Flying. In an airplane. I think I’d rather be bitten by a rattlesnake. It’s a quicker death. Okay, okay, so maybe I’m being a little dramatic, but seriously, planes freak me out. Was I always this way? Nope. In fact, I was a frequent flyer from the time I was born until 2002. What changed? Everything. I was on a flight from Wilmington to Connecticut for my aunt’s funeral. Everything was going fine until it wasn’t. My parents even said that in all of the years that they had flown, they had never experienced anything as horrible as that. There were people in the aisles crying and praying. It was rough, and my feelings about planes have not been the same since. The thought of being in a confined space, with strangers, way way way high up in the air, with someone I don’t know in control of the plane, and absolutely no way out…not sounding super appealing to me. Honestly, even seeing the inside of a plane on TV makes me nervous (but that could also be part of the underlying anxiety/panic disorder). However, over the past few years I have gotten much braver in other aspects of my life, and developed a desire for travel. Which brings me to my main point- I think I’m ready to fly again. I’ve been working a little bit with Team True Beauty lately and have been invited to an amazing event in Hollywood, CA in January. Everything in me wants to go and enjoy myself. I would love to meet some of the amazing girls I’ve been working with and get to be on the west coast! I know I have my limits. I know I can’t travel alone. That would give me too much alone time on the plane, time to panic and stress. I know I probably can’t travel without some strong anti-anxiety meds or sedatives. Heck, I can’t even really go to a concert without meds. I’m not even gonna TRY a plane. But what I do know is that if I go on this trip, it will be more than just a fun trip to LA. It will open the doors for so many more opportunities. If I can fly, I can visit so many different places. I can have confidence in knowing that I tackled my biggest fear. I can broaden my horizons.
So, what are some of yalls biggest fears and how do you overcome them? Any recommendations for a nervous flyer?
So, what are some of yalls biggest fears and how do you overcome them? Any recommendations for a nervous flyer?
as FDR said, "the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself."
ReplyDeletethat's what i tell myself each time that i become "scared."
tell yourself that next time you need to hop on a plane. :)
i wrote about that here . . . http://nicoleandgwendolyn.com/2011/07/11/psycho-scale-fear-chapter-one/
I have a huge fear of flying, too...but I somehow made it trans-Atlantic four times in the past few years! I admit I was extremely nervous, and the anxiety I feel is probably not healthy, but I managed to get on those planes and fly overseas. The best thing I can tell you is this - do your best not to think about the flight, make sure you watch TV, listen to music, read, or sleep (this is actually good because it calms my anxiety...out of sight, out of mind, right?). It can be tough to step foot on the plane, but once you do and you tell yourself there's no turning back, just look forward to your destination and start thinking about the things you'll see or do once you get there! :)
ReplyDeleteTruthfully, I haven't flown in over 6 years! I think I would actually be nervous now, too. I used to always fly by myself when I was little (I had an escort who worked solely with kids) - and was sent to a "play area" in the airport. I got anything I wanted and was made to feel VERY comfortable!
ReplyDeleteI think the best thing is to get an isle seat! I just couldn't imagine the thought of sitting in the middle feeling like your trapped in or next to the window, with no way to get out if I had to!
AhhHh, good. HAVE FUN. enjoy your trip girrrl! I am so jealous :) :) :)
Oh Brooke, you can do it! Just grab a pack of gum, your favorite band on your iPod and close your eyes. If you focus your mind on something else, I have complete faith that you can tackle this fear. The only way to overcome is to face it head on.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear about the trip, because you are going. :)