I don't want to be a nervous flyer....

That actually sounds like it would make sense. I wonder if it's worked
for anyone in a similar situation.

Lufthansa actually offers a fear-of-flying class. A friend of mine did it,
and it involved lecture and discussion on the ground before going anywhere,
and then taking a circling flight from the Hamburg airport. When they were
flying they described each feature of what is happening in great detail over
the intercom (takeoff rotation, each bump, each flap extension)--and also
took into account what flyers might be experiencing subjectively. But he
(unlike your considerable experience) had been a complete flight-avoidant
phobic before he took the course. Since then he has flown all over Europe,
as well as to the States (something he would never have tolerated before the
course) without problem.

I'm actually wondering if it's some form of vertigo. I guess I'm also
thinking some form of medication may help. I've heard people get
perscriptions for that sort of thing, even if my situation is a little
bit different.
Thanks for all the advice.


Douglas W. Hoyt wrote:
That actually sounds like it would make sense. I wonder if it's worked
for anyone in a similar situation.

Lufthansa actually offers a fear-of-flying class. A friend of mine did it,
and it involved lecture and discussion on the ground before going anywhere,
and then taking a circling flight from the Hamburg airport. When they were
flying they described each feature of what is happening in great detail over
the intercom (takeoff rotation, each bump, each flap extension)--and also
took into account what flyers might be experiencing subjectively. But he
(unlike your considerable experience) had been a complete flight-avoidant
phobic before he took the course. Since then he has flown all over Europe,
as well as to the States (something he would never have tolerated before the
course) without problem.

I don't feel sick though, so I don't think it's that, it's just more of
a tension that becomes unbearable because I become convinced that the
only thing that will make it better is if we land, and of course the
flight just goes on and on.
I did try dramamine once, but that made me tired. Not tired enough to
fall asleep but enough that I had a hard time keeping my eyes open,
which then made things worse because it made me even more
disorientated. It's like my equilibrium is messed up.

wrote:
wrote:
I'm actually wondering if it's some form of vertigo.

I'm wondering too. I was thinking more motion sickness
than vertigo. You describe feelings closer to motion sickness.

I guess I'm also
thinking some form of medication may help. I've heard people get
perscriptions for that sort of thing, even if my situation is a little
bit different.

Have you tried any of the common motion sickness remedies?

On 12 Jan 2006 08:21:41 -0800, wrote:

I don't feel sick though, so I don't think it's that, it's just more of
a tension that becomes unbearable because I become convinced that the
only thing that will make it better is if we land, and of course the
flight just goes on and on.
I did try dramamine once, but that made me tired. Not tired enough to
fall asleep but enough that I had a hard time keeping my eyes open,
which then made things worse because it made me even more
disorientated. It's like my equilibrium is messed up.

My suggestion would be to learn autogenic training. Roughly 25 years
ago I suddenly had a panic attack while driving my car on a German
autobahn. It just came out of the blue, but in hindsight I realised
that it had been building up over several yearsof stress, coupled with
a family bereavement. After various drugs just held the problem at
bay, but didn't really cure it, another doctor, a neurologist,
recommended AT, which I participated in with a professional teacher in
group sessions. Since then, whenever I have felt apprehensive about
something, whether a job interview, moving house, flying, attending a
wedding, whatever, I use AT to calm myself for a few days before the
event.

It's a lot easier to learn than yoga and you can do it anywhere, even
sitting in a chair in the airport terminal building (although it's
better if you can lie down at home).

Check out Amazon. They have dozens of books on the subject.

MM