Chasing Sunset

Recently I had to fly to the east coast for a conference. I find, the older I get, the more I dislike flying. My husband, the helicopter pilot, thinks I'm being silly and irrational. And I am. Intellectually, I completely understand that I am more likely to die driving down the freeway than I am flying. But most of our fears are irrational, aren't they?

What makes it even better - and sillier - is that I am more scared of flying over the ocean (I live on an island so flying anywhere involves flying over the ocean) than I am of flying over the land. Maybe it's not the crashing that scares me but the drowning? Which is also silly and irrational for two reasons:

a.) I'm a lifeguard and a pretty strong swimmer
b.) crashing - whether it's into the ocean or into the ground - from 30,000+ feet will probably kill you either way

See? Silly. And irrational. But no one said that my fears had to be rational, did they?

My other fear is bridges.

Yes, bridges.

When I was a kid, my parents would play pinochle with friends and I would hang out on that Friday night and watch "Love Boat", "Fantasy Island" (I know, I'm dating myself here) and whatever "Movie of the Week" was on. One night, it was a movie about the San Fransisco Bay bridge. The bridge apparently had weaknesses that only this one engineer knew about and, though he tried to warn everyone, the bridge started to collapse with cars still on it. Which sent several cars plunging into the ocean.

Again, scary. And ridiculous.

But it's my fear.

Needless to say, I avoid bridges at every opportunity. I hyperventilate going over tall overpasses. I once threatened to exit a moving vehicle (at 55mph) because my friend's dad was threatening to drive me on to the Bay Bridge.

I am not scared of earthquakes, tornadoes, spiders, clowns (though I do think they are creepy), or anything "normal" like that. Guess I"m just odd.

What irrational fears do you have? How do you cope with them? I'm almost to the point where I might need pharmaceutical help the next time I fly.I tried a natural anxiety relief remedy and that helped a bit but I was still pretty tightly wound on this trip. Which, given the fact that we are a military family and we live on an island, doesn't really work very well.

Guess we'll see. Makes it very difficult to make it to any SpouseBuzz Live events!

So, what about you?

Comments

[angela]

I have a big fear of the car falling in water and I can't get all of my kids out. The odds are so slim yet that bothers me. It doesn't bother me to drive alone or if my husand is with me and the kids. It's just when it's me being the only adult in the car with the kids. Nothing tramatic has happened to us with water so I don't know where the fear comes from.

[phyllis]

Ok I did the same things you did growing up I loved those showes. If you are talking about the Bay Bridge collaping that was in Oct 89 and was due to a big earthquake. (I think)

[GM]

I have the same insane fear of bridges. I'm known to change lanes to the inside lane, so that if a tire blows I have one lane to roll over into before rolling off the bridge. My husband thinks I'm completely insane, but yah, it's completely irrational and no basis for it. That's probably my biggest fear. Oh! I agree with flying being harder the older you get. I had a bad experience our last flight into Atlanta--raining, cloudy, bumpy landing with TONS of other planes in the air--I panicked myself by wondering if I couldn't see the wings out my window because the clouds were so thick how does the pilot avoid all of those other planes we saw before we descended into the clouds. Sigh.

[Lisa]

Given the Twin Cities I-35W bridge collapsing in '07 I don't think fear of bridges is irrational.

[Petra]

I am scared that something will fall on my head and kill me. I HATE walking under chandeliers and trees that carry big fruit. And I am always scared that some insect gets into my ear and messes up my brains :))

[Mrs G]

Have both those fears as well. Didn't fear flying til after my first child.

Also hate bridges (well before '07), there's something about being in a vehicle so high up (no control).

But I'll add one more fear, I hate to walk between two trees (that are in close proximity) Why such a ridicules fear your ask? SPIDERS. See we've lived mostly in the south or in wooded areas (still do), anyone heard of Banana Spiders? They make webs as far as 15' across and about 5' tall then rest right smack-dab in the middle. It really sucks to walk thru one, it's right out of a horror movie, but prolly entertaining for those who watched me do it. And there are many other spiders that do that. Actually I hate spiders in general and the hubby thinks it's hilarious.
Me walking thru our wooded yard waving my hands frantically in front of me. I even caulked the crap out of my recent back room remodel (mumbling I'll show you! to each crevice) because it was a fricken motel 6 for all things creepy, crawly, and hairy legged. I took care of em though.

[awtm]

boy I have a list...

I am afraid of putting air in my car tires, afraid I will cause too much air pressure and cause a huge tire explosion.

I freak out at dead animals under 30 pounds...they gross me out.

ummmm I do not like birds flying indoors, or at me, seagulls, pigeons, and the like dirty, icky.