[eclairparty98]

Mental illness has held me back for the past several years. Recently, we've decided to book a holiday/vacation to a foreign country which of course requires a plane flying over an ocean.

I haven't been on a plane since late childhood. Had a horrible panic attack because a man was flying solo on our plane with a rucksack to which my extremely irrational mind assumed to be an independent terrorist carrying a bomb. Let's just say, I really didn't handle it well.

Since this awful memory, there have been several tragedies out of many successful plane landings and countless joyous getaways!! Which is why it's so ridiculous for me to feel this way. Planes crashing is a rarity, I know!

However, it is unfortunately seemingly permanently etched into my mind that planes will always equate to abhorrent terrorism OR a tragic crash no matter how much I want this to be less of an endurance. They say I'll be allowed to take tablets to put me at ease but I'd like to be fully aware of what's going on around me.

Has anyone experienced anything similar who can provide me with any tips?? There are several months to go, quite a reasonable distance but I can already feel the anxiety attack growing inside me beforehand Airports, planes, oceans... Gigantic triggers for me

[Guiness187055]

I hate flying also. I think it's a control issue for me. I always take xanax before I fly. Do you have any prn benzo's

[eclairparty98]

Originally Posted by Guiness187055

I hate flying also. I think it's a control issue for me. I always take xanax before I fly. Do you have any prn benzo's

Thanks for your response - no, I'm not on any prescribed medication. I'm not really open to trying anything like Xanax, though it's not available in the UK anyway. I was on Prozac for a really long time but from my personal experience, medication has made things worse.

I'm more open to any natural coping strategies, like things to keep in mind before and during the plane ride

[*Laurie*]

I love to fly, but I know plenty of people who don't and take a prn benzo when they fly. 1 or 2 tablets isn't going to hurt you in any way, but it would take the edge off your anxiety so you can enjoy the flight.

[malika138]

Ok, I'm not sure this is going to help. If figure if we make it to drink or meal service, then there isn't a terrorist on board. This has got me through flights since PanAm 103.

[-jimi-]

I don't know if it calms you to know less or more, but if knowing more calms you, there are documentaries about how to survive a crash. In most crashes there are several survivors. And usually some even do survive because they had a hunch about how things work in an emergency situation.

If it would upset you more to watch, of course don't do that.

[eclairparty98]

Originally Posted by malika138

Ok, I'm not sure this is going to help. If figure if we make it to drink or meal service, then there isn't a terrorist on board. This has got me through flights since PanAm 103.

Gosh, I had no idea about PanAm 103 until just now... How awful

[Sunflower123]

I have a fear of flying as well. The longest I've been in flight was 15-17 hours to get to Russia and I was really worried about it. I had a monitor on the back of the chair in front of me and watched movies for distraction. My doctor also approved of me taking my sleep meds earlier and in a higher dosage so I slept a lot. You could also take a kindle and read a good book or play games. I've countered my fear of flying and of sharks by educating myself about them (particularly why crashes occur and how to survive them). When I used to fly on business trips long ago I would have a stiff drink before I boarded the plane. Now on my yearly trips to NYC, I just do deep breathing exercises. There are apps like mindshift and Calm that could help. You can make a list of before, during and after statements to help you remain calm. You could also look up the probability of plane crashes (terrorist-related or otherwise). That helped me. Sending big hugs.

[eclairparty98]

Originally Posted by Jennifer 1967

I have a fear of flying as well. The longest I've been in flight was 15-17 hours to get to Russia and I was really worried about it. I had a monitor on the back of the chair in front of me and watched movies for distraction. My doctor also approved of me taking my sleep meds earlier and in a higher dosage so I slept a lot. You could also take a kindle and read a good book or play games. I've countered my fear of flying and of sharks by educating myself about them (particularly why crashes occur and how to survive them). When I used to fly on business trips long ago I would have a stiff drink before I boarded the plane. Now on my yearly trips to NYC, I just do deep breathing exercises. There are apps like mindshift and Calm that could help. You can make a list of before, during and after statements to help you remain calm. You could also look up the probability of plane crashes (terrorist-related or otherwise). That helped me. Sending big hugs.

Goodness!!! That's some superhuman strength tolerating a 15-17 hour flight with a fear of flying massive props to you, Jennifer!

I've decided to take it up with my therapist next session, it's a little over a week away and I'll see what she has to suggest. Realistically, I'll probably have to take some medication as there's not enough power in me to fully control my anxiety whilst in the air, over a massive ocean. I guess this won't be a problem knowing that a lot of people take meds for plane journeys this is quite reassuring. I can't imagine I'll have the focus to concentrate on a book, I'll just try sleeping through the flight as this sounds easiest.

