Flying Without Fear. Seminar & DVD

I was lucky enough to be invited through www.flyingwithoutfear.com the chance to attend a seminar, which included a flight hosted by Keith who wanted to make a DVD to help people like me. As I was still so keen to beat my fear, I jumped at the chance. I know I had already been on one of these, but I knew through reading the website over the prior months that there was the support network available, which I felt was missing the last time. It was also a chance to meet Keith and other people who had been posting their own concerns on the site too - you know put some faces to names. The DVD is available to buy by the way, if you check out the website.

So attended the seminar. This time it was a smaller, more intimate group and I didn't feel swamped by so many people. Looking at Keith's blog I can see that the intention is to run more of these, so keep your eyes pealed, as I highly recommend it.

During the seminar I was quite quiet, just listening to explanations and putting them into perspective. People had lots of questions that were easily answered by Keith. We listened to some sounds of the aeroplane, saw clips of airports - all of which were designed to normalise the process we have to go through. Airports are intimidating and sometimes it looks like chaos, but as Keith reassured us there are many things behind the scenes going on. We just don't see it and it makes the airport a very slick operation. It's everyone's intention to make the airport and aircraft extremely safe.

When it came to the flight I was withdrawn whilst waiting in the departure lounge. I was gathering my thoughts. Some people seemed OK on the outside, but I'm sure on the inside they weren't. I can't help but show how I'm feeling and I was quite tearful. We all handle things in different ways. When I boarded I had an urge to get off due to feeling claustrophobic and I could feel a panic attack coming on, but with the support from - believe it or not, other fearful passengers I was calmed down and remained in my seat. During take off I was crouched in my seat - almost bracing myself for the worse. I felt panic and honestly thought I was going to die. Keith kept reassuring us and told me to open my eyes and relax. The pilot but the wheels down whilst we were up. This helped as we could hear the sound it made and could also hear the change in engine noise due to the drag of the wheels, which was explained to us to try and not make us feel frightened. All of which were normal sounds, where as if I heard anything in the past I thought it meant disaster. It was good to finally understand.

Afterwards I felt amazing! This little group all together had got through the flight.

Fear of Flying. Keep Trying

Hello

After my failed attempt at going on holiday, all my confidence was lost! I felt I would never be able to spend the money, to risk bottling it again. I looked on the net and saw that an airline offered a course for people like me - which included a flight. So I booked on. Have you ever gone on one of these? How did you find it? I found that the course wasn't for me. There must of been 100+ people there. Not very personal at all. I did manage to do the flight, although I was hysterical and felt I was going to die. But as I had actually got on a plane again, I thought I could do it so booked another holiday. I must say that I've been very determined to overcome this - something else you need to be!! Try not to hide away from your fear. Be strong, relax, realise it's not easy, but don't beat yourself up about it. You're not alone and there are people like me that understand and have been there too!

Anyway this time I flew to Majorca (panic attacks on the plane this time). Unfortunately therefore all holiday I was a mess - very anxious at the thought of getting on the plane to come back. Consequently I didn't and came back overland, 3 days before I was meant to. So the course hadn't 'cured' me. Thinking back I see why - there was no other support network. Once the course was over, that was it! I felt like someone on a conveyor belt, rattled through and sent off on my way. I think support is vital when making the steps to overcome your fear. A few hours as a faceless person wasn't enough.

I then decided to attempt a city break to Dublin - nice and close. But I cancelled the trip 2 days before going. I couldn't sleep, kept fantasising that something horrific was going to happen and worried about how I would react on the plane. So as I'm sure you can imagine, now I felt like I couldn't go anywhere incase I didn't make it there or back.

This is when I searched the net again in 2004 and found www.flyingwithoutfear.com and I've not looked back! I saw that there was a forum where people had posted their fears, concerns, worries etc. It was the support network I felt I needed where people understood me and knew what I meant. People like me offering tips and advise. Also a retired pilot called Keith ran it, who could answer some technical questions, who had many, many flying hours under his belt offering support too. I decided to post aswell - I had nothing to loose. I wasn't all that involved in the website at the beginning. I was still dubious that nothing now was going to work! But I kept looking at the site every now and then. But then all was about to change......

I tell you what - having this fear has been exhausting. At times I've felt my mind was going to blow. I've felt very alone, scared, angry and couldn't see any light at the end of the tunnel although I kept trying. But believe me - you can do it like I have. I've got to dash, but will be back to tell you how things changed.

Fay

Fear of Flying. How My Fear Started

Well here I am and I thought I would start with a brief post on me and where this fear of flying started.

I had jetted off for my holidays all my life and always loved it - looked out the window, enjoyed the sensations, even looked forward to coming home because I was able to go on a plane again. It just didn't bother me in the slightest. But one year I went on holiday with a girl who had a fear. Because she was so petrified and was saying things that I had never thought about, I could feel it kinda rubbing off on me! My mind was going into over drive. These awful thoughts about flying and these feelings I was having, I had never had or experienced before and they where just coming in from nowhere.

The following year I went on a holiday and could feel that angst creeping in again. I did it, although I was uncomfortable on the flight and strangely kept my fingers in my ears so I couldn't hear the noises. Something I hadn't done before. I also noticed that I was watching the cabin crew constantly, just in case I saw them looking as if something abnormal was going on.

When I was 24 (I'm 30 now), I went to go on holiday with some friends. During the run up to the trip, I could feel these feelings and hear these thoughts again. I started to think that something awful would happen if I got on the plane or I would embarrass myself by crying, screaming even and just generally making a fool of myself. No one wants a panic attack, so I felt I didn't want to put myself in a position where I could have one. This time I got as far as the check in desk and wouldn't go any further. I'd just built it up and my ''fear of flying'' had got a hold! The girls went off without me and I went home. But the relief I felt at not having to do it was immense!

As your here reading this, I'm sure you feel or have felt at some point the same as me. My next post will be of how I started to try to overcome this and hopefully you too can get to where I am today.

Fay

Hi from Fay

Hi, I'm Fay and my blog is about how you too can overcome your fear of flying. You can see me below (I'm the one with dark hair) in the DVD we made with the team at flyingwithoutfear.com