Several people have suggested to me that worry beads might be an effective distraction for nervous flyers. I had not seriously thought of this until after my parent’s renewal of their vows at St Paul’s Cathedral. The chaplain stopped for a few minutes to pass the time with us. She mentioned that she was sorting out all her commitments before travelling to Mauritius the following week. My brother asked if it was work or pleasure. I don’t know if he thought there were deserving souls in a holiday paradise but the question was asked. She responded with it was a family holiday which she was looking forward to but she was not looking forward to the flights. Late on my sister made an interesting comment. If a chaplain believed in God so strongly that it was her vocation why did she not think God would protect her during the flights. Her point was simply answered because no one who believes in God believes themselves to be immortal, they can still have things happen to them.
Back to the conversation with the chaplain, she said she had tried lots of things to try and take her mind off of the flights but with no success. My brother adds he has a similar problem when flying which is soft by a large drink. Oh dear, you can’t take him anywhere. I do feel guilty about what happened now. If I had just discovered worry beads and had not started a business I would have suggested worry beads and I have no doubt that they would have worked for her. The trouble is, it was my parents day and doing what might appear as a “sales pitch” to a chaplain in the crypt of St Paul’s Cathedral was a step too far from me. So to the very kind chaplain I do apologise. This is what I should have said and this is what I would recommend to others who have problems in flying.
To say, “use worry beads” is not enough. My subject, the chaplain, had used various distractions but for something as strong as fear a very strong distraction is required. I would class the fear of flying in the same vein as my own fear of having to live. When my depression is bad this is how I would describe it. How I get through these periods is to use worry beads in a special way, I learn a new trick. The concentration required to do this is sufficiently strong to distract me. In addition a goal has to be set in that the training cannot be set aside.