Most of you know I am headed to Vegas to meet up with a bunch of Dopers – this should be a fun trip. The problem is I don’t have much else to watch in the morning except the news (local and national.)
Well, first off I know it’s the beginning of a busy holiday weekend in the States. I have to travel from Colorado Springs to Denver International Airport to catch my plane, this is about an hour and 20 minute drive, assuming Interstate 25 doesn’t have any serious accidents. Just south of Denver if there is an accident, it can tie up traffic horribly.
Anyhow, they were showing a live scene of a fatal accident that closed the north bound lanes of the “I” and seeing the scene on TV raised my anxiety level 4 notches.
Well, then they are talking about the recent Concord crash and travel tie ups in the airline industry. Well shit, I hate flying on airplanes as it is but then my anxiety level went up about 4 more notches.
So from a scale of 1 - 10 my anxiety level is about a 12. I woke up already nervous because I am afraid of flying (but a couple of beers usually helps, really), I am afraid of a car accident or being late to catch my plane, I am afraid the plane will crash, etc.
UGH – I really wish they had an over-the-counter drug that can alleviate temporary anxiety.
I will calm down as the morning progresses but sheesh I should never watch the news before leaving for a vacation.
I hear you. I can remember times when I thought I was pregnant–worried sick about it, and it seemed like every pregnant woman within the tri-state area crawled out of the woodwork and into my path. It’s probably just being over sensitive to certain things because you’re already worried. And the grown-up part of you that keeps everything in line can’t keep control of the little kid part that still has trouble looking under the bed. I always catch myself saying soothing things under my breath when I’m worried. Makes me laugh.
Are you like me? Do you find a sick satisfaction in drawing every nasty scenario out to its most gorey ending? DON’T DO IT. Instead, concentrate on visualizing yourself at your destination. The more you do that, the more real your arrival there will be and the better you’ll feel. Yeah, I know. I just told you to distract yourself. But, hey! Just think about it this way…just wondering how much more stupid my post could get has already distracted you a little, right?
Breathe deep. Relax. You are going to have a blast this weekend. I’m jealous.
Tech, if you aren’t on any other meds, blah blah blah all other disclaimers:
Try a benedryl or a dramamine (not the non-drowsy kind). NOT BOTH. The dramamine always took the edge off for me when I flew but didn’t leave me so groggy that my judgement was clouded. Don’t drink or you’ll feel like shit when you land.
Relax and think about the fun you’ll have!
Remember, a coward dies a thousand deaths (which to ME means, the worry about dying makes you live the horrors of it over and over. I’m not calling you a coward)
In April I’m going to have to fly from Kansas City Internation to either Denver or Utah and then from Denver or Utah to Las Vegas and I’m really nervous about it. I’ve never set foot on a plane before and am deathly afraid to fly but I know that flying is statistically safer than driving so I’m going to fly. My hands start sweating just thinking about it!!!
Good luck on the flight techie! Think good thoughts and relax, you’ll be fine. Have a great weekend!!
I just took my dog into the kennel and had an axiety attack while I was there. Luckily, I explained myself to the woman who was checking in my dog and another customer that was there. They both said they understood. I still felt like an ass though. Also, I am glad that my anxiety attacks don’t paralyze me, I just start shaking like a leaf in a heavy breeze. I knew I should not have had any coffee this morning it just strengthens the severity of the attack. Damn, Damn, Damn!
OY, that sucks.
I am sure after an hour and a half of driving today I should be fine at the airport. Driving has this soothing quality for me and in a weird way I get a rush out of it.
Omigod! Just heard on the news about some chick who knocked the cherry off her cig, it landed on her thigh (nowhere NEAR the vicinity of her knee) and put her out of commission for what she had anticipated would be an, um, fulfilling weekend.
“Generally, if something bad is going to happen on a plane, it’ll happen in the first five minutes. So when you hear the ding of the seatbelt sign going off, everything’s going to be fine.”
You know, you can get a Southwest flight direct from KC to Vegas. The 737’s are pretty comfy, and Southwest has a good atmosphere amongst it’s staff. And that way, you remove 2 of the 4 legs from your trip. I also think that, next to America West (yuck!) they are the cheapest. If you are going through Denver, you must be thinking United (yuck) or through Utah, then Delta? Check out Southwest!
Also, IIRC, Southwest has only ever had one accident ever, with no fatalities (where the plane run out of runway and went onto a highway). They supposedly have one of the best maintenance programs in the world on their planes, because they only have one type of plane, so the mechanics can focus on just what is needed for that type. And all the pilots are uniquely experienced in that one type of plane as well.
I had flown all over the world, and after getting over a bit of air sickness as a small child, I enjoyed flying everywhere - just the excitement of going some place was enough, but I actually enjoyed the plane ride.
In recent years, several family memebers have made it clear they are uncomfortable flying, and after a few bumpy flights I’ve developed a dislike for air travel myself.
But it is a fact that even with the latest rash of plane accidents it is far safer than the highways. Those ‘couple of beers’ are just the thing, or maybe something even stronger. Tomato juice is good to settle the stomach, add a littly stoli, and the flight gets nicer.
I hope you have a good flight and a good time in Vegas.
I’ve flown all my life. My mom used to have me lie about my age when I was 4 (say I was 6) so that I could fly unaccompanied from Arizona to Florida or Connecticut. Generally with at least one stop (Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta) and up to 8 hour layovers (my dad got cheap tickets) I once calculated that if you added up all the miles I’ve flown, it was something like 4 times around the Earth. I’ve flown over oceans (to Europe) and mountains and farms. I’ve flown through thunderstorms where lightning was all around us. I’ve flown in snow and rain. I’ve sat and watched them de-ice the wings of the plane that is about to carry me off into the sky. I’ve done this all my life.
And now at age 28 I’m scared to death every time I get on a plane. I have this fatalistic, calm feelling that I KNOW we’re going to crash and we’ll all die. It started when my son was born, and I flew with him (he’d flown round trip, coast to coast, three times before he turned one)… I dunno, something about the idea that the plane could crash and there would be nothing I could do to save HIM changed my whole attitude about flying. I still fly all the time… in the last 12 months I’ve flown VA - AZ - VA twice and VA - TX - CA - CO - TX - VA once. However it scares the crap out of me and I can’t relax at all until I fall asleep. And I always fall asleep. Doesn’t matter how awake I am at the beginning… the loud hum, the canned air, the boring magazines… I always fall asleep.
