claustrophobic in planes anyone else??

[jess2132000]

We are flying from Philly International to Orlando on US Air on April 29th. I choose US Air because you can pick your seats ahead of time. I can not sit in the back of a plane as I am very claustrophobic. Most of our plane was booked so I got row 15 on a boeing 757-200 which I think is 3 rows isle and 3 rows. I choose the isle but might feel better at a window?? I can always switch seats with my husband or the kids. Any suggestions for claustrophobic people on planes??

 

[alldiz]

We are flying from Philly International to Orlando on US Air on April 29th. I choose US Air because you can pick your seats ahead of time. I can not sit in the back of a plane as I am very claustrophobic. Most of our plane was booked so I got row 15 on a boeing 757-200 which I think is 3 rows isle and 3 rows. I choose the isle but might feel better at a window?? I can always switch seats with my husband or the kids. Any suggestions for claustrophobic people on planes??

Take a valium

Have the air above you blowing full speed the whole flight...
good luck....
Kerri

 

[seashoreCM]

Maybe you could practice at home by setting up some folding chairs in a closet (after taking out the hanging clothes) and sitting in there for periods of time. Since an airplane cabin is lighted most of the time you can set up a lamp inside the closet.

The interior of the plane looks the same in the back as in the middle.

If you have used public rest room stalls you should be halfway there in terms of overcoming claustrophobia.

Disney hints: http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Or is it really fear of flying?

Anybody in favor of a "glass bottomed plane" where you can look down and see the clouds or ground below?

 

[snowbunny]

I'm claustrophic on some planes but not on a 757...that's a huge plane.

 

[keishashadow]

I've got issues (lots of 'em ). I prefer being alert, don't think it's wise being impaired via chemicals or alcohol; especially since I'm responsible for at least 1 kid each trip....to each their own.

I find if i limit my caffeine intake it helps somewhat. Also, try & get a seat on the aisle, near the front of the plane. Avoids that tunnel vision, trapped feeling when you look forward IMO. Visually tricks your mind into a more spacious environment.

Good luck.

 

[CleveRocks]

I'm a teensy bit claustrophobic. I guess it's just certain situations when I feel my body movements are limited, such as sitting scrunched up in an airline seat. But I have no trouble in elevators, for example. I was once stuck in one for about 3 hours, and I and the other people on-board lived to tell about it. I was more annoyed that I was missing a World Series game than anything else!

But I do feel cooped up in an airplane.

I prefer an aisle seat because there's more "air" (I don't have a wall right next to my head), and even though I don't get up every 5 minutes, it helps me to just know that I can get up a stroll down the aisle if I want to. That perceived freedom makes me feel less closed in.

And maybe it's just the therapist in me talking, but I'd stay away from anti-anxiety medications unless it's a last resort. If you've never taken them before, you never know what kind of weird side-effects you might experience, plus many such medications can be habit-forming.

 

[MEK]

You will probably feel most claustrophobic while waiting on the runway. Once the plane is in the air, you'll feel fine. I agree with keeping the air on while sitting. Get up mid flight and walk to the BR (even if you don't have to go) and bring a really good book to read, a great CD to listen to, or a fun computer game to play. That will make the time pass quickly.

It's a 2 hour flight, so it should go fast. Before you know it you will be in a warm, sunny place and your great vacation can officially start. But - I have to warn you about PHL - you never take off or land promptly. You taxi on the runway for quite awhile and you never, ever just land. You circle and circle and circle,ect. Don't be concerned - its just the way it is in PHL. BWI is must better for quick departures and landings.

 

[Debbie Jean]

I have issues with claustrophobia... elevators are the worst for me

My strategy for flying is to get an aisle seat as far forward as possible and take a xanax about 1/2 hour before boarding. As others have said, opening the air helps as well as taking some nice slow, deep breaths. Since I frequently fly alone, I always make sure I have something to distract my attention like a book or magazine.... one of the reasons I love Jet Blue is the Direct TV at every seat! Portable DVD player would probably do the trick, also.

 

[inkkognito]

Xanax is my friend on an airplane

There are different types of claustrophobia on an aircraft. Sometimes it's the generalized fear of being in an enclosed space, compounded by not being in control. Sometimes it's the idea that even tho' you are not in a tiny space, you are still "trapped." I have the second type...never used to until I was stuck on planes twice that could not land due to weather. In both cases, to compound the mess, the planes had to abort their first landing attempts. Made me crazy!! Now I dope myself up to the hilt with Xanax; I really don't care that I'd be "out of it" in case of emergency because: a) the chance of an emergency is tiny; b) it would probably be a moot point anyway if we crash; and c: I'm not afraid of death, but rather of knowing that we are going down beforehand.

Interestingly enough, I am a doctor of psychology. Even tho' I've always been scared to fly, I've been able to manage it cognitively until the two "trapped" incidents. A wonder resource that I highly recommend is www.fearofflyinghelp.com
They have a new DVD now that I just ordered (I'm facing my first over-water flight this summer), so I'll more about that when I get it.

 

[solotraveler]

I second the website Barb recommended. (I just did a review of the techniques on it for a course project...getting my BS in Psych.)

