Site Meter

Flying phobia!

One would think after living here in the US for close to 6 years now and having a sister who worked in the airlines for many years would have actually cured my flying phobia.

MMmmmm… WRONG!!!

There’s so many reason why I hate flying and let me tell you how it all went downhill. I’d no prior flight experience before coming to US. And the genius in me never thought to take a trial short flight before the long haul. To top it off, no one had an ounce of intelligence to warn me about:

  • take offs and landings are the scariest. Well, at least to me.
  • shockingly loud noise of toilet flush. It’s sounds as though as I am about to be sucked out into the vortex!
  • not everyone is lucky to fall asleep. I am one of the unlucky ones, only because the airplane is way too noisy. The longest nap I’ve taken on air is about 30 minutes, in a stretch.
  • taking turbulence seriously, especially while walking or during restroom breaks. Almost vomited on this one.
  • i am cursed with long limbs, therefore uncomfortable seating should be expected.
  • whether its an aisle or window seat — you are bound to irritate others or expect to be irritated by others.
  • dozing off on the shoulder of strangers is common, but frowned upon.
  • ringing in the eardrums is so common, yet not a soul came forward with details on painful ordeal afterwards.
  • sipping wine to calm wrecked nerves. I was too naive thought it would have costed an arm & leg. Duh!
  • insomnia that comes in a package, labelled as “jet-lag”.

These issues might seem too small in comparison to “pat down” drama during airport security clearance. I guess, you win some you loose some. Eh.

So, I have to live with the fact that flying would always be an uncomfortable experience for me. Scratch that. Loathing is the right word here.

Are you afraid of flying? Any awful experience?

 

Thought of the day

I think getting drunk is the key to flying comfortably. A couple of Bloody Marys or several glasses of champagne, and suddenly it’s like you’re on a roller coaster.“— Amanda Peet

 

Image source.

 

{ 11 comments }

1 Abhyudaya February 22, 2012 at 2:40 PM

Let your flight be a hard day’s night or a hard night’s day… so that you can easily fall asleep. Umm… a warm water sponge bath before leaving for airport, anyone?
Abhyudaya recently posted..Sahara India- No more

2 Amit Agarwal February 23, 2012 at 1:35 AM

Mullah Naseeruddin was mobbed by his friends and relatives when he landed from his maiden flight and was asked so many questions about his experience…”Mullah were you not scared? after all you have never traveled by air and this was the first time you sat in an aircraft…?” The Mullah wryly smiled and said “sat?…do you think I am a fool?…the buggers tried their best but I never ‘sat’ throughout the flight…when they insisted I just lowered myself to the seat..but I did not sit. So why should I be scared at all?”
Smart…No?
amitaag.blogspot.com

3 Liana February 23, 2012 at 3:57 AM

Babe, are you coming back since you are writing about flying back? 😀

4 Bikram February 23, 2012 at 7:40 AM

Nope i am not , cause thats one mode of transport that takes me HOME 🙂

I guess mine went away when i was learning to fly in college and passed my PPL.
Bikram recently posted..Wordless Wednesday(33) :- Bloooooooooooo

5 Abhyudaya February 24, 2012 at 8:36 AM

Hey Kiran, Tarun…
You guys might want to check out this- http://abhyudayadoses.blogspot.in/2012/02/looks-like-i-am-versatile-blogger.html
Abhyudaya recently posted..Why did the patient commit suicide?

6 mj monaghan February 25, 2012 at 9:24 AM

Great post, my new friend!

I have a very bad phobia about flying. I could not fly for twelve years because of the fear. I found out that 13 people on my mother’s side of the family had issues with brain chemistry – some with anxiety, some with bad claustrophobia (like me), and others with depression which I do not have, thankfully.

I have flown twice since, but it’s very hard for me.

Thanks for your post and question.

http://www.mjmonaghan.com
@mjmonaghan_

Send a tweet to connect there. 🙂

7 Ann February 25, 2012 at 9:22 PM

I actually LOVED flying before the tragedy of 9/11. I have recently flown and discovered that my experiences were just lovely. The airlines are really working hard to earn your business…there was no part of my trip that wasn’t delightful!

That being said – I have to tell you – YOU MADE MY DAY! Not only am I a grandmother – I’m a grandmother of FIVE!
Ann recently posted..Harrods and a GIVEAWAY! WaHoo!

8 Richa@HobbyandMore February 27, 2012 at 12:24 AM

been 7 years and counting… i have to take a flight some day…
Richa@HobbyandMore recently posted..Yellow lentil Dal Stew/soup with Carrots and Zucchini/Brussels sprouts (Mung Daal) vegan glutenfree

9 carolinaheartstrings February 28, 2012 at 8:47 PM

I do not like flying at all. Mostly thanks to a couple of bad flights. However, it is a means to an end and so I take a couple of Xanax and I am good to go!
carolinaheartstrings recently posted..CAROLINA ROOTS – DUKE’S MAYONNAISE

10 Babi March 1, 2012 at 10:04 AM

It depends on the airline. though sometimes it’s pretty tiring too!

Babi

11 Reema March 5, 2012 at 5:17 AM

I havent been on an aeroplane yet and I am so scared of heights. God knows what will happen!
Reema recently posted..Bangalore Chronicle