WHAT IF?????

Leesa · Post by **Leesa** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:58 am

Hi there,

I am leaving Friday to take a flight to London and then to Dublin for our honeymoon. It is the first time I will have been on a plane in almost 2 years. I am petrified. Is there any tips someone can give me who have gone through the program and gotten rid of the "what if thinking"? I'm not at that session yet. I keep thinking that my gut is telling me not to fly because something bad will happen, I KNOW this the anxiety telling me this but it doesn't make the prospect of flying any easier. I am scared and confused and know that I will be nervous on the flight, I can accept that. I simply want to stop thinking that I will die...
Lisa

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:56 pm

Leesa,

I know people are telling you that it will be allright. Well, it is! Lesson three deals with negative thinking and instead of telling yourself you are going to die tell yourself you are starting your new life by going on an adventure. You are safer in the air than traveling on the ground. It's a fact. Bring along your relaxation tape and other tapes that relax you. (I personally like to listen to Josh Groban.) Write down your negative thoughts and then make it a positive thought. Since I had my children, I don't love flying like i used to cause it's a control thing. I'm a spiritual person so I leave a lot of things to God. Think of it as the adventure that it really is. Good luck and Enjoy your new life.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:08 pm

Hi there Leesa,

I am a fearful flyer myself...I recommend a very useful website, google it try "fear of flying" It is free and made by a captain and he really goes into detail and it is wonderful...It takes over an hour to do but is so reassuring!

I also bring as many "People" type magazines as I can they read quick and serve as a great distraction and as the PP said bring relaxation, and good music CD's. I once literally listened to Lucinda right until I boarded. I do also take Ativan I know some people are no meds but it does take the edge off.

Enjoy your honeymoon how wonderful!
J

guitar1 · Post by **guitar1** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 2:08 pm

HI,
i tell everyone that has or had anxiety that when you are excited about going somewhere it may seem like it is anxiety when its the other..some have lost out on good things because of it.when i had to fly when i was like that i took a nap.hope that helps you some... take some cd's with you and also the cards and you can do it. takE care and GOD BLESS..
DON

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 3:35 pm

Congratulations and well wishes on your honeymoon. How exciting!
Try to focus on the positive of starting a new life together in Christ and not on the fear that the devil is whispering in your ear. Do you ever think the evil one is trying to persuade you from something good and wonderful happening??? I'm sure he's love to throw a wrench in all your plans- don't let him!
Bev

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:45 am

I can tell you that I went on a plane trip a few years ago and was scared the whole time (nothing bad happened) and realized when it was over that I just wasted a really cool plane trip. I could have enjoyed the whole thing. To look at the clouds and to see cities from way up high! That's really cool! And I spent the whole thing nervous.

We did have turbulance and my two year old was sitting there saying "wheeee!" If only I had that attitude.

If I had to fly again (and it's easier said than done mind you) I would try to enjoy the moment. To be like I was when I was a kid and just take it all in.

I would so love to get a chance to go to London. That is a long term goal of me and my husband. (I would have to go through an 8 hour over the ocean plane trip!! And yes, that is not an easy thought for me.)

Gman5256 · Post by **Gman5256** » Tue Feb 26, 2008 5:13 am

Let yourself be as scared as you are, for one thing. Resistance is the discomfort for you right now.

But prior to your trip do a success rehearsal. (Right now you are doing a fear rehearsal). Write how your flight will be (or rather, how you want it to be). Make it 3 pages long. Read your success scenerio for 45 minutes a day until it's time to go.

You can also do a reversal on this and write out your worst case scenerio. Don't try to fix anything. Make it as horrible as possible. Again, read it to yourself for 45 minutes a day until you no longer have an emotional charge to it. Use your tools to get you through the anxiety you may feel while reading this. Remember your breath work. These techniques really work.

If you get too anxious while reading your worst case scenerio, then stop, use your breath work and get yourself calm again. Then go right back to reading it again. Do this over and over. You will desensitize. It doesn't take very long either.

Enjoy your flight and your honeymoon. Congratulations.