If you have BAD flight anxiety how do you cope?

[Wuggie]

I'm not flying for month yet but already having nightmares, panic attacks at night and palpitations when I see articles about planes.

Just seen a plane was diverted to Manchester today and its scared the shit out of me. And another article about extreme turbulence over USA.

BTW I'm not searching these out, I'm just noticing them more because I'm booked on a flight now.

I don't think I can take any drugs for the flight as I have kids and I don't take anything usually, I'd worry about my reaction.

Any advice?

Dramamine usually.

I take a couple of tablets before my flight and they make me sleepy.

Is that something on prescription or OTC?

It’s just an antihistamine containing Dimenhydrinate. Obvious not one of the non-drowsy variety. I assume they are sold otc in the UK, although I stock up on mine when I go to the U.S.A as I can buy big tubs of hundreds of them for only a few dollars.
I take two normally and they send me off pretty quickly. Maybe 45 mins to an hour after taking.

They are also used for motion sickness, so suitable for travel.

I spend a lot of time focussing on flight crew - how ordinary their routines are. And how unbothered they are

Strangely I found looking out of the window as we took off helped. I had hyperventilated and worried the attendants on first two flights, cried on all 6 or so. It was getting worse and worse. It helped that a very kind Dutch bloke talked reassuringly at me the whole take off process, as he saw me grip the arm rests for dear life. He encouraged me to look out the window and count to 45 in my head (average take off time). I had to grit my teeth but I have honestly been much less scared since.

Alcohol prayer and statistics

I had good success with this. It’s worth a try. You need to listen to it a good few times. I was sceptical but it helped me a lot.

www.amazon.co.uk/Overcome-the-Fear-of-Flying/dp/B002SQ7HXW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=2N83N502ABDGN&keywords=fear+of+flying+hypnotherapy&qid=1678582517&sprefix=flying+hyp%2Caps%2C78&sr=8-1

Fear of flying course at Manchester airport few years ago helped me, was prescribed Valium & used to have them with me as back up on flights, also meditation podcasts on phone , this was travel for work so extra pressure as 2 flights in a day with meetings .

Xanax

Can’t buy Dramamine in the UK unfortunately ☹️

I heard that the noise of the engine can cause our primitive reflexes to respond (fight/flight/freeze) because it’s out of our norm and that trying to drown out the noise helps. Therefore, I listen to music in the run up to the flight and then for take off, I have a track that has a beat in it that I can count at a speed fast enough to just be able to say the numbers under my breath. I turn the volume right up and I count the letters in a book or magazine. Doesn’t matter what because I’m only counting letters. I get to 100 and start again. The track stays on repeat until I’m in the air.

One of the things that has helped me is flying with my kids. I realised that my daughter was developing a fear of flying that could only have come from me. I forced myself to manage it better and that inner voice did actually help. Plus I had to start reassuring her, which kind of helped me.

We live under the flight path of a major airport now and constantly seeing planes that don’t crash allowed me to start reasoning that if they can all make it time and time again, the chances of my plane being ok is high.

However, I do have a ridiculous set of flying superstitions that I have to follow. If I didn’t, I don’t think I could get on. I also always book my seat in advance. Helps with the need to control things.

I’ve managed to make it bearable. I’m still terrified but one of the things about fear and anxiety is learning how to manage your reaction to them.

I hope you find something that works for you; being scared of flying is shit.

Oh sorry!! I didn’t realise! That seems silly. I suppose it’s because it makes people drowsy and could cause accidents if not careful.

Get some valium from the quack

I'm not scared of flying but i cannot fly

If you look at the number of plabes that land/take off every day and safely and compare to other transport , it is statistically so much safer .
An aitcraft incident makes news because it is uncommon.

But all that probably is zero help !

Is it just you and the DC flying or another adult with you (if there is I'd take the tablets )

Go to your GP and tell them exactly what you've said here, especially that you're panicking a month before the actual flight. They'll prescribe you some Diazepam. You'll be fine with the kids on it. It doesn't put you to sleep, just calms you down.

Obv I meant you'll be fine on it, and not to put your kids on it! 😅

I have become very anxious about flying in recent years although I’ve flown many times when younger. For me it’s not so much the take off and landing but during turbulence when I think the plane is crashing to the ground! I’ve not flown since 2019 which is silly really.

I have flew business class for my last four flights which helped as I had more room and did not feel cramped. However, I’m not sure even that will help now, especially for short haul holidays where business class is not an option.

Im very overweight so have severe anxiety about fitting into the seat and fastening the seat belt and also have mobility problems due to arthritis so need wheelchair assistance at the airport. It’s all too much for me to cope with, I need to get my knee replacement surgery done ( another anxiety issue I’m afraid) then lose weight and maybe I’ll be able to fly again.

My mum hates flying but manages even long haul flights by doing these things:

Sit in an aisle seat, if possible close the blind as well.
Keep telling yourself you're on a train, if there's turbulence then just say to yourself that the rail tracks are a bit bumpy here.
Bring your favourite book, watch films on the screen

Nope, GPs will no longer prescribe diazepam for fear of flying unfortnately. I'd been using it every year but they stopped last year.

Apparently the airlines have asked GPs not to prescribe it, as it makes you drowsy and they want passengers to be able to respond in an emergency (which is of course not very re-assuring!).

Comedy shows, puzzle books, box breathing and alcohol.

I am so terrified of flying that my hands are sweating just thinking about it. BUT I will no let this stop me. I want to travel and see as much of different places/culture/scenery etc as I can before I shuffle off this mortal coil.

I found flying with my son and grand daughter helped recently. She was having the time of her life on take off and I grinned and pretended to love it. So distraction worked well! She was so unconcerned - as were the air stewards.

A pals mum has just landed (see what I did there) her dream job of becoming as air steward - flying all over the place. I think of her and am astounded that chooses to 'put her life at risk' and then have a word with myself!

Spent years looking at statistics, reading about crashes - that didn't help. I follow an airline pilot on tik tok who very kindly talks us through the 'goings on' during landing/take off/turbulance. He is very informative and calming.

I'm off in September to Greece. After each flight back home after a trip I swear never again - but I always start looking at trips away when I get home as I enjoy the experience so much.

I grit my teeth, hate every second of the flight and try meditation, taking myself 'away' from reality if possible. I count the minutes, read a book, go to the loo, try and sleep. I think of tiktok chap and his words calm me - that and the procedures in place up in the cockpit that may have been followed to prevent any 'incident' that I would have known nothing about.

Dr no longer prescribes diazepam but you can get beta blockers- they don’t affect you mentally but stop the physical symptoms of anxiety eg racing heart. They get prescribed for general anxiety but people also take them to help stay calm before a driving test or presentation etc so fine with kids.
I try to remember that there are thousands of flights a day, some in awful conditions - remember the high winds last year? It’s been a very long time since there was any mainline commercial airline crash- that’s pretty amazing safety statistics. The flight diverted to Manchester and turbulence on flights to the US all landed safely.
Doesn’t stop my anxiety but definitely helps me to remember that.

This book helped me tremendously.

It's written by a pilot and a psychologist who run one of the Fear of Flying courses.

It explains what happens in the plane at all times and also explains why you feel scared.

Good luck with your flight, you'll be fine.

I had hypnotherapy which really helped. Distraction, slow breaths, ignoring negative thoughts all help.