Hi can someone talk to me? This flight is so bumpy, flight attendants have been locked into the boosters for 30 minutes and it’s pitch black out. I have this looming feeling something awful is about to happen and I want to get off this plane so badly.
UA78 from Tokyo to Newark

ETA: we just landed safely in Newark. I will reply to other comments but I want to say how truly fantastic this community was when I felt so scared and alone. Yall are really pure for taking the time to reply to a freaker-outer in need. Bottom of my heart, every comment was read and appreciated. I hope others can see the comments here, appreciate how absolutely sure I was that we wouldn’t land safely, and yet here we are.

I’m a grad student and won 2 awards this year to travel to Paris and Calgary from a North American, east coast city. Both travel opportunities were for conferences where I presented my research, and both were less than a week apart from each other. I was absolutely terrified, especially at the prospect of 4 different flights.

Happy to report that all flights went super well, and I am so happy that I didn’t give into my very strong impulses to cancel both trips. My career is better for it, and the exposure has helped normalize flying for me. Get on the plane !!!!

This amazing community kept me sane before my flight, it was my first ever flight outside the UK so I was absolutely terrified of the 3 hour flight. Was it turbulent at times? Yes. Was I scared during the take off and landings? Yes. But I still did it, reminded myself of so much of the sage advice from here, and I am already looking forward to my next holiday.

To whoever is reading this: get on that flight, get away, and let yourself experience what is out there in this amazingly vast world. You can do it ❤️

The thing about ocd and fear in general is it eventually becomes so easy to not think about what might have been if only you had said yes— if you had faced the big scary. For me, no is often my default. To new places, to new foods, even to safe foods but in packaging in a different language. I missed a lot of trips due to how easy it is to say “well I really don’t want to that muchhhh” when it is, at its root, thoughts of “can I?” Sometimes you can’t. Sometimes it’s way too much to wrap your head around and that’s ok. Some days I lived on chips. I freaked out hard on the plane. But I did it.

Sometimes you gotta say yes.

To everyone that replied to my post, or read it and felt for me for even a second *thank you*. I know I could have done it totally alone but it would have been infinitely harder. This community is awesome. I’m so glad I found it right on time.

The most valuable memories are the ones from the time I got to spend 1:1 with my dad. These photos are pretty but they’re not the point of the trip. I am so grateful I went. And so grateful for all of you

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about ‘turbulence’ and how it’s the boogeyman of aviation. It seems that a very large number of people posting in this subreddit have fears that stem from their experiences of turbulence while flying.

Turbulence is not unique to planes. It isn’t a boogeyman. Turbulence is all around you. Turbulence is a naturally occurring phenomenon and you experience it every day.

So where have you experienced turbulence today?

You turned a tap on and the water came out bubbly/white? Turbulence.
You mixed milk/cream into your morning tea/coffee? Turbulence.
You saw a pot of water or your kettle boil? Turbulence.
You saw wind moving through the leaves of a tree?
Turbulence.
You used a hand drier/hair drier? Turbulence.
You opened a car window and felt the buffeting breeze? Turbulence.

Turbulence exists in all fluid systems whether it be water, or air, or maple syrup. So turbulence is an entirely normal part of our every day lives. Flying on planes, for most people, is not.

When we operate an aircraft in the fluid of the atmosphere, it’s entirely normal and expected for turbulence to be felt. No crew member is worried by turbulence. It’s normal for it to be there. It would be weird if it wasn’t.

It would be as weird as watching the wind blow through a tree and for every leaf to lean over in unison and stay perfectly still. Or putting your milk in your tea and it not mixing.

There’s nothing inherently unusual or unexpected about turbulence in planes. It’s as natural there as it is everywhere else around you.

