Plane Anxiety - any advice or experiences?

Xanax is good, but if it's only for flying lorazepam/ativan is better. Some doctors are a little slow to prescribe it because it can be abused, but if you say it's only for flying that may work. If your anxiety is severe enough that it is inhibiting normal life functions (such as losing a job) then most doctors will recognize this as a legitimate need for medication. Don't be afraid to be honest with your doctor.

Why better? It's fast-acting, which is why you see it mentioned sometimes on medical dramas on TV when someone is freaking out. It also has a short half-life, which means it will clear your system within hours, rather than days which is the case with Xanax.

Take a 0.5 mg tab about an hour before your flight. If you have a severe situation like bad turbulence, you can put another under your tongue (rather than swallowing) while in flight for quick relief.

Both of these are benzodiazepines. They are highly addictive, so be smart and only take it when you absolutely need it. Benzo withdrawal after lengthy use is a special variety of hell. Avoid alcohol while using it and you won't get loopy.

Once you've tried it, sometime just knowing you have some in your pocket is enough to avoid panic without even taking it. Again, use sparingly.

I'm not a doctor, so be skeptical of what I've written and double check it with someone else. Good luck - I think you may wonder why you didn't try it sooner. Enjoy your cruise!

Hello!

I'm an airline pilot with Southwest Airlines. I'd say you probably have 1 in 1,000,000,000 chance of being in a crash. A plane can't just fall out of the air either (without something bad happening, sorry), it is supported by gigantic wings that go through checks along with the rest of the aircraft at least once a week. A Boeing 737 (The kind Southwest flies) travels at about 550 mph (ground speed) meaning that there is so much thrust that it's impossible for something like that to happen.

The only thing a rollercoaster will help with is conquering fear of height at the very peak, for the rest of the time there is so many G-Force's that it doesn't have anything to do with how an airplane acts. So really you're only doing yourself a favor for maybe 30 seconds or so (depending on how long it takes to reach the top.)

Just some reassurment from someone who's up there almost everyday! Have a great flight and cruise!

Flying in a plane is not scary. Thousands of planes takeoff and land safely everyday. Many safety improvements are in place to keep you safe. I have flown commercial many times and I enjoy it! The view is great. Try and get a window seat because the view is amazing! But anyways, when you board the plane you might feel like a sardine packed into a can. It's tight but don't worry. You will push back from the gate and roll to the runway. Takeoff is fun! You have brief acceleration and are pushed back into your seat. Finally, once fast enough, the plane rotates its nose up and off you go! Your ears will pop during climb but thats all. Finally, at cruising altitude, everything is fine. You hear the hum of the engines and you have a good view of the sky! Taking a nap or playing a game passes time quickly. When you approach the airport, you start to descend which isn't bad. It will feel a little weird when you first start descending but thats all. When you get close to the ground you might feel turbulence. This is totally fine! Everyone who has flown before has felt this. Finally, when you are above the runway, the engines throttle down all the way and when the wheels hit the down, there is a brief thump and you are on the ground! The pilots will deploy flaps on top of the wing called spoilers to slow the plane and reverse thrusters. It's fun! And then you taxi to your gate. Simple! Hope you enjoy your flight!

Hi. I know exactly what you're talking about, and relief is definitely in sight! I'm also glad to see you don't want any more addictive drugs. Whoever prescribed ativan and lorezepam might as well have told you to get drunk, and this type of irresponsible medicating infuriates me. Also, as a substance abuse counselor, I've seen firsthand what happens when these drugs are handed out carelessly, so please don't think in terms of using anything addictive for extreme panic. I say this because the goal should be to change your brain biochemistry so the attacks disappear completely. That feeling of needing something by your side in case you need it will gradually disappear, as well, even though you probably are shaking your head as you read this! Here's what I'd suggest, because you have 2 separate disorders, although the panic disorder is more "intense" or a bigger threat to healthy life. Panic disorder has been shown to respond to anti-depressants. If the Paxil stopped working, talk to the doc about another one. I suffered from crippling panic attacks for several years, until I took an older trycyclic antidepressant called imipramine. Within about 6 weeks, they were pretty much gone, although I stayed on it for 6 months. It was a pediatric dose. On the anxiety, ask about non-addictive anti-anxiety meds like buspar, etc. They're just as effective and you won't end up in rehab. Good luck to you!

What is your "freaking out" like? If your heart is racing, it feels like you can't breathe, racing thoughts, etc then it sounds like you are having panic attacks. Panic attacks make you think that you are actually going to die. You can't get these thoughts out of your head. If this is what you are experiencing then visit your primary care doctor (or a psychiatrist) and explain that you have to fly but have been having panic attacks.

The fear of flying is very common and the doctor will most likely prescribe you something like Xanax. I have been taking Xanax for years for my panic attacks and it works. It allows you to relax and feel normal. It wont give you a high, unless you take too much. You should try taking as little as possible to be able to feel calm. Start with 0.25mg, if you are still anxious after 30 minutes take another 0.25mg and so on until you feel calm. It is extremely important not to take more Xanax than you need because your body will quickly build a tolerance to it will stop working for you.

Don't allow your fears to rule your life. I did that for many years but I was able to get on the right medications and I feel like I can accomplish anything. Most people do not understand what it is like having panic attacks and will tell you to "just relax", "breathe", "don't worry about it", or "stop being so dramatic". With true panic attacks, you will not be able to do any of these things so see your doctor, get the right medication,and have fun on you vacation!

Have a random/casual chat/ conversation with other passengers while waiting for boarding and during the flight. It will take your mind off from being nervous. Also, you can have a chat with the flight attendants, i dont know about other airlines, but some airlines, that does excellent service ,if you inform the airline guest services that you are a nervous flier, this is notified to the flight attendants prior boarding. They will then look after you accordingly. Usually, they are treated as " special passenger", which means you may be pre- boarded before the general boarding starts. Flight attendant usually do everything that can to make you feel comfortable during your flight and have a chat with you.

You probally have 'Aerophobia'

Airbus/boeing for years have been trying to make the interior of there aircrafts comfortable so people with Aerophobia are able to feel relaxed.

There are many steps to help overcome.

1) book an appointment with your doctor, he will give you advice

2) If you are flying regulary, try http://www.flyingwithoutfear.co.uk/ (it will cost but from a study shows 96% have overcome there fear (sneek preview http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedd... )

3)What my mum does, she has a glass of wine, she simply gets of , when your like ' OMG OMG OMG NO NO NO I CANT AND BREATHING HEAVILY' is when you will usually find your self not going on, just get on, dont tense your muscle, shut the window, get comthy, read a magazine and talk.

4)Fact to put your mind at rest.

Flying is the safest form of transport

There would have to be a 200 passenger airliner crashing every day for the whole year to kill as many people that we do on our roads every year.

More chance of getting eaten my a shark, whilst being hit by lightening.

Dont get your self wound up. i fly all the time, pilots fly 10,000's of flights, without a single accident/fatality/problem x

4)

Get 1/2 drunk. Use nytol or Valium (ba baracas) or remember theoretically you're more likely to crash/die on the way to the airport than on the plane

Or adopt what I call the "American philosophy" which is

"If its my time, it's my time"

just go to your dr and they will prescribe xanax.

it works great.

i take it when i fly and its fantastic.

i just flew from buffalo to orlando and back this past week.