Fear of Flying

[bukosluvswdw]

I have to fly to Texas next week for work and I was wandering what do you recomend to do or take in order to help my anxiety. I do not drink so that is out if the question. I am sure that would have been one. I have flown before but everytime I just gets so anxious so any help would be great!

Thanks

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I have to fly to Texas next week for work and I was wandering what do you recomend to do or take in order to help my anxiety. I do not drink so that is out if the question. I am sure that would have been one. I have flown before but everytime I just gets so anxious so any help would be great!

Thanks

I take a book and read during the entire flight from take off to landing although it made me air sick last time.

 

[ktate82]

If you are looking to "take" something, Benadryl (just one if you don't take it often) will make you a little drowsy and could help calm you down. There are also something called EarPlanes that are ear plugs for flying. They equalize the pressure so you don't have the ear pain. Sometimes the little things we know are comming (like the ear popping), cause anxiety and by reducing those a bit, we can reduce the anxiety. Bring a small photo album of pictures to look through to help as a diversion point. Or like someone said before, bring a book or something to read.

 

[Siriusblack]

I have a fear of flying as well, and no reading material is going to help if you are really suffering from anxiety. I went to my family doctor and was prescribed Xanax. I can now easily board a plane with no worries, the only side effect is a bit of drowsiness. Why suffer?

 

[CNYDisneyFan]

I agree with bringing something to read. Also, if you have an iPod or any type of MP3 player, bring that along and listen to music.

 

[mhnewcomb]

I have a fear of flying as well, and no reading material is going to help if you are really suffering from anxiety. I went to my family doctor and was prescribed Xanax. I can now easily board a plane with no worries, the only side effect is a bit of drowsiness. Why suffer?

THIS.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I was not trying to be insensitive but when I read I feel like I am we're the book is vrs in we're i a, physically if that makes sense

 

[pigletto]

I have a fear of flying as well, and no reading material is going to help if you are really suffering from anxiety. I went to my family doctor and was prescribed Xanax. I can now easily board a plane with no worries, the only side effect is a bit of drowsiness. Why suffer?

This. Some of the anxiety can be managed through other methods. By the time I got to the point of actual panic attacks I needed more help. I am very claustrophobic. It got worse as I got older. It was getting to the point where when those plane doors shut and I knew I couldn't get off the plane, absolute terror would set in. At that point reading or distraction won't help me because I hyperventilate. And the thought of making a scene or people noticing how anxious I was made it worse.
So I went to the doctor and I take lorazipam. Only for flying. I actually take it the night before my flight, in the morning before, and before I board the plane in the late evening. They are a very low dose and this was the way my doctor prescribed them. It works very well for me and I am still alert, though I could nap if I wanted to.
I don't recommend medication for just anything, but I also know myself well enough to know this is necessary for me at this point. I don't know that I can properly convey how bad it can be otherwise. Luckily my doctor was very empathetic and works with me.

The same things won't work for everyone so talk to your doctor and if prescribed medication, try it before flying. You may not like the feeling and it could make it worse so it's best to try it at home.

ETA) A few other things that help me... I don't leave anything to the last minute so my anxiety level doesn't have time to creep up on me. I don't touch caffeine that day no matter how tired I am either. And I pay for seats on an aisle at the front of the plane. That one is purely for the idea of space and not seeing rows and rows of people ahead of me. It helps a little bit.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I was not trying to be insensitive but when I read I feel like I am we're the book is vrs in we're i a, physically if that makes sense

No, this makes no sense! Perhaps spell check mangled your post?

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

No, this makes no sense! Perhaps spell check mangled your post?

I was just saying that I was sorry my post was not helpful

 

[DCbride]

Talk with your primary dr. He/she knows you medical history and should easily be able to prescribe Xanex or something even if it is for a few pills. I can not get on a plane due to anxiety issues without taking something due to trapped feeling. I even tried to stand up and get off TSM when the CM pushed my lap belt down extra hard one time. A ride I ride 40+ times in the past- I was totally freaked out due to the extra restraint.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I too have a bit of a fear of flying. I'm fine once we're up at altitude,but takeoff and landing can do me in. I already have an anxiety disorder for which I take (as a PP mentioned) Lorazepam-which is the generic for Ativan. Instead of taking one per day... with the doctor's okay...I take two the morning of a flight and although they don't make me drowsy, they do chill me out enough that I can weather the flight with little anxiety. I even flew nearly nine hours once to London and back on Lorazepam.