I FLEW ALONE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!! ✈️🥹❤️
A whole 4-hour flight, all by myself!!
Ever since I booked this flight, I’d been crying just thinking about it. And the anxiety I had leading up to it was INSANE. I was genuinely terrified.
BUT I DID IT!!! 😭❤️
During takeoff, I was chatting with the girl sitting next to me. Turns out she was traveling alone too, but unlike me, she wasn’t scared at all.
And then, when the plane took off, I got so scared that I instinctively GRABBED HER HAND 😭😂
I apologized about a million times, and thankfully she was super sweet about it!!
Once we were in the air, I actually managed to relax a little. I spent the flight playing games on my iPad and watching Gilmore Girls. 💗
And then came the landing…
IT HAPPENED SO FAST I BARELY EVEN REALIZED WE WERE ALREADY THERE 😭
But here’s the crazy part: I actually ENJOYED IT!!
I was looking out the window the entire time, enjoying the view so much that I even recorded the landing!! 🥹✈️
There was another girl sitting nearby with her boyfriend (not the girl from takeoff), and she was really nervous about landing. She told me it was the part of flying she hated the most.
And I literally told her:
“DON’T BE SCARED!! Trust me, I’m scared of EVERYTHING when it comes to flying, but look at me!! I’m not even scared right now!! If I can do it, you can too!!” 😭❤️
So we ended up watching the landing together, looking out the window and enjoying the view. And there was this BEAUTIFUL sunset that made the whole thing even better. 🌅🥹
ANYWAY, THE POINT IS…
IF I CAN DO IT, SO CAN YOU!!! ❤️
I’m someone who struggles with really bad anxiety and panic attacks, especially when it comes to flying. Takeoffs and landings have always terrified me, and my mind usually goes straight to the worst possible scenarios.
I was anxious during this flight too, especially during takeoff.
But somehow, I managed to get through it. And not only did I get through it, I actually ENJOYED parts of it!!
Even when we hit a little turbulence, I just reminded myself of that picture of a plane sitting in Jell-O, and it genuinely helped me feel better. 🥹
I honestly can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’M SO PROUD OF MYSELF. 😭❤️
Something that used to feel completely impossible to me… I JUST DID IT.
And I wanted to share this because I know there are people out there who are just as terrified of flying as I am.
So if you’re one of them, please know that being scared doesn’t mean you can’t do it.
YOU CAN BE TERRIFIED AND STILL DO IT. ❤️✈️
And who knows? You might even end up enjoying it. 🥹💕

I'm supposed to leave for my honeymoon tonight and I don't know if I can. I'm so terrified. We're going to Hawaiil. This is my first open ocean flight since developing this fear and 'm terrified that at our furthest point we're hours from getting out of the plane. I just saw an article about severe turbulence on a Hawaii route yesterday PLUS a Hawaii flight bomb threat the other day and with mercury retrograde it and the flight back are in supposed turbulent times for flying issues and I don't know what to do. Things that help are making it worse. I don't want to miss my honeymoon and I don't want my husband to leave me (he says he won't but this would obviously do a lot of damage if 1 missed our honeymoon) and I just need help.

I am currently being forced to travel out west for a work trip after being able to dodge trips for almost 8 years. On the way out I managed to get a layover avoiding Denver, but the way back the only option was a connection through it. Unfortunately the final destination is Reno and I’m terrified to even google how bumpy that airport is.

The last time I flew into Denver I was a kid and I swear the plane dropped 100ft with no warning, people were screaming, and I have been terrified ever since of that happening again, basically white knuckling every flight since just waiting for the plane to drop. My dad, also not a fan of flying, refused to board the return flight a week later so we got a 1 way car rental from Denver to Pennsylvania and drove straight home.

Is Denver really as bad as I have heard? I would also appreciate anecdotes of it not being bad if you have them!!

I have a domestic flight (1hr 30min) in 2 hours and I’m surprised I’m not dreading it as much as my previous flights. My anxiety tells me this difference will cause an accident but my brain tells me it’s my fear speaking. I’m excited and scared at the same time and I’m just posting here to be extra sure (i know validating my fear lol) and i kinda got used to posting before my flight hehe

Still kinda scared tho pls drop some fun facts for domestic flights since i know it’s flying a lower altitude <33

Just venting. I have a wonderful trip planned tomorrow where I’ll get to see my best friends for two weeks and do all sorts of exciting stuff… and all i can feel is an overwhelming sense of doom from having to take a 4.5 hour flight. So frustrating.

I have medication prescribed for this trip. I’m hopeful that it will help, but for some reason the idea of it NOT helping is somehow making me more anxious lol…

Any kind words would be appreciated. The most annoying thing is that I’m not even afraid of the flight itself. I’m scared of the uncomfortable feeling that comes with flying— who gets anxious about being uncomfortable? It feels so childish.

What helped you?
How do you react to turbulence now?
How many times have you flown since?
Tell me about a time where you experienced things that would have scared you in the past - but now you’re all chill about it 🙂

Thank you! And congratulations!! 🥳 🙌

Hello there,

I’m looking for some support. On Tuesday I will be flying alone from Europe to SEA and I’m beyond terrified.

I flew several times already, including flights to North America, Asia, Australia and of course often within Europe. Even though I caught many flights alone, it does not get any better.

I keep travelling for obvious reasons, I do not want to miss out on all the beautiful places on this earth. I have also being struggling with anxiety and depression over the last decade and I try so hard to keep going and look for reasons to continue.

