Your Success Stories & Testimonials Page 3

A selection of your success stories about how you have overcome the fear of flying. Post us your story>

I have been on quite a few flights over the last few years and all went well. Still get nervous but nothing at all like it used to be. I even took 30 ladies on a shopping trip to Melbourne without my husband holding my hand. That was a big test for me and it was easy as.

The site looks good, you certainly are getting many people through difficult issues. So when are you bringing this to Australia? There is a huge market to crack over here with this problem.

I am certain you would have seminars packed with scared Aussies!!!!! If you ever decide to do something like this and need advice on a venue to hold it at etc, I would be more than happy to help and help you organise it.

Hope you are well and wishing you continued success with this.

Thank you for helping me.

Loni

Keith,

Thought I'd just drop you a note to say 'I'm back' from New York! Have already posted on the forum, but wanted to thank-you personally for your help.

My return flight was even better than the outward. I sat, waiting to become nervous and panicked - but it didn't happen! I was relaxed and comfortable during the flight, and even slept for a few hours!

My outward flight would have been perfect except for encountering something that isn't covered in your book - the tactlessness of other passengers! I was unfortunately seated in front of an outspoken lady, who decided to chat loudly to her friend about all the ways you can die in plane crashes. In my vulnerable state (and at the time, taxing to the runway), I felt most of my hard work research and positive thoughts to cure my fears unravelling - and I got rather upset.
However, with support of my partner (who was astounded at the change in me - he's seen the worst of my fear!), by the time we were cruising I was fine. We hit some quite bad turbulence, but with the understanding your book gave me - I become more concerned that I might spill my cup of tea!! Amazing!

Please find attached a couple of photos of me in New York - just to prove I was there, plus a photo I took coming into land yesterday - sunrise - I couldn't stop staring at it!

I don't know whether you would be interested, but I made some quite detailed notes during my outward flight, about my preparations, and how I coped with the various stages. Would you be interested in having these notes?

I'm so very pleased that not only did I get through the flights - I actually rather enjoyed them. And I very much thank you, your book, and your very supportive website. I wouldn't say I'm completely cured - but I'm a long way there! I would be more than happy to help you in any way with your website - please let me know if there's anything I can do.

My kindest regards,

Abbie S

Dear Captain Keith,

Just a note of my most sincere thanks for your wonderful book, web site and podcasts. For the past 12 years I've had a horrible fear of flying, with every trip I take causing a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety.

For the past 8 years, I've been prescribed a tranquilizer to calm my nerves and essentially knock me out before takeoff! Since discovering your web site (after a friend of mine bought me your book), I have found each flight to get easier and easier. Just knowing there is a place I can come to address my fears and anxiety seems to help immensely.

I had a flight to Colorado last Friday, and a few days beforehand I happened to buy an iPod.

When I came to your site, I was delighted to see that you had Podcasts available for download.

I can not tell you how much they helped me! I downloaded your podcasts, and listened to them in the days leading up to my flight.

I listened to them at the airport, and in line for security. I listened to them at the gate, and when i got on the plane. It was as though I was sitting in the front with the pilot, reassuring me that I was perfectly safe even when it got bumpy. Instead of being unconscious for takeoff, I stayed awake, and calm.

I only took a third the dose of medicine I normally would take on a flight, and although at times I felt nervous, I just continued to listen to your podcasts. I realized that my fears were unfounded - that just as you said, I was perfectly safe and the wings were not going to fall off!

On the way home yesterday, I didn't wake up anxious. I didn't spend hours feeling ill about the flight. I felt calm, because I knew I had a tool that would help me.

Once again, thank you so much for everything you do for those of us who have a fear of flying! I used to absolutely love flying as a child, and I hope one day that it will give me the same excitement and thrill as it once did! I think I'm well on my way!

Best Regards, S M St. Louis, MO USA

Dear Keith,

I have never enjoyed flying, but had flown fourteen times prior to this last
week. Many of those flights were taken within a three year period until the summer of 2002, when I made any excuse not to fly. This has included 'being helpful' by transporting the family's skiing bags to the French Alps, and, this Summer, driving just less than 3000 miles across France, Switzerland and Italy because ' I did not miss anything on the ground.' All excuses you have heard before, I am sure.

