Alley hates flying! Post 9/11, I think there are a lot of Americans who feel this way. For me, I didn't even really start flying places until after 2001, so I had very limited experience with what that was like. It wasn't overly anxiety inducing at any point, though.
I had a brief period after an especially turbulent flight from Atlanta to Copenhagen where I also developed a mild fear of flying. (Never had it before.) So for about a year or so after that, I'd get a bit panicky at least on take-off and during turbulence. It's better now.
Luckily, the therapy these cartoon people will need is of a different variety.
Nope, I thankfully never had to go down that path. I fly quite often with the kids these days and I'm handling it all much better. (Just as I was prior to that fateful turbulent flight.)
But I did download a special "Fear Of Flying" book + video series written by a pilot aimed at people with flying anxiety. And while normally sharing facts with the rational part of your brain doesn't do much to calm the reptilian brain, a few facts from that brochure actually stuck and made a difference. The most notable one was that in the entire history of human flight, no single plane ever fell apart due to turbulence. The wings etc. are built with an absolutely massive safety margin for how much pressure they can handle.
That helped my overreactive "Oh no, the plane will fall apart in mid-air" anxiety.
Sounds legit! "If Han Solo's made it through that asteroid field, surely this plane can make it through this sky."
And yeah, I knew all the general facts before: "You're way more likely to die in a car on the way to the airport than in a plane crash." "Flying is the safest mode of transporation." And so on. Yet, during my anxiety period, all of those facts flew (nice) out the window as soon as the plane would start shaking, etc. So having that turbulence-related factoid helped the most.
Alley hates flying! Post 9/11, I think there are a lot of Americans who feel this way. For me, I didn't even really start flying places until after 2001, so I had very limited experience with what that was like. It wasn't overly anxiety inducing at any point, though.
I had a brief period after an especially turbulent flight from Atlanta to Copenhagen where I also developed a mild fear of flying. (Never had it before.) So for about a year or so after that, I'd get a bit panicky at least on take-off and during turbulence. It's better now.
Luckily, the therapy these cartoon people will need is of a different variety.
Do you find the need to medicate? In spite of never getting nervous, I'd still make it a point to get a pretty good buzz on during my drinking days.
Nope, I thankfully never had to go down that path. I fly quite often with the kids these days and I'm handling it all much better. (Just as I was prior to that fateful turbulent flight.)
But I did download a special "Fear Of Flying" book + video series written by a pilot aimed at people with flying anxiety. And while normally sharing facts with the rational part of your brain doesn't do much to calm the reptilian brain, a few facts from that brochure actually stuck and made a difference. The most notable one was that in the entire history of human flight, no single plane ever fell apart due to turbulence. The wings etc. are built with an absolutely massive safety margin for how much pressure they can handle.
That helped my overreactive "Oh no, the plane will fall apart in mid-air" anxiety.
The rational argument about how flying is safer than driving has always been enough for me, but I'm not... erm... normal.
Alley can watch Star Wars to get a sense of normalcy. That seems to help a bit.
Sounds legit! "If Han Solo's made it through that asteroid field, surely this plane can make it through this sky."
And yeah, I knew all the general facts before: "You're way more likely to die in a car on the way to the airport than in a plane crash." "Flying is the safest mode of transporation." And so on. Yet, during my anxiety period, all of those facts flew (nice) out the window as soon as the plane would start shaking, etc. So having that turbulence-related factoid helped the most.
Anxiety and logic are from different planets.
Came for a laugh, left with a movie recommendation
Well played, sir. Well played!
"Therapy? Okay. Paging Dr. Freud...."
Better than Dr. Jones.