'Note Once Did I Grip The Armrests
Tom,
I wanted to share with you my success story. Throughout my life (I'm 52) I've experienced bouts of flight anxiety. It hasn't prevented me from flying, but I was always gripping the seat and felt every turn and bump, and heard every sound--all with intense trepidation. Last year it seemed to get worse. My family and I were planning two trips in 2006 plus I had business travel so I knew I needed to try and deal with this fear.
So, I downloaded a few of your audio programs, put them on CDs, and started to listen to them every day on my way to work. I work in Washington, DC, and cross the 14th street bridge (in the National Airport flight path) every morning and every evening. I used to look at those planes and wonder how they got up, stayed up and I could feel my palms get sweaty just looking at them.
After a few weeks of listening, especially to the imagery exercise (thinking of something comforting while looking at photos of planes, airports, etc.) and the one that explains everything that happens before, during and after flight, something significantly changed. I would look up at those airplanes and instead of anxiety I felt calmness. I thought 'Hey, maybe I can do this'. So on to the family trips...we took two: one to the Caribbean and one to Hawaii, plus a business trip to CA. I have to say that not once, NOT ONCE, did I grip the armrests during any of these flights! Not even when we hit some turbulence over the Rockies and the pilot requested that the flight attendants sit down (although my heart did start to race a bit).
I was even able to explain to my 12-year old daughter what was happening upon take off (when the pilot reduced power). She thought we were falling. And, in the past, if I were to use the restroom and we ran into turbulence, I would race back to my seat. Not this time. It was as if I got stronger dealing with it and conquering it. Always hearing your soothng voice say 'turbulence is not a problem for the plane' and the 'air is as thick as jello.' The exercise of raising your feet off the floor and arms off the armrests is an excellent one. I did that several times during turbelence (we had strong headwinds to CA). And to top it off, I actually dozed off a few times during flight--something I was NEVER calm enough to do.
So I feel it's now time to take the CDs out of my car CD player and put in some French language tapes to get ready for another possible trip. Who knows, maybe I'll even make it to Australia and be relaxed the whole way!
Thank you, Tom, for your program. It truly transformed me and is quite liberating!
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If You Didn't Get An Email About The New Audio Course, Let Me Know
A new audio course on 10 CDs will soon be available for shipping which parallels the 10 DVD Video Course. I sent an email out to everyone offering special pre-release pricing. If you didn't get the email, please email me, and I'll send it again.
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House Democrats To Push For Screening Airline Cargo
It's about time.
We have been hearing about how everything is being done for our nation's security, when the facts are closer to everything is being done for our nation's security that costs no money.
As a businessman once told me (about a business we were starting up), 'Don't sell the bacon; sell the 'sizzle'. Sizzle -- the sound of bacon cooking and that wonderful aroma -- doesn't cost a thing. Selling that makes money. But if you sell bacon, you have to buy it to sell; bacon costs real money.
One of my jobs here, as I see it, is to help you see the difference between bacon (could that be real safety that costs money) and sizzle (could that be leather seats and television?).
The following Bloomberg article shows -- once again -- that airline safety is tied to politics, and anything tied to politics is likely to be about selling the sizzle. Here is a short clip from the article:
Such a rule would spur airlines to ``look very seriously' at ending cargo service, said James Burnley, transportation secretary under President George H.W. Bush. Screening ``would create enormous problems and greatly slow down the movement of smaller goods,' he said.
See: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aARxP0Z5cSC4&refer=us.
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Article: 'Nigerian flyers get by on a wing and prayer'
As I've said here many times, when something goes wrong with a plane in a third world country it has nothing to do with how flying is here in the U.S. or in advanced countries.
You really need to completely disregard any accident outside of areas where you will be flying.
Even in Nigeria, flying is safer than driving. But if you need to understand why flying is not like it is where you live, this article can help.
See: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=68&art_id=qw1163510640148B252.
