The Oprah Magazine August Big Question asks, “What are you longing to do?” As an #OmagInsider (brand ambassador for O, The Oprah Magazine), I was presented with this question several months ago. My answer came to me very easily. I have a serious fear of flying that appeared back in my late 20’s to early 30’s. I feel like it’s only gotten worse through the years. For others who don’t experience this fear, it’s hard to understand. Luckily my husband acknowledges that this is a problem for me and he doesn’t push the subject.
This cover is beautiful. I’m loving Oprah’s stunning dress!!
It was interesting to read what other individuals are struggling with in their lives and what they’d like to overcome. Several of my OMagInsider sisters had their questions addressed in the issue as well. I hope you’ll take the time to read this month’s issue. I think you may find yourself in one of these same situations and the advice given can be priceless.
I really appreciated Captain Tom Bunn’s answer to my big question. I’ve actually taken some of his courses years ago and they definitely helped me. I even had a full set of CD’s to listen to. One of my friend’s here in my hometown saw my question in the magazine and sent me a message of help and hope. Her husband is a pilot and is offering to talk to me about my fear and offer his professional voice about how to deal with it. He’s helped others in the past. You’d better believe that I’ll be taking him up on the conversation.
If my life and my soul were in sync I’d be a world traveler and go to amazing places. I’d be going to cities and countries that I see people posting about all over social media. I’d be walking where great people in history have walked before me. I’d be standing on the tops of mountains and swimming from sea to sea. I’d be breathing in the beauty of mother nature. I’d be smelling all of the scents of nature. I’d be sitting and listening to the waves crash on the beaches in far off lands.
One of my views from a previous vacation. So worth overcoming my fear!
I’m definitely a work in progress. My fear of flying doesn’t keep me out of the sky. It just keeps me off longer flights. For now I take a little bit of medicine prior to flying. This relaxes me enough to tolerate the task. I visualize the places I’m going and the experiences that I know I will have. This is my motivation. I’m doing a lot of traveling in the coming months. I’m hoping that as time goes by it will be easier for me. It’s time for me to go the places I’ve always dreamed about! I will keep you updated on my journey.
The Big Question for you is, “What are you longing to do that you haven’t achieved due to your fear?”
You can find my answer to last month’s question as well as previous months’ posts in the Big Questions tab in the Lifestyle tab in my navigation bar above.
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It is wonderful that you are facing your fears and working to overcome them!
I understand this all too well. I am a travel writer who despises flying. I don’t have a fear of flying, but I hate it so much that I have major panic attacks, anxiety, and have stopped flying altogether for quite some time. I hate being stuck in one seat and I get claustrophobic, but it was hurting us financially so I had to figure something out. I started seeing a therapist to work through it, and it helped that her family lived overseas so she flew often long distances. I was with her for over a year, and while I still don’t like to fly, at least I’m not freaking out about it now.
Thank you for sharing this Stacie! I love that you are working on overcoming your fear of flying. Can’t wait to follow your future travel adventures!
I have that same fear and coincidentally, it actually began when I was 27 and on my honeymoon. I can get on a plane now, but I need to have at least one glass of wine before boarding. 😉
Congratulations on being in O Magazine! I think the only I fear is dating at my age!
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Great answer to your question. I used to be terrified of flying but now I just get a little nervous before I fly. My in-laws travel the world and my two longest flights were to meet them in different countries. Those trips were wonderful and I’d like to go to Europe again now.
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Glad to know you’re learning to conquer your own fears. I have done pretty much things I want to do, fear and uncertainty were there but I learned to overcome it coz my mindset is “this too I will conquer”. Excited for your future travels
I share your fear. I have to take anxiety meds to fly. I used to love flying pre-9/11 but post 9/11 when I was harassed at the airport repeatedly it made me have a ton of dread going to the airport. Add in that I feel claustraphobic on planes and it usually makes for a miserable experience. I’ve worked at it and it’s become more tolerable the past few years.
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The answer is easy for me too–I’m longing to get my own place!
I don’t have a fear of flying but I get claustrophobic after a few hours in a plane. That makes long flights potentially difficult. I take medication when I need to, there’s no shame in that and this type of situation is exactly when anti-anxiety medication helps the most: a short-term thing that creates panic. After getting on a few very long non-stop flights (my longest was 16 hours, LA to Dubai) and feeling relaxed with the help of medication, I started being less anxious about it, so now I generally don’t have to take the meds.
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I have a huge fear of heights, to the point where I have a hard time going up and down stairs and escalators. Because of this I have a hard time doing things that involve these.
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I, too, have the same fear. Thank you so much for posting, and encouraging us all!