I’m a rotten flyer. The cold sweating, armrest gripping, won’t get out of my seat to pee even on a 10 hour flight kind of flyer.
How I handle it: Unless it’s an emergency, I drive or don’t go. And if I have to go, I suck it up and don’t inflict my lunacy on the rest of the flying public.
Ya gotta face your fear to overcome it. My father was a stunt pilot and flew A-10s in the Navy and T-38s at NASA. After flying a few times with him, I don’t think air travel will do much to phase me.
One of the most impressive things I saw over the past few years was the guy who performed the altitude skydiving record. Felix Baumgartner Performed the jump in 2012, jumping from 128,000 feet. What impressed me most wasn’t the jump, but rather why he started doing this. He said he took it up to cure his claustrophobia. He had to ride up to that height in a tiny capsule that barely fit him with his suit and helmet. The amazing tenacity he exhibited to overcome his fears was the true feat he performed that day.
Valium.
5 mg
1/2 in the airport
1/2 when boarding
and read a book