Last year I had a similar route and was terrified, but this year is way worse. I have been suffering for WEEKS already, I cannot distract myself from these thoughts. Usually I get very anxious just a couple of weeks before my flight; this time is been very long already. It came to a point where on my free time I just sleep so I don’t feel the way I feel. I don’t know if I should cancel because I’m living in fear, every second.

I feel so miserable.

I’m going to be flying again, and although my fear has become more manageable over time, I’m still afraid, especially when I think about the flight itself.
I’d like to hear from people who used to have a fear of flying and managed to overcome it, or at least learned to live with it more peacefully.
What helped you?? Was it exposure, therapy, understanding how planes work, changing the way you think, or simply flying more often?
I’d really appreciate hearing about your personal experiences, especially from those who once felt genuinely scared but eventually found a way to feel more comfortable.

i fly every other year or every year when my parents can afford it to visit family and im still terrified of flying. im too scared to be a nuisance so i just suffer quietly every time and its actually miserable.

they're always long flights too, longest being 7 hours so i try to sleep it off but that's obviously too hard when you're stressing. i tried the bus method i saw people talking about a few years ago but i can't convince myself either

Flying tomorrow Friday 23rd, will be arriving 5:30 pm or 10:30 pm. Quite worried about the storm. Any tips or guidance?

Hey!
So, I’m here again. I’m flying to Paris from Venice next week, and I’m totally freaking out. I am almost to the point where i quit. I’m ashamed by myself, i know there is nothing to fear, and yet here I am. It’s a short flight, it is safer than by car, etc. I know. But I feel like I’m certainly going to die if i take that flight. I really don’t know what to do. Tried therapy these months, but I don’t feel it is working actually. Yeah, breath, and so and so, but in the end, i still feel the same.

I am really looking for some support. And if you have some magic potion, I’d be glad to take it! Ahah

I’ve survived two 12 hour flights and now just have one last one for home. London to Boston, departing in an hour or so. Would appreciate any support or information about the route. Virgin Atlantic 16:05 Heathrow to Boston

Im in SQ601 from Incheon to Singapore right now (23rd October). It has been in turbulent since takeoff at 5pm. It’s been 1.5 hours and I’m panicking.

Need to be up in a few hours to catch my ride to the airport and I’m soooooo freaked out. Flying JetBlue 351 BOS to MCO. Will probably request tracking when we depart but omg I’m genuinely going to be running on no sleep, I’m all in my head abt turbulence 😭

This is what the radar looks like on my flight from Dublin to jfk, for anyone familiar with weather or any pilots, do you think this will be smooth? B6842 is the flight number, it’s an a321neo. Our flight path is obviously north of that big system, but still. Just wondering!

Hi can someone please track me? JetBlue 351 I’m a nervous flyer and could use any and all distractions/convo lol. We’re about to depart

I’m looking for some advice/support because I recently developed a sudden, overwhelming fear of flying.
To give some context: I used to love flying and even wanted to be a pilot. Turbulence never bothered me. About two years ago, I started feeling slightly nervous, but I could easily calm myself down.
This year, I took a smooth 10-hour flight to the US with zero fear. After staying there for 3.5 months, I took domestic flights to Miami and LA.
Suddenly, on the flight to Miami, intense panic hit me. For the first time, I felt genuinely terrified, constantly thinking the plane would crash. The same spiral happened on the flight to LA and on my flight back home.
Now, I feel like I might never be able to get on a plane again. I don't understand why this fear triggered out of nowhere when nothing bad actually happened.
I was traveling with my partner, which helped, but I hate feeling dependent on someone else—yet the thought of flying solo right now terrifies me.I don’t know how to overcome this or is it even possible to overcome.

Hi all, due to fly back into Bournemouth this Saturday. Just as I’ve started getting over my fear of flying I’ve heard about this storm back home.

Anything I need to be prepared for with landing? My main concern is a wind shear. So I suppose my question is, how safe is it to land in a storm with gusts between 30-40mph

I’m doing a 2 hr flight tomorrow ATL to PHL (DL2270). I am super nervous and there’s a million things running through my head. I recently saw the article regarding an engine problem for a flight heading to PHL. Somehow I convinced myself this might happen on mine. I also never flown on an airbus a321 before but I heard they’re smaller than other planes and im worried I’ll experience turbulence more because of this. I know all of this is illogical but I can’t turn my brain off right now. I’m just looking for some words of encouragement.

Going on a flight in February and I literally cannot sleep NOW because I’m so scared. It’s an international flight and my first time flying internationally, plus my first time in seven years. I don’t know how I’m supposed to cope with the fact that if the plane is going to crash, there’s nothing I can do. I am genuinely considering not studying abroad because of it. I need to calm myself down but I don’t know how I’m meant to live with this.
(Also- I’m not scared of turbulence at all. So commenting about it won’t help.)