terrified of flying. Tips?

[iheartnihilism]

I'm 29 and never been on a plane before. Just talking about it gets me worked up into panic mode. I basically need something to calm me down and no, i don't have access to meds like valiums or percs. I also don't want to take a sleeping pill because they hit me really really hard (1/4-1/2 a unisom usually knocks me out for 12 hours) and i don't want to be drowsy all day.

I tend to get panicky whenever i travel. I took an 18 hour train to chicago last october and there were multiple times where my brain wanders and i get horrific images of crashing/being involved in a terrible accident. It's even to the point where if i'm not already distracted by a book or my ipod, a 10 minute ride thorugh the tunnel to nyc gives me internal panic attacks (what if theres an accident, what if there's a leak and we all drown, etc.etc.)

I know these are irrational fears, i know i know, flying is safer than driving, blah blah blah but that's the point. they're irrational. So. How do i get rid of them? My big thing is, once im on that plane, i'm on that plane. There's no changing your mind. At least on a train, we made station stops and i could walk out and breathe. On a plane it's not like i can crack a window.
Also, i'm scared of heights and i get motion sickness very easily. (i hear take offs can be shaky?)
I originally wanted to take a test run flight, say to boston or somewhere very nearby but now i'm stuck flying across the country to CA. I've already chosen jetblue (i hear its the most comfortable airline). I assumed that a nonstop would be best, get on get off and its over but now i'm wodering if stopping might be better. Then again, I'd have to deal with getting back on and taking off all over again.
Help!
And I know people will say "get drunk!" but im not totally sure this might work in my favor depending on if im worked up about it already (which i probably will be.)