How do you feel about flying ?

As a fearful flyer I'm trying to come to terms with my fear. I'm wondering
what you do, from those who are not fearful about flights. Brief History:
I
used to fly 3 to 4 days a week for business in my twenties, never had any
fear whatsoever, actually enjoyed flying. Now having turned 41 have flown
maybe 10 times in the last 15 years and the fear is powerful.

Here's my typical pattern:

1) Book trip months/ possibly up to a year in advance. Intermittently
check
websites, etc.
2) About 2 months before flight, start looking at websites, and
specifications on the type of equipment.
3) Start checking to see how full the flight is (a full plane creates more
fear for me than an empty plane)
4) About 1 month prior to flight. Start watching long term forecasts,
clear
air turbulence forecasts, and browsing disaster databases for the model
aircraft I will be on to see the history of the airline/aircraft.
5) About 1 week before. Start with mini panic attacks, anxiety, headaches.
6) About 3 days before, loss of sleep, sweating palms, general anxiety.
7) Day before flight. No sleep, anxiety again.
8) Day of scheduled flight, miserable, nervous, can't think or focus on
anything else.
9) On the plane.. Seatbelt tight, no talking, stare out window, listen for
any sounds, wait for turbulence so I can employ the death grip on the
armrest.
10) Upon landing. Total relief, start to remember what the flight was for
in
the first place. But the pattern starts again for the return flight but
not
as bad as the departing flight since I can replay the departing flight in
my
head if it wasn't a bad flight..

Most of my air travel is for vacation purposes, I'll be taking 6 flights
within the next 4 months and even though I realize that air travel is
safe,
for me it is still a fearful event.

All my fear is general and I can pretty much take any scenario and run
with
it to make it an anxiety provoking thought.

So wondering what your thoughts and preparations are before you fly.

I usually have a few treble whiskeys for a long flight, not so much out of
fear, but boredom...
I like to pass out as soon as I get my seat..

well,to begin with
I know the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour
So to me Absent from the body means present with the Lord.
The day that I die is in the hands of God,Not a pilot,not a terrorist,not an
airplane mechanic.
If The Lord wants me to continue living so I can serve him,then No amount of
turbulance can rattle me.

That assurance is very soothing.

MrEdwardDWebb wrote:
well,to begin with
I know the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour
So to me Absent from the body means present with the Lord.
The day that I die is in the hands of God,Not a pilot,not a terrorist,not an
airplane mechanic.
If The Lord wants me to continue living so I can serve him,then No amount of
turbulance can rattle me.
That assurance is very soothing.

So I presume you are opposed to, say, police and laws.

miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Site remodeled 10-Sept-2003: Hundreds of new photos, easier navigation.

On 07 Oct 2003 22:30:18 GMT, (MrEdwardDWebb)
wrote:

well,to begin with
I know the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour
So to me Absent from the body means present with the Lord.
The day that I die is in the hands of God,Not a pilot,not a terrorist,not an
airplane mechanic.
If The Lord wants me to continue living so I can serve him,then No amount of
turbulance can rattle me.

That assurance is very soothing.

So, if a plane crashes, your savior managed to get 300 people who
deserved to die right then all together at once?

well,to begin with
I know the Lord Jesus Christ as my Saviour
So to me Absent from the body means present with the Lord.
The day that I die is in the hands of God,Not a pilot,not a terrorist,not
an
airplane mechanic.
If The Lord wants me to continue living so I can serve him,then No amount
of
turbulance can rattle me.

If you are not serious, well LOL
If you are serious, **** of you Religous ****' this is not
rec.travel.magiccarpet.godpropelled

Nope................I obey all laws

If all 300 people are Saved then.............yes

I am serious my friend.
and this post was not about religion

the thread asked how do you feel about flying

So I answered it.

If i had just gave a token answer like "I like to fly"..........well,big
deal,so does everyone else.The thread starter was looking for *WHY* so I
answered him

On 7 Oct 2003 13:11:54 -0700, (lmi) wrote:

"PTRAVEL" wrote in message ...
Tim, if you do a google search on "fear of flying," you'll find lots of
suggestions. However, the most obvious one is this: if you used to be okay
with flying, and aren't any longer, then something has happened to you.
It's probably worthwhile talking to someone to find out what.

Interesting thought. I have the same problem as the OP. I used to
enjoy flying, and flew quite frequently in my twenties but now
approaching forty I am terrified of it. For some reason it seems to
have gotten quite a bit worse since I was involved in a serious car
accident last year... perhaps my mind is telling me not to tempt fate
any more than I absolutely have to.

It must be middle age mortality logic. For me, I'm really paranoid
when I travel with my wife and kids, otherwise I enjoy the ride.
May I suggest Zanax before takeoff to lessen the anxiety. It really
does work.

On 08 Oct 2003 01:45:53 GMT, (MrEdwardDWebb)
wrote:

If all 300 people are Saved then.............yes

OK, so I'm on a plane and that means that at least one person is
unsaved. What does your theology say about a mixed planeload?