For the past three October half-term holidays, I have explored different parts of Scotland with my father-in-law, whilst the rest of the family flew to Sinai for a hot, beach-based holiday. I, however, came back, on each of the three holidays, feeling rain-sodden, very pale (by comparison) and that I had paid more for my week in Scotland than they had for the three of them to go to Sinai!!

I longed to fly, and decided to do something about it. As you, through Jasper, say within the CDs, there is no 'miracle cure' and there is no one answer. The holiday for us all, including me, to go to Sinai was booked back in May, and I had worried pretty much, about the flight, since then. I kept putting the matter off, and keeping myself busy so that I did not have to think about it.

A couple of months ago, I bought your book. Having read the book from cover to cover several times, three weeks ago I went to your website via the link in your book. I am delighted that I downloaded the four CDs to my iPod as, for the last two weeks, I have listened to them, from start to finish, as I drove to and from work. Yes, there is an advantage to the half-hour commute each way! I feel that my greatest source of fear was not knowing what the different aeroplane noises meant, including the two regular chimes that mean 'pick up the phone!' I also needed to know what happened to an aeroplane before the flight, and what happened during different stages of the flight.

I took so much advice from the CDs; I had downloaded some of my favourite comedy series to my iPod, to listen to on the plane, and I had invested in some 'calmers', as well as buying an eye-mask and some earplugs to 'dull the noises' but still know what was happening.

Last Sunday (22nd October), I was up and ready; I even drove the whole distance to Gatwick as a means of retaining my focus - this is not something I could have done before. Previously I would have been curled up on the front passenger seat! I had booked seats for us in one of the executive lounges, where I could sit and watch ALL of the planes coming and going safely!

There were some moments of 'quiet' panic but the family were very supportive, and had agreed not to keep asking, "Are you all right?" The worst moment was when the flight was called; we did not rush to the boarding gate but, using your advice, we proceeded calmly and let others rush there first. I left my family, at one stage, to go 'for a walk by myself' and shall never forget the looks of relief on their faces as I reappeared at the boarding gate.

Getting onto the plane, I told the Chief Steward that I was an 'anxious flier'; he was excellent, and he came to talk me through the different 'noises' and stages of the flight.

What I did find is that the anticipation is often worse than the flight, as I was a completely different person once I was on the plane and in my seat. I had everything that I needed around me and was thinking positively. I talked myself through the different stages of the flight, and eagerly looking forward to the next stage of the flight. On the outward journey, I was even looking forward to the in-flight meal (not possible, I hear you say!) and I managed to sleep - again, something I would not have done before as I would have been waiting for every 'new' noise.

The return flight, yesterday, was even better; I had not spent the whole week worrying about the return flight as has been my previous pattern. In fact, I was so 'laid back' that my children informed me that I needed Valium as a stimulant! Yesterday, I flew without any sense of panic and enjoyed the flight to the extent that I spent some time talking to the co-pilot, I walked around without fear of tipping the aircraft, I talked myself through mild turbulence, and I swapped places with my son so that I could have a window seat in order that I could watch and talk him through the landing.

Although this is a long e-mail, it is written with a great sense of delight as
I have achieved more in the last eight days using your book and CDs than I would ever have thought possible.

I can only express my grateful thanks to you and Jasper for the content and delivery that has made that difference.

I am sure that this is only the beginning; at some point I have to face the
mental barrier of the Atlantic Ocean as I would like to visit North America and Canada, and I have been asked to walk to the South Pole (this trip involving eight flights in three weeks - four of them over the Atlantic and Southern Oceans). The amount of water is a huge worry and any advice / words that may help would be gratefully received.

Finally, as Jasper says, 'at each stage, really congratulate yourself.'
Tonight we shall toast this new achievement of more informed, and panic-free flying with champagne, and we shall raise a glass to you and Jasper.

With my best wishes,

Roger W