Fear...of flying?

So, this is what happens when one starts to think to much -

Jeff and I are going on a LONG awaited trip to Washington DC in July. We leave in 6 1/2 weeks. It can't come fast enough. I've been busy planning, writing and rewriting our itinerary, checking and rechecking reservations, etc. etc. etc. But today, I started to think about the flight. I hate flying. I am dreadfully afraid of it. I had a panic attack last time I was on a plane - a really bad one! When I start thinking about how scared I am of flying, I feel like canceling the whole trip and staying home! I think I am so frightened of flying because I am a control freak and being in a small space with someone else at the helm doesn't give me much control. But really, this fear does consume me - more and more the closer we get to the trip.

So why is it that we as humans, fear such small things, that have such a minute chance of harming us? Compared to flying, the statistics of driving are much worse. Same with the bird flu. I remember the panic of that in 2005. But we don't get all concerned about influenza which kills 20,000 Americans a year. We fear shark attacks, when a bee or wasp sting is much more likely to do great harm. There was a very interesting article last fall about this very subject. I found it interesting, simply because I worry about everything. Laura will remember my total freak out worry session freshman year, after a long (and terrifying, mind you) conversation with a super-conservative, nay, fundamentalist! Yikes!

So, I need to pull out that article (which I did save!) and reread it so that I can remind myself not to worry. In the end, I can't worry, shouldn't worry - I'm not in control. And I feel good about that, because I know Who is. (And I don't need to terrify anyone in saying that! LOL)