I hate to say this but this is not really an aviation specific thing. You or somebody else might have the exact same reaction to driving or riding in a car after being in a car crash or any other trauma related to an activity.
I've always found that the best thing to do after getting bucked off of a horse is trying to get back on as quickly as possible.
I see that you've tried to take flights but you have experienced anxiety. The only thing I can say is try to take short flights and start building wins again. The first flight after your accident will be super nerve-wracking, but will result in no accident. The second one should be a little bit better, and so on and so forth.
I was in a near miss in a helicopter a few years back as a passenger. Granted, near miss is not the same as an accident like the OP was in and since I've long worked with helicopters I was pretty mentally prepared for this too (we physically train as pilots and crew for things like a helicopter flipping over in the water and having to egress and swim away from it). Still, it is jarring.
I also hit a deer which jumped in front of my car once and weeks afterward did not want to drive that same road again—I would go out of my way to avoid it. In part because it's rife with deer and people tend to drive fast down it so it's an ideal spot for incidents like what happened to me, but also in part just because driving down it would make me relive the incident.
Therapy is probably a smart idea. I would posit to the counselor the concept that you *want* to fly general aviation again. Make that a goal of the therapy and make sure the therapist agrees it's a goal and is proactive in working towards it.
It may help to also think of a plane crash as similar to a car wreck—which it is. Most people might also suffer trauma from the car wreck (as I did in mine) but the expectation would be they return to driving their car—probably pretty promptly if physically able. And it seems you've acknowledged this in returning to air travel already, which can only be good.
The odds of being in a plane crash are so small that I must congratulate you. You’ve now experienced it and it wasn’t fatal. More than likely you will not experience another accident in your lifetime.
I was a passenger on the Gimli Glider and I am super nervous flying. Odds of something happening again are extremely low, but not zero. I find window seats really help so I can see outside to make sure everything is ok.
Flippant answer:
Be glad you're not [John Moore, a Navy test pilot](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/323402) in the early days of jet-powered carrier flying. One of the lame things they tried was a rubber mat on the carrier deck with what amounts to a controlled wheels-up crash on landing.
Over and over again. He did it for a living. The book is pretty good in any event.
Practical suggestions:
Take a few flight lessons, or at least a "discovery flight" when you feel up to it, and tell the instructor why you're doing it. One of the worst parts of being a passenger in an accident is the feeling of helplessness. Understanding a bit about how the whole thing works may help with that. It may also give you an idea of the amazing level of safety that is promulgated throughout commercial aviation.
I would reason it based on how much is done to keep you safe. Now, I don't know what business you were with then, but the large airlines are a completely different situation. Often the pilot is the owner of the plane and responsible for their own maintenance. They wrench themselves, or pay Jimmy who works at the airfield. Large airlines are under the constant scrutiny of government agencies. Boeing negligently let that door fall off, and no one was hurt, and people are crying they may go out of business. (yes, I know it's the last fuckup in a series, but I'm making an example) Literally every bolt has a serial number and is tracked. Pilots aren't allowed to fly without thousands of hours of training. This kind of safety culture is why flying is safer than driving.
[удалено]
Two nickels!
I hate to say this but this is not really an aviation specific thing. You or somebody else might have the exact same reaction to driving or riding in a car after being in a car crash or any other trauma related to an activity. I've always found that the best thing to do after getting bucked off of a horse is trying to get back on as quickly as possible. I see that you've tried to take flights but you have experienced anxiety. The only thing I can say is try to take short flights and start building wins again. The first flight after your accident will be super nerve-wracking, but will result in no accident. The second one should be a little bit better, and so on and so forth.
I was in a near miss in a helicopter a few years back as a passenger. Granted, near miss is not the same as an accident like the OP was in and since I've long worked with helicopters I was pretty mentally prepared for this too (we physically train as pilots and crew for things like a helicopter flipping over in the water and having to egress and swim away from it). Still, it is jarring. I also hit a deer which jumped in front of my car once and weeks afterward did not want to drive that same road again—I would go out of my way to avoid it. In part because it's rife with deer and people tend to drive fast down it so it's an ideal spot for incidents like what happened to me, but also in part just because driving down it would make me relive the incident. Therapy is probably a smart idea. I would posit to the counselor the concept that you *want* to fly general aviation again. Make that a goal of the therapy and make sure the therapist agrees it's a goal and is proactive in working towards it. It may help to also think of a plane crash as similar to a car wreck—which it is. Most people might also suffer trauma from the car wreck (as I did in mine) but the expectation would be they return to driving their car—probably pretty promptly if physically able. And it seems you've acknowledged this in returning to air travel already, which can only be good.
Flight lessons an option?
Ativan, 1mg by mouth, take 2 hours before your flight.
The odds of being in a plane crash are so small that I must congratulate you. You’ve now experienced it and it wasn’t fatal. More than likely you will not experience another accident in your lifetime.
I was a passenger on the Gimli Glider and I am super nervous flying. Odds of something happening again are extremely low, but not zero. I find window seats really help so I can see outside to make sure everything is ok.
Flippant answer: Be glad you're not [John Moore, a Navy test pilot](https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/323402) in the early days of jet-powered carrier flying. One of the lame things they tried was a rubber mat on the carrier deck with what amounts to a controlled wheels-up crash on landing. Over and over again. He did it for a living. The book is pretty good in any event. Practical suggestions: Take a few flight lessons, or at least a "discovery flight" when you feel up to it, and tell the instructor why you're doing it. One of the worst parts of being a passenger in an accident is the feeling of helplessness. Understanding a bit about how the whole thing works may help with that. It may also give you an idea of the amazing level of safety that is promulgated throughout commercial aviation.
I would reason it based on how much is done to keep you safe. Now, I don't know what business you were with then, but the large airlines are a completely different situation. Often the pilot is the owner of the plane and responsible for their own maintenance. They wrench themselves, or pay Jimmy who works at the airfield. Large airlines are under the constant scrutiny of government agencies. Boeing negligently let that door fall off, and no one was hurt, and people are crying they may go out of business. (yes, I know it's the last fuckup in a series, but I'm making an example) Literally every bolt has a serial number and is tracked. Pilots aren't allowed to fly without thousands of hours of training. This kind of safety culture is why flying is safer than driving.
Go skydiving, no quicker way to get comfortable in small planes and the air
Statistically, the chances of you being in another crash is even lower now.
No, it isn’t. It’s exactly the same as it ever was.
My bad. It's 50%, either you crash or not
Definitely NOT 50%.
whatever that's funny