PTSD & airport security

[GalaVanting]

Posting here for traffic but think I ANBU to think there are other people like me so someone must know something!

Is there a way to deal with airport security procedures when you have PTSD?

I agree to being scanned and even patted down but I have PTSD and I end up having flashbacks/panic attacks/passing out. I am in (trauma) therapy and have addressed this a few times with different techniques/angles. It’s getting better but it’s still bad and prevents me from travelling unless it’s essential. It totally prevents me from travel to the USA.

Again, this isn’t a thread to complain about the security screening/scanning. I’m agreeing in principle to being scanned and patted down.

Is there a way to request assistance in going through specifically for people with PTSD?

I do t he be the U.K. security is going to be your iproblem, It's the US that is going to be hard to sort out. Have you flown there before?

BTW is the trip for a holiday or do you need to fly there?

Could you get some diazipam

IsTheReal I’m not flying to the US. I just can’t.

Bad the idea makes sense, but the thought of taking medication (being drugged) so someone can maybe touch me in the forced-consent way of going through security is not a good one!

The flights are not work (thank goodness!!), but not holiday as such either. Haven’t been on a flight somewhere for “fun” for years.

Gala has your therapist offered EMDR specifically for the security issue?

Hi op. We had special assistance this summer from Gatwick to Orlando for my teen dd.
Gatwick were fantastic, we went through a different security section away from the general one.
A member of staff took her through with us behind her.
They were so lovely.
At Orlando airport we stayed on the plane to get off last. We then went straight to an assistance lane at security. Right to the front. The guard was nice and chatty. Efficient but not scary at all.

We were through in 10 mins.

Returning from Miami was just as easy.
My dd went through a stand up x ray machine and wasn’t touched by anyone.

I'd second what the previous posters said. Please contact the airport, and or travel agent if it's a holiday. We had special assistance both at home and destination and it was brilliant. They had solutions I'd never even thought of. I won't say the circumstances as it's outing but I think you'll be okay.

Hope you manage to sort something, but will you be able to seek similar assurance for the return journey? Have a look at the special assistance section of the relevant airport website, to see if there is any help.

A lot of airports now offer special assistance etc for people with autism so that sort of service might help you too.

Re: the pat downs, as well as pat downs following metal detector alarms, they also do them randomly, so even if you don't set off the metal detector, they will still hand search some passengers as part of the security process (not trying to worry you, just trying to explain why you were searched even though metal detector didn't go off).

I second what sour patch said. EMDR has been properly trialled and has had very good success rate with PTSD

Thanks everyone. Yes done EMDR - lots of it. It’s very effective. Not sure why it’s not hitting the mark in this issue but I’ll give it a go again, because I know it works wonders on other areas for me.

And to whoever asked about the return journey - in contacts no the airport tomorrow! All the recommendations here are really extremely useful. I didn’t even know what to ask for before, but now I know the sorts of things to be requesting. Thank you everyone!

If you’re flying from an airport in the southwest please let me know. If it’s mine I’ll get you the direct number for the special assistance desk.

Ronway thank you so much. It’s not, but the offer means a lot.

I travel alot. Last flight every one went through the stand up body scanner and several people were also patted down after the scanner. My bag was also subjected to extra checks. I don't have a problem with any of the security checks, the people are doing their jobs. I have also seen babies being frisked in their carry car seats. In the current climate it is necessary. Some other countries are less vigilant. I don't know how you would avoid checks that everyone is supposed to have

I recently went to the USA. I got pat downs and full body scans at Heathrow and JFK. JFK were much kinder and reassuring about it. I didn't say anything, but I was abused as a child and started having an inward meltdown at Heathrow when I realised what was going to happen. Thankfully a woman did it, but she didn't tell me what she was doing. I deliberately wore what I thought was a 'safe' outfit coming back via JFK but triggered it all again. The lady there said some silver thread in my top had been picked up and the machine didn't like it so she just needed to check around my ribs and back for security and asked if I was ready etc.

Night - not sure why anybody would want to avoid the checks assuming they’re done for everyone’s safety. That’s not what the post is about.

I fly a lot domestically in the US and between the US and UK, and most of the time go through the full body scanners. Anything at all in pockets (even a tissue) often requires an additional pat down, and I've also found that if you're wearing a cardigan, the buttons sometimes cause a pat down, so a t-shirt and jumper without