Fear of Flying - Help.

My son developed a fear of flying in spite of previously flying to Italy and Kenya with no problems. It reached a climax when he was supposed to be flying to Hungary with his then partner to see her mother. He had a massive panic attack and was unable to get on the plane. The whole holiday had to be cancelled at huge inconvenience to everybody.

After this he took a Fear Of Flying course at Heathrow. I rather doubted whether it would help someone who was reduced to such a panic, but it was very successful. He was able to do the flight at the end of the course and has flown since with no problems.

My DD and I are trying to tackle this together as she really wants to control her fear.
I'm happy to fund any course or therapy which may help her as I can see how it makes her feel.
The book sounds a good idea .
Thank you for all the really helpful suggestions and shared experiences. x

Yup, I had hypnosis. Didn't help me. The thing that came nearest to helping was aversion therapy. And also flying more often, which sounds counter productive, but actually did help a little.

The sad thing is, I can make myself fly for work. But I haven't been able to make myself do it for pleasure (holidays) recently.

I know people who have suffered this and have undergone hypnosis for it. It has been so successful that they get to be excited by the sound of aircraft and look forward to holidays.

grandtanteJE65

If it is absolutely necessary for your daughter to fly, then counselling will probably help.

But quite honestly, she is 26 so old enough to decide for herself whether she is going to treat her fear of flying as a phobia that needs professional help, or a stance taken on environmental grounds.

I am 71, haven't ever really liked being on a plane and have more or less decided that I shan't go back to travelling by plane now that it is again possible to travel

. It is far better for the environment if we use other methods of transport and at my age, I am seldom likely to be in such a hurry to get to a destination that flying is necessary.

Well thats all good and well but you can't go far if you don't fly....I have family in Canada and Australia....couldn't get there without flying

I hate flying. In laws just never understood as fil was a pilot bil was a pilot. Bil even died in a flying accident. I have flown reluctantly and don’t really plan to again. I know statistically it is a safe thing but ………….

That book sounds a great recommendation.

I used to hate flying in my 20s. I was genuinely afraid the first few flights I made. Over the years I just got used to it although I never enjoyed it. Its not the being thousands of feet off the ground I hate but having to sit close to people I dont know and dont want to know. I find the entire airport experience and the way you get treated horrendous.

The chances are that I will never fly again for these reasons.

I had to fly to Australia a few years back and, having always suffered from claustrophobia and had a couple of full-on panic attacks in the past I was dreading it. Then a friend suggested reading “Flying with confidence” written by Steve Allright (BA captain) and Patricia Furness-Smith (rtd air hostess). It was brilliant as it explained all that happened during a flight with simple analogies (ie imagine flying through “turbulence” as a being on a cork floating along a river - if might be rough and uncomfortable for a bit but it won’t sink). And the various noises and things that occur are all explained really simply and reassuringly. They also give various techniques for coping when you’re really anxious. It’s excellent and I found it was brilliant at calming my fears when odd bumps and noises occurred - the fact that I’d been assured they were all completely normal! Good luck! (You can get it on Amazon).

I have a flying phobia. I get on planes but have been known to be hysterical and need to be calmed down by the stewards.

I've spent thousands on different types of therapy (actually thousands, no hyperbole here). None of it has worked.

I just have to grit my teeth and do it. On long flights, the fear wears off after 7 hours.

My son is like this. He’s 31.

My son did a fear of flying course run by Virgin, fine until they got to the gate at our local, small airport, he couldn’t continue. He knows it’s restrictive, sadly his phobia is stronger than his logic.

Some of the airlines run actual 'fear of flying' courses - might be worth looking into them for her. A friend of mine was terrified of flying and she did hypnotherapy which really helped her - she's flown numerous times since.

Years ago I felt the same. My doc said to watch the staff on the plane. Did they look scared ? No. Would they be doing the job if they thought something was going to happen. Again no. It solved the problem for me gradually and after a couple of flights I was fine. Honestly and truly. I know we cannot all be the same, but I genuinely have a severe anxiety problem which messes up my life and this amazed me.

If it is absolutely necessary for your daughter to fly, then counselling will probably help.

But quite honestly, she is 26 so old enough to decide for herself whether she is going to treat her fear of flying as a phobia that needs professional help, or a stance taken on environmental grounds.

I am 71, haven't ever really liked being on a plane and have more or less decided that I shan't go back to travelling by plane now that it is again possible to travel

. It is far better for the environment if we use other methods of transport and at my age, I am seldom likely to be in such a hurry to get to a destination that flying is necessary.

I sympathise. I hate flying but I've done it many times. A member of my family used to be terrified of flying, actually shaking on flights. I got him a book and cassette which helped a bit. He just seemed to naturally get over it and flies all over the world with work now. I believe most airports do fear of flying courses if your daughter is near one. Good luck.