If you don't want to go the medication route, perhaps practicing some relaxation techniques will help. Meditation, breathing exercises, etc.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

There is an OTC herb called Valerian which you can get at most pharmacy's that is good for calming nerves. If you decide to give it a try I would take some a few days before your trip so that you know how it will react on you.

Also take some lavender oil and put it on a little sashay and smell it before and during your flight.

 

[kandb]

I also have anxiety issues and don't like to fly. I sit in the front of the plane and that really helps me. I feel very closed in at the back of the plane especially when it lands and everyone gets up and I just feel stuck there. I actually don't take anything to fly but bring valium with me and knowing I have it makes me feel less anxious. If your anxiety is high, definetely take something prescribed by your doctor but do not take it for the first time on the flight because you won't know how it will make you feel. Try it beforehand.

 

[jrsmom]

I have a fear of flying as well, and no reading material is going to help if you are really suffering from anxiety. I went to my family doctor and was prescribed Xanax. I can now easily board a plane with no worries, the only side effect is a bit of drowsiness. Why suffer?

This!

 

[Pooh2]

I do not like to fly but only use Bonine for motion sickness (makes you pretty sleepy). A relaxant tends to make my motion sickness much worse.

 

[lylone]

This!

I am all for xanax for plane rides. I just hate taking off..once we are cruising I listen to music, play a game or use gogo inflight on my tablet.

Oh and use the bathroom right before you board!

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

I have to fly to Texas next week for work and I was wandering what do you recomend to do or take in order to help my anxiety. I do not drink so that is out if the question. I am sure that would have been one. I have flown before but everytime I just gets so anxious so any help would be great!

Thanks

For me, it helps to remember that turbulence is completely normal and that the plane is built specifically to handle it. Planes do not drop out of the sky because of turbulence. It's not in any way unusual, it's completely ordinary, and it's totally normal. Even the big bumps and the bumpy rides through storm clouds. Totally A-OK. You're just not used to it. But the plane is.

It also helps to get as familiar as you can with the sounds and movements that a plane makes when flying. There are several good websites out there from commercial pilots and flight attendants aimed specifically at familiarizing those afraid to fly with the experience of flying. I hadn't flown in a few years before March and had started to be afraid to fly again and these websites helped a lot. (A lot!) Google around. Good luck!

 

[goofy4tink]

Let me share something with you....I was talking to a police officer last night, at our voting polls. He is not a happy flier!!! So, I asked him how his flight to Orlando went a few months ago. He told me it was actually pretty good and that he had tried to maintain a good attitude for the sake of his dd's who were enjoying their first flight. Well, he said that when he was waiting for the shuttle back to the parking area at TF Green (Providence), he found himself standing next to the pilot and copilot from his flight. He got to talking to them and thanked them for such a nice smooth flight. They kind of laughed and said no problem. The officer then told them that he hated flying but was trying to deal with it now that his kids were older. The pilot turned to him and said...'You want to know something? It would be really hard for me to mess up enough to bring that plane down!!! They just want to stay in the air. So quit worrying!!!!'
Too funny! I try to tell nervous fliers this same thing, but for it's really hard to wrap your head around!!!

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Let me share something with you....I was talking to a police officer last night, at our voting polls. He is not a happy flier!!! So, I asked him how his flight to Orlando went a few months ago. He told me it was actually pretty good and that he had tried to maintain a good attitude for the sake of his dd's who were enjoying their first flight. Well, he said that when he was waiting for the shuttle back to the parking area at TF Green (Providence), he found himself standing next to the pilot and copilot from his flight. He got to talking to them and thanked them for such a nice smooth flight. They kind of laughed and said no problem. The officer then told them that he hated flying but was trying to deal with it now that his kids were older. The pilot turned to him and said...'You want to know something? It would be really hard for me to mess up enough to bring that plane down!!! They just want to stay in the air. So quit worrying!!!!'
Too funny! I try to tell nervous fliers this same thing, but for it's really hard to wrap your head around!!!

It's so true though. Planes have tons of safety features on them. And above all else, the pilots don't want to die any more than you do!