Thank you so much for the thoughtful advice. Really, I can't express how amazing it is you get on a plane so often to visit NYC with a history of flight anxiety! Hopefully one day I'll be able to travel the world so fearlessly

[Shazerac]

It's pretty common for doctors to prescribe meds to help with fear of flying. I wouldn't worry to much about being slightly "drugged" during your flight. If god forbid, something did happen, what could you do about it anyway. I rather be sedated with a happy pill.

My mom is terrified of flying. When we do have to fly for some reason. I give her one of my Xanax. Other than when she flies she never takes meds.

[malika138]

Originally Posted by eclairparty98

Gosh, I had no idea about PanAm 103 until just now... How awful

Yikes - sorry if this made it worse! I flew home from college in London to the US a few days after the crash. I've often felt like my fear of flying has been very consuming but I had to keep flying to keep up with family on different continents. I have kids now, born after 9/11, so have had conversations with them about airline safety. At first I was just doing this to reassure them but now I am starting to believe it. Bring things to distract you on the flight - kindle, ipod, etc. You can do it!!

[eclairparty98]

Originally Posted by Shazerac

It's pretty common for doctors to prescribe meds to help with fear of flying. I wouldn't worry to much about being slightly "drugged" during your flight. If god forbid, something did happen, what could you do about it anyway. I rather be sedated with a happy pill.

My mom is terrified of flying. When we do have to fly for some reason. I give her one of my Xanax. Other than when she flies she never takes meds.

Exactly, Shazerac. There really isn't anything we can do about a plane malfunctioning/crashing/diving into the ocean. I suppose the only possible way I'd feel a little more safe in the sky, in general, is to be equipped with a parachute but I can't imagine that would ever be an option.

The medication is gonna have to do!! I just hope the flames won't wake me when I'm knocked out on meds. Hopefully, drowning would be rather painless under the influence of sleeping pills. And yes, God forbid anything happens!!

[eclairparty98]

Originally Posted by malika138

Yikes - sorry if this made it worse! I flew home from college in London to the US a few days after the crash. I've often felt like my fear of flying has been very consuming but I had to keep flying to keep up with family on different continents. I have kids now, born after 9/11, so have had conversations with them about airline safety. At first I was just doing this to reassure them but now I am starting to believe it. Bring things to distract you on the flight - kindle, ipod, etc. You can do it!!

Not to worry, it's alright! Glad to learn something new about my countries history I otherwise wouldn't have known. You're incredibly brave doing that. Honestly, you couldn't pay me a billion to get on a plane a few days after something like that, haha - what good would it be if the plane crashed?! I'd probably rent a hotel or something until the panic fizzled out or was provided with extremely strong meds!!

Yes, that awful, awful day truly changed the way I view planes. Thank you for the encouraging words, I appreciate it

[Artchic528]

I saw a show about fears and whatnot. Basically, there was this woman who was deathly afraid of flying, to the point where she'd get panic attacks just walking in a grounded plane. I think it has to do with the closed in spaces, tight fits, and loss of control.

To help her, they put her in a simulation of a plane which was undergoing some turbulence and had her distract herself by writing down some mundane things onto a piece of paper while the worst of it was happening. Basically, they asked her to write her name over and over again, as a way to focus her mind on the paper and writing, rather than on the plane and what was going on around her. They also asked her to focus on breathing while she wrote as a way for her to further focus her mind.

She said it was surprisingly helpful, and she could get through the simulation without being completely off the wall terrified and having to abort it half way through.

Maybe this is something you can try when your flying. Write your name over and over again and divert your attention fully to that so that you don't focus on the plane so much and how it makes you feel.

[eclairparty98]

Originally Posted by Artchic528

I saw a show about fears and whatnot. Basically, there was this woman who was deathly afraid of flying, to the point where she'd get panic attacks just walking in a grounded plane. I think it has to do with the closed in spaces, tight fits, and loss of control.

To help her, they put her in a simulation of a plane which was undergoing some turbulence and had her distract herself by writing down some mundane things onto a piece of paper while the worst of it was happening. Basically, they asked her to write her name over and over again, as a way to focus her mind on the paper and writing, rather than on the plane and what was going on around her. They also asked her to focus on breathing while she wrote as a way for her to further focus her mind.

She said it was surprisingly helpful, and she could get through the simulation without being completely off the wall terrified and having to abort it half way through.

Maybe this is something you can try when your flying. Write your name over and over again and divert your attention fully to that so that you don't focus on the plane so much and how it makes you feel.

Fascinating... I wonder how she'd respond unknowing that it was just a simulation, would her mind allow her attention to drift from her surroundings?? I'll have to see if I can track a clip of this down somewhere. What a world it would be if we could all get access to these types of studies/experiments to treat our 'issues'.

Regardless, she's incredibly brave. My last flight, I broke down outside the airport gift shop in front of everyone before I'd even show my passport. I worry if this were to happen today whether onlookers would whip out their phones to record my physical and emotional distress for to assert their social presence on social media.... Gosh.

Thank you for the information, absolutely fascinating!