Hi guys, I'm new here and this is my very first post. I've been reading LYN forum for quite sometimes now but I have not been registered as a member. Anyway, regarding this post I'm not too sure whether its in the proper thread? Forgive me if I post at the very wrong place. Well, as the topic's title stated, "flying phobia" I've developed this phobia/anxiety for a while, about 4-5 years back? The funny thing was I fly since when i was very young and quite frequently, says around 2-3 times a year? Of course when I was young i never really had the anxiety, it all started when i didn't fly for a while around 3-4 years and the next time i fly i was 17. Well, since then I've been flying at least once in a year, be it domestically or internationally. Now the problem is throughout the flying journey, Ive been feeling uncomfortable and unpleasant mentally rather than physically. I don't get air sick at all, just feeling some anxiety above the sky. It gets worst especially during turbulence when the plane shakes, I'd start feeling stress, nervous and panic. However, I don't think my anxiety is extreme at the moment cause no matter how stress am I, I'd try to calm myself down and say some prayers. I don't scream or shiver. So I think my anxiety is not so serious and can be cured easily. Furthermore, i think the root of this problems could be I am afraid of height, easily distrust people as I am putting my life in the hand of pilots and I am not in control of my own life and destiny. Well, I actually do read a lot on how to cure flying phobia but mainly the solution would be visiting a psychiatrist. So, i hope any LYN communities could advise me on my predicament and recommend me some good psychiatrists in Malaysia as I really love travelling a lot and I hope flying wouldn't be a stumbling block in the future. Thank you!

Hey, thanks for your feedback! I do appreciate it a lot. However, all the things that you pointed out don't seem to work for me. For instance, you suggested that i keep my mind occupied and i did try that by listening to songs, watching movies or doing something else to keep myself busy like playing Big 2 but all those that don't seem to be working during the journey. My minds just cant get off the fact that I'm like 30,000 feets above the sky and shits may happen ie plane crash?. During the journey when the plane is stabilize and flying smoothly, my mind will be at ease and I wont be feeling that worry. The feeling of stress and anxiety started to kick in when the signal for seat belt is on and the announcement that we are going through a bad turbulence really scares the hell out of me especially when the plane shakes pretty bad. You see, for one i do talk a lot to people in aviator industry about the safety measurement for an airline and i have been told that the possibility of an air crash is extremely low in comparison with other mode of vehicles. I really did my homeworks about flying and do know for a certain amount of knowledges regarding flying cos Ive been told that the more i know how a flight function will help me in curing my phobia but all that doesn't seem to work. Furthermore, i have read somewhere that pilots are extremely professional unlike the bus drivers in malaysia. All in all, I do know and acknowledge that flying is an extremely safe method of travelling. However, I just can't help to think a lot and feeling nervous when turbulence happens and my imagination will be running wild, i tried to distract myself from thinking about turbulence but i just cant help it. I know this is a psychological factor and if you ask me to avoid thinking about it, i just cant do it. I'm a person who thinks A LOT and fear death! You know some people just don't fear death but I do, ALOT. I guess my personality plays a big role for the cause of my anxiety. Lastly, another solution would be flying a lot to cure this anxiety. They said the more you fly the more confident you'll be with the plane, but I only fly like 2-3 times a year and its at the end of the year. So, I am at wit's end on curing this anxiety. Any advices? My last resort is going to see a psychiatrist if I still can't get rid off this phobia. Thank you for your time!

This post has been edited by jeffreytsk: Mar 1 2011, 04:02 AM