That said, I think the aisle might be better for the claustrophobia, since with the window seats, you'd probably be quite literally pressed up against the side of the plane with two people sitting between you and the aisle. There's a bit more "breathing room" with an aisle seat.

 

[DebbieB]

I prefer the window seat, the aisle seat makes me feel slightly claustrophobic. I like to be able to look out the window.

 

[Flyin2MCO]

Piling on to those that have rec'd aisle seats...most claustrophobes do better there versus window seats. The overall size of the 757 is helpful, since it's not small like an ERJ or a prop plane...I've always found the size of the plane and inside ceiling height to be big factors. Not sure if sound adds to your issues, but I will say 757's can be very noisy right after takeoff. Nothing to worry about, but not helpful if you're nervous for other reasons.

I'm assuming you will not do Mission Space once you arrive at Disney!!

 

[jess2132000]

I think the height of the ceiling effects me in many cases. I do not like low ceilings and the baggage area does lower the ceiling height. I picked a 757-200 as I thought it was a bigger plane but then found out US Air changed my return flight to a Airbus 321 which I hear is about the same size as the 757. As long as they don't change it to a smaller plane between now and April 29th.Also someone told me row 15 is not really row 15 in coach on a 757. 757's have a first class so row 1 starts there I assume. Also there is a curtain separating 1st class from coach so maybe I will feel closer to the front if coach starts around row 8 or 10. Alot of thought goes through my mine prior to getting on a plane!!! No!! I will not go on Mission Space!!

 

[Debbie Jean]

I think the height of the ceiling effects me in many cases. I do not like low ceilings and the baggage area does lower the ceiling height. I picked a 757-200 as I thought it was a bigger plane but then found out US Air changed my return flight to a Airbus 321 which I hear is about the same size as the 757. As long as they don't change it to a smaller plane between now and April 29th.Also someone told me row 15 is not really row 15 in coach on a 757. 757's have a first class so row 1 starts there I assume. Also there is a curtain separating 1st class from coach so maybe I will feel closer to the front if coach starts around row 8 or 10. Alot of thought goes through my mine prior to getting on a plane!!! No!! I will not go on Mission Space!!

Mission Space! YIKES!!! Your couldn't offer me enough money to go on it!

 

[AlexandNessa]

I get claustrophobic on planes. I don't care when my row is called, I don't get in line to board the plane until the very last possible moment. I do much better in an aisle seat, but if I can't have an aisle, I will take a middle seat over a window if the rows are 3 across because I need the least resistance to get into the aisle. It also helps if you can be in an Exit Row. Double check at the airport; sometimes they don't assign exit rows ahead of time. I also say a silent prayer that the person ahead of me isn't the type to fully recline in my lap.

 

[bluwater]

I am claustrophobic. I developed it in my mid-20s. Prior to that, I flew without a problem (I used to live in the Virgin Islands, so I flew all the time). Then, on a business trip, I got on, sat down and my hands started to shake and I needed OFF of that plane. The nice people around me had to help me.

For quite a few trips after that, I got a prescription....forget what it was...but it made me sleepy.

Now, I can fly without feeling panicky or sick. I even experienced one of those "ladies and gentlemen, we're number 30 in line for takeoff, so it'll be at least an hour!"....this past fall....and I was ok.

The kind of claustrophobia I have is fear of being trapped. It is not small spaces that bothers me (public restrooms were previously mentioned in this thread)...it is the fear of being trapped. Yes, on a plane, you ARE definitely trapped. You cannot reason around that, so you have to work with it.

Here's what I have learned about what I need:
1.Board last (when you are seated and everyone is walking around in the aisles getting to their seat, it feels very cramped and people are standing over you....avoid this!)

2. Sit near front. The rear (wing and behind the wing) bothers me because I am looking "down the tube".

3. Contrary to others here, I prefer window. When I'm on the aisle, I feel like I am too much "inside" of the crowd. If I sit at the window, I can put my face right up to it and look out. Seeing out helps me quite a bit. I can pretend I'm not on a plane.

4. IPOD/Noise Cancellation Headset.....put the headset on and drift away. I like opera on planes...I crank it up so I'm totally disconnected from the reality...and it is soothing. Sharper Image has great noise cancellation headphones (Bose). No noise gets in.

5. Like others have noted, turn on the air blowers as soon as you sit down.

6. Engross yourself in a good book or magazine. Start the book before you fly and get to a really good part.....then STOP reading til you are on board. Don't try to start something new on board. It is too hard to think about learning the caracters and setting when you're anxious. You can turn the noise cancellation headset on to "White Noise" (no sound)....when you are reading....and you still can't hear anything aroud you.

7. Avoid caffeine and alcohol

8. If you really feel panicked, tell your seatmate that you're claustrophobic and feeling a little anxious. People tend to be nice and they might just talk to you til you feel better. I fly alone quite a bit, so this might not apply if you are flying with friends or family who know the deal.

Hope this helps! I really thought I would never get over the claustrophobia on airplanes. It would have been a problem since I own a luxury TRAVEL business!! ha ha


Lastly, the more I fly, the easier it is. If I go several months without flying, it is always a little touchy the first time up. Other than that, I am to the point that I tell the little voice of claustrophobic fear to just "shut up!....I've got vacationing to do!"