Graham writes:
Holidays were for me, something that I looked forward and became excited about. But for as long as I can remember, I was never keen on heights. Back in 1974 my heights problem was particularly bad - I couldn't even happily go to the third floor of a multi-storey car park without feeling fear. I used to avoid at all costs, anything that involved going higher than the third floor.

I remember my Aunt who lives in Australia asking me over for a holiday, I would only need to pay the air-fare, but I repeatedly made an excuse, as there was no way I could get onto an aeroplane. More recently, when my wife and were planning a holiday in this country, I would check the heights of the terrain, before I would agree on the destination. This reached such a point that I would only go on holiday in East Anglia where I live. I began to realise that I needed Help.

Things reached a head when my wife was travelling abroad with her sister. I became envious..... I wanted to be there, visit other countries, see the sights, and experience the different cultures.

Then I had to go on a business trip to America. I managed to get on the plane, but all through the flight I sat rigid in my seat, could not eat, just about managed to drink, but no way could I leave my seat and go to the toilet. It was terrible. When I arrived at the far end (Boston) I cried on the phone to my wife. She tells me that I told her that I couldn’t return, as I was too frightened. Somehow, I did return.

A couple of years later, I plucked up the courage to go on a trip to Glasgow, again for work, I remember taking a tranquilizer tablet two days before the trip, It knocked me out. So on the day of the trip, I took half a tablet, but as I was getting so worked up, nothing happened, So I took the other half, and still nothing, I then got on the plane with my work colleagues, we sat there, and we sat, and we sat. The plane was delayed for 30 minutes, and finally when the plane’s door was shut, I got up out of my seat and had to get off the plane. In the terminal, I cried and shook. I was still shaking when I arrived back home in Colchester from Stansted nearly an hour and a half later, and I vowed at that point never to try again.

BUT … Years later, I started feeling better in myself as I was coming out of depression, and decided that I needed to do something for myself. It was a crunch time...... I found, by searching the web, Freedom to Fly, and decided that this would be the last attempt to overcome the fear of flying. Kill of Cure.

I was also given an ultimatum by my wife, Try this, and if it doesn't work, don't do it EVER again. Accept your problem, Don't keep "beating yourself up", But I didn't want to give up.

I don't think it was so much, the explanations of how the body reacts when under stress, as I have covered this type of therapy before, I believe it was Elaine’s manner that helped me through. I explained that when I became scared, things would appear to "judder" when they weren’t supposed to, which frightened me all the more. It was explained to me, that if this happens, to just move in my seat, play around with things, jiggle about from side to side, and this took my mind off the problem.

When we arrived at Heathrow airport for the short trip, I was kept in suspense as to where we would fly; I was elated when told that we were to fly to Schipol airport. Even though we would not leave the terminal, I was pleased. I was particularly impressed in the way that Elaine kept us occupied, making us find out where to go, and at what time we were to leave. When we alighted from the plane, I felt confident. Elaine explained things to us about the flight, the noises and the bumps.. When we took off, I couldn't believe how steeply we rose, but I kept control.....

The rest is now history. We had our belated Honeymoon 30 years later. We went to America "New England in the Fall". I was SOOOOO pleased and will never forget the amount of trees.....the colours.......We then booked a holiday to Venice...... That was unbelievable. The culture, the architecture, the people.......I was awestruck. We flew over the Italian Alps, the scenery was fantastic......Yes, I couldn't stop looking out of the window. We have now booked a holiday to Minorca, to try out a relaxing by the sea holiday. The world is now my oyster....... I will keep going abroad.

I still feel apprehensive, but I believe that to be normal, and that I really am now just like other people.

Thanks Elaine........