Terrified of plane rides, help?

i'm going way next week on a 6 hour flight, with my hubby and baby. i'm so scared of planes... (had a emergency landing once that did it for me).i am breastfeeding so i can't take meds, but i'd like to know how i can calm my nerves so it's not so bad? i was a wreck on our honeymoon cuz of the flight and now with my daughter i feel i may be worse. i'm afraid of getting a panic attack. thanks

It's important not to pass on your fears to your daughter. I'm scared of flying too but I feel like if I could bring a child with me I would be calmer just because I'd know I'd have no choice but to keep it together for the little one - I wouldn't have time to be thinking about myself. I'd learn as much as you can about planes and flying and then just concentrate on taking care of your daughter and making sure she is relaxed. :)

Reality.

Do some research on the probability of being hurt in an airplane. It's much lower than the probablility of being hurt in a car crash, for example. Airplanes are one of the safest ways to travel known to man. You need to fully understand this and convince yourself.

Other than that, endure. This is a really hard phobia to handle.

oh come on don't torry just have a nice time ... Emergancy landings happen every (well the truth is i don't know every how much) but the point is youll be fine !

good luck and happy flying

Well, I know this is a tired answer, but flying is safer... by the numbers anyway... over 10 times safer... crudely put. We kill over 50,00 a year in car traffic accidents yet no one is afraid to ride in a car. Try to absorb that.. might help a little. Might be some medication for anxiety that your doc can prescribe for you also. Also, take a paper bag with you and if you hyper-ventilate you put the bag over your mouth and re-breath. The elevated CO2 level will help you balance blood gas (for hyper-ventilation only) usually associated with panic attacks. If you are all jittery then motion sickness may be a prob as well. Ask your doc about taking Dramamine (motion sickness) and breast feeding; take a plastic bag with you to use as an erp bag just in case. Thats about the end of it as to things you can do that I can think of.... besides enjoying the flight I mean. Have a good trip.

i hate to fly but have to sometimes. my sanity is reading my bible or repeating prayers that i know by heart. it works OK but i still get nervous

try not to sit over the wings...it always scares the crap out of me to watch the wings flexing up and down

Take the train.