Las Vegas to Denver back in 2000. I didn't even get back on a plane again until 2004. I flew once that year and it was okay. Since then I've flown many times but it's been getting increasingly worse with each flight. I usually do take a Xanax before the flight and it does help me quite a bit. Last time I flew was in May 2007 and I tried doing it without the Xanax on a quick 2 hour flight (LAX to DEN). Midway into the flight, the turbulence was really bad and I started having a bad panic attack so I broke down and took a pill. I haven't flown since then but I've been determined to beat this, thus I'm here. I don't want to be limited by this fear any longer. I love to travel and see new places! I've been reading these boards for the past 6 months now and finally got the complete relief course for my Ipod. I'm only up to part 5 as of today and I'm flying this Thursday from Denver to Vancouver to visit my brother. He's lived up there for almost 3 years now and I have yet to visit him due to my anxiety. My girlfriend and I live in separate states now too so there will be much more flying coming up in the following months. I've been really nervous all week and now that Thursday is getting really close, my mind is racing. Down to the most ridiculous things too, it almost makes me laugh what the mind can conjure up. I hope to get through the rest of the courses in the next 2 days and be good to go for my flight. I really appreciate this board, and the services of SOAR, Capt. Tom and Steve, as well as all the people posting who are just like me in this regard. Please everyone, send me your strength and will power to do this!! Jason
Capt Tom Bunn MSW LCSW		#1	[-]
Posts: 2237 (05/13/08 06:12:38) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Jason, what you are doing is great. It reminds me of a neighbor who participated in the Olympics. He is a rower. He said rowing is all about being able to endure pain. As you practice, when pain builds up, you want to stop, but you need to press on and build endurance. As you race, when pain builds up, you want to stop, but you need to press on to win. And your competitor is doing the same them. He who can endure the most pain wins. When coming up against panic, you want to stop, but you keep going. That is championship stuff!!! When you get to clip 9, call me at 877 332-7359 so I can check how you are practicing the Strengthening Exercise. Once you get it right and get it installed, you can't panic. Sure, you will definitely get anticipatory anxiety which is telling you to stop. Press on. You will get the payoff and be so proud.
caflyer		#2	[-]
Posts: 2 (05/15/08 09:43:25) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I purposely put myself on a flight connecting both ways in Denver May 21st. I have heard this is a bumpy flight and i want to push myself to get through it. I feel that if I get through a bad flight I can go on to do more with less anxiety. I was on a bad flight 7 years ago and it has filled with me fear every time since that I have gotten on a plane. All flights after that bad one have been smooth and I still get scared, thinking the next one will be the bad one. I know i have to face my fear to get over it.

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Note from Capt. Tom

I know everyone worries about weather, but pilots really do not worry about it. We simply - instead of worrying about it - completely prepare for it. Before going to the plane, we review the weather at the destination. If it is not 100% sure to be within legal limits when we arrive at the destination, we must specify an alternate airport in our planning documents, and load on plenty of fuel for going to the destination airport, and then if need be, diverting to the alternate airport.

The legal limits are conservative. Even when weather is slightly outside the legal limits, any airline pilot could still land safely. You can rely on the captain never to land when the weather is not legal, and legality limits are reached prior to safety limits.

If you are still anxious, call me and we can talk it over. I'm at 877 332-7359 from 10 AM until 7 PM Eastern time.

For effective help, even if you are flying in a day or two, sign up now at www.fearofflying.com/fasttrack and call me when you finish Clip 9 so I can make sure you are all set.

Using Weather Information

If you enter your ZIP Code or City at the top of the weather presentation, it will give you weather for your area. Or, you can enter your destination ZIP Code or City.

Click on the "LOCAL RADAR" button to see whether or not there are thunder-
storms. Keep in mind, however, that we can either fly above the storms when cruising or fly through gaps between storms. During landing, we cannot fly above them, but fly through gaps, or through the area of the storms where the turbulence is least.

Turbulence, though it may cause anxiety, does not mean anything is wrong. Turbulence does not mean danger. The plane can handle far more turbulence than Mother Nature can dish out.

Though flying in turbulence is safe, it doesn't feel safe. And here is where the SOAR programs come in. We can help you feel as safe when you fly as you actually are.

You can see these programs at www.fearofflying.com/store.

For questions on aviation or the psychology of aerophobia, click here to e-mail Capt. Tom Bunn, MSW, LCSW.

To contact the SOAR business office (media contacts, brochures, replacement tapes, billing, shipping), click here to e-mail Lisa Hauptner, MS.