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A Good Article On A Day In A Senior Airline Pilot's Life
When a pilot is senior at an airline, flying is easy. You fly a few hours non-stop. You go to the hotel. You fly again the next day after a good night's sleep. That's the way it used to be, not only for pilots at the top of the seniority list who could pick and choose their flights and control their schedules, but for most other pilots. Very few pilots have it that good anymore. But this article shows you how it is for the pilots at the top of the list -- and only those at the top of the list. Of course, it takes you thirty years to get there. You are there for a couple of years. And then you retire.
See: http://www.flyingmag.com/article.asp?section_id=12&article_id=728.
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Wednesday Night Conference Call On Flight Anxiety
- 9:00 PM until 10:00 PM Eastern time
Join our regular 'chat' (where we type what we want to say).
10:00 PM until 11:00 PM Eastern time
Join in by phone on a conference call dealing with flight anxiety.
Instead of typing, we can just talk.
- Listen in to the discussion.
- Take part in the discussion.
- It's your choice.
Want to know more about:
- How flying works
- Turbulence, and why it is not a threat
- Controlling anxiety, panic and claustrophobia
We'll talk about this and more every Wednesday night
- Eastern Time: 10 PM until 11 PM
- Central Time: 9 PM until 10 PM
- Mountain Time: 8 PM until 9 PM
- Pacific Time: 7 PM until 8 PM
As simple as 1, 2, 3.
- 1. Dial 1-641-793-7500
- 2. You will hear, 'Thank you for calling the Conference Center.'
- 3. When asked, enter this pin code: 681956 followed by #
For Your Convenience The Following Info Is Also Displayed Where You Enter The Chat At:
http://www.fearofflying.com/chat.shtml
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Need More Help Than Meds Provide?
Nothing in the medicine chest works as well as what's in the SOAR 'tool box': 'The Strengthening Exercise'.
- Full Strength.
- Flight Tested By Thousands.
Seriously though, what we have developed provides far more help than any anti-anxiety medication can -- and does so automatically.
- SOAR is not just another fear of flying program offering relaxation and reassurance
- SOAR is advanced help and succeeds with the most extreme cases of flight anxiety
- SOAR was developed through twenty-five years of research, study, and experience
Which Way Fits You Best?
- The Guaranteed SOAR Video Course on DVD
- Learn the cause and how to fix it in 'Psychology of Flight Anxiety'
- Understand amazing backup systems that make flying safe in 'How Flying Works'
- Get automatic control of the feelings when you fly with 'Control of Anxiety'
- Take a virtual test flight of your new skills in 'At The Airport'
- The Guaranteed SOAR Audio Course on MP3
- Hear lessons on the web site - or download them to your computer or iPod
- Download the 'Take Me Along' audio tracks to your iPod or laptop
- It's like having your own pilot sitting there with you
Complete and comprehensive. Ten DVDs (appx. ten hours). View it on the internet as soon as you place your order. Your DVDs are shipped to your door by FEDEX or Priority Mail.
See guarantee and order at: http://www.fearofflying.com/store.shtml.
The same complete information as in the Video Course but condensed into five hours of audio. Plus one important extra: 'Take Me Along' audio tracks to use during the flight.
I'll explain everything that is happening - as it happens - so you will know everything is normal on the flight.
See guarantee and order here: Read More Now!
- A Counseling Session
A session customized to your exact needs. I'm both an airline captain and a licensed therapist. I can help you based on success with over six-thousand clients in the past twenty-five years. The fee for a twenty-minute session covering the basics is $60.00, payable by MasterCard, Visa or American Express. Everything can be covered in forty to sixty minutes (fee prorated to time used).
Available 10 AM to 7 PM Eastern (New York) time. Outside the U.S. or Canada call: 203-258-4803.
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Not Ready To Order The Entire Program?
At least learn 'The Strengthening Exercise'. Order 'The Control of Anxiety' ($195.00 on video; $49.95 on audio) at: http://www.fearofflying.com/store.shtml.