Battling my flying terror

I am writing to ask if any readers have ever combatted an extreme/phobia of flying – and I mean extreme!

Neither my husband or myself flew (even though he was in the RAF during the war he never went into a plane).

But sadly since my husband died this year I will now have to take the bull by the horns if I want to travel back and forth to the UK.

I have friends who are willing to escort me on flights (Carcassonne to East Midlands) but I am terrified that I will absolutely freeze either at the bottom of the steps or at the entrance of the plane. Or, if I did actually enter the plane, I fear that I would go into hysterics and cause havoc. I hate open staircases and have been known to totally freeze and not be able to move one way or another.

This is a genuine plea for help as I really want to go back to the UK from time to time.

Also are the airlines, especially the budget ones, sympathetic to an acute fear of flying?
I would appreciate any advice.

Val WATSON, Castelnaudary

We have contacted Easyjet on your behalf and they are pleased to offer you a free two-day Fearless Flying course at the UK airport of your choice. We are contacting you directly with details, and please do write again to let us know how you get on. You might also consider explaining the problem to your GP in France and asking for some anti-anxiety medication to help you relax during the course.