Help! I was offered a FREE trip to Zurich!

[leftchick]

I was offered a trip with three girlfriends to Switzerland for free but I am terrified to fly! Not uncomfortable, not scared. Freaking out, panic like, terrified. The thought of flying over the ocean is horrifying to me. Are there good medications for this sort of thing? Anyone know how I can deal with this? My husband thinks I am crazy and is no help. I really don't want to pass up this opportunity. Any helpful advice is appreciated.

[catpower2000]

1. Um, help?

Give me a break. I'd give my left arm to go to Europe for free. Stop whining and get on the plane.

Cat

[radwriter0555]

2. Get some KLONAPIN. That's a great tranquilizer.... so like SHE said,

shut up and get on the plane!

[JackDragna]

3. Scotch.

Most airlines serve free drinks on international trips. If you're really that nervous, get sauced. I never minded my trans-Atlantic flights..they were fun, in some bizarre way.

[LynneSin]

11. Not a good idea

My friend and I got toasted on the way to San Jose Costa Rica. Our plane was delayed in Miami so they gave us free drinks for the Miami-San Jose, CR. We had a final plane trip between San Jose and Tamorindo which was a puddle jumper and by that time we were both wasted from about 4 Martini's each. My friend saw the plane and was screaming at the top of her lungs the entire flight. Traquilizers would have only helped if they were in a dart gun used for big game animals!

[GOPisEvil]

4. Let's see...how many free trips to Europe do I get?

NONE! Thank your lucky stars you have this opportunity!

If you want help dealing with your phobia, I'd talk to a professional who can help you through it.

The best drug for dealing with air travel is alcohol, though.

GO!!! ENJOY YOURSELF!!!!! Or give that ticket to me - I've got a passport!

[trotsky]

5. The amount of fun you will have in Zurich...

...will absolutely overpower any fear you have of flying. It's a seriously beautiful city with so much to do and see. I wish I could go visit it again.

That said, try to stay up for 24 hours (or longer) prior to the trip. Then have a few drinks at the airport. You'll be exhausted and liquored up, and might just fall asleep. Plus your body clock will get a little out of synch and you will be able to adjust a little more easily to jet lag.

[supernova]

6. Yes, barring professional therapy

for your flying phobia, alcohol is good. Or ask your MD about tranquilizers so you can sleep through the flight.

Enjoy your FREE trip to Zurich!!

[trof]

7. Know when to be afraid

Retired TWA pilot here.
"The 11 Minutes"
Take-off + 3 and landing -8.
90-something % of ALL mishaps take place within 3 minutes after take-off and 8 minutes prior to landing. This is when the aircraft is most vulnerable to problems.

So gird your self up for the 11 minutes and kick back and don't sweat it for the other 500 minutes.

Remember, the ride to the airport is statistically the most dangerous part of the whole trip.

[Interrobang]

12. What he said.

Pilot's daughter and safety maven here, with some handy figures.

Odds of being killed in a car accident: ~1 in 7000.
Odds of being killed in a plane crash: ~1 in 1 000 000.

Even if you take the *lowest* figure for airline mortality rates, the most dangerous part of the flight *is* driving to the airport.

Talk to a professional about it, and get some mild tranquilizers for the flight. Also, ask the airline for an aisle/mid-cabin seat, which I'm sure they will be more than happy to assign you, because everyone else (me! me!) wants the window. If you are *not* sitting by the window, it will help your nervousness a lot.

[EOTE]

8. Well....

Whatever you do, don't pass up the opportunity. Try to be as logical as possible when approaching these matters. Flying is one of the safest forms of transportation there is. Far safer than travelling by car or bike. Just get on the plane and try to sleep as much as you can. Try melatonin or something stronger like some valium or something. I hate flying too, but it's because I'm 6'5" and I can never get enough leg room. I doubt you'll have that problem.

Just get on the plane, you'll regret it if you don't.

[ChickMagic]

9. Airlines

A lot of airlines offer a fear of flying seminar. You might check with the airline you will be using and find out if they have a seminar before you go. Don't let fear control you - you can control your fear! Lucky dawg!

[leftynyc]

10. Xanax for anxiety

Ambien for sleep. Just got to Greece and back using that combo. Safe trip!!!

[Braden]

13. relax and dont drink

crossing an ocean sounds like a huge ordeal but it is done thousand's of times a day without a hitch. You leave North America around Gander NewFoundland and come to Ireland in about 4 hours, at which point you can get to Iceland, Ireland or Greenland or even Back to Gander in an emergency (which won't happen)

Trust me on this one. It seems like a big deal until you do it a few times then you realize crossing an ocean is like flying over remote wilderness.

Don't pass up the opportunity. You are in the hands of professionals up there, its much safer than you think.

Did you know that the Boeing 767 has ferried 350million people safely across the North Atlantic Ocean?

[nuxvomica]

14. I would take arsenicum album 30X

No side effects and it tends to cure temporary anxiety, especially if you are in fear for you life. If housecleaning takes your mind off of the anxiety, then arsenicum is probably the right choice.

[amazona]

15. yes, get a script -- phobias are nothing to sneeze at

Talk to your primary care physician and she will probably be able to write you a script with no problem. There are a number of good medications that she can prescribe.

I did not require medicine for my phobia as I saw almost instant results from The Five Minute Phobia Cure but I am not sure if this book is still in circulation. Apparently it doesn't work for everyone. I wasn't afraid of flying but of driving. Now that is inconvenient! But if you can get a copy of this book and try the technique, it would be worth a try to see if it works for you, as the results are extremely long-lasting.

We look forward to hearing a full trip report of a remarkable vacation! Enjoy.


On Edit: Everyone here is well-meaning but I can tell that some of you have no idea of the impact of a true phobia. You can't just tell someone to get a grip. Your system can be so swamped with adrenaline that the advice to drink some wine or other alcholic beverage would still leave you completely freaked out and jittery. In order to avoid missing the trip of a lifetime, if I were her, I would strongly advise asking a doctor for medication and/or exploring phobia treatment as far in advance of the trip as possible. It does seem funny after the phobia is gone, but they do not necessarily vanish just out of willpower.