Originally Posted by
NYC96
........there's FOUR causes of fearful flying. Claustrophobia, fear of heights, loss of control and fear of dying. I can generally find out quickly which one has triggered this behavior, I learned this from volunteering for a fearful flyer program. It requires a professional to deal with these fears. Time permitting, I would try to calm someone, but each of these fears are overcome by gaining knowledge about them. Most F/A's are NOT trained in fearful flying. What a shame.
In this case it was the last of the four.
I'm not claustrophobic but the other three fits me.
I had a patch a couple of years ago when I suddenly started to be afraid of flying. I had a couple of rough flights, some wobbly landings, bad turbulence (in my eyes) and hated sitting by the wings on a 747 watching them flap while having thoughts of "metal fatigue" running through my brain. Landings was the worst. I'd be gripping the armrest so hard I had white knuckles.
One day while out on the road with clients I grabbed one of them as I knew he used to be a commercial airline pilot. I simply said that someday he'd need to sit down and explain the whole aerodynamics of flying because if this fear went full blown my business would die if would stop flying.
He pulled up a chair, right then and there in the middle of the night in a hotel bar, and went through it all. Explained loads of physics and G forces etc.
On my flight home we hit turbulence. At first I started gripping the chair and then I hit the "replay" button in my head and I could almost see him sitting in front of me going through it all again and I relaxed and flying was fine again and instead of crushing my soda can I sat there with a smile sipping it. I've been fine ever since and when I meet someone or sit next to one who seems worried, I strike up a conversation relaying what I remember my client telling me. I want others to enjoy flying as much as I do.
Oh, and handshake right back at you. I love my job as much as you do. Partly because it keeps me flying (not as much as I would like) but I take pride in what I do and am a perfectionist at work (not at home!) kicking myself harder than anyone else could kick me if I do something wrong.
Not many people wake up wanting to go to work. You and I obviously do. That in it self is wealth and we are two very lucky and privileged people who have that. I would defend my proffession (and do) if I felt t was being attacked. Not because of stress (my appologies, I got you wrong on that one) but because I am proud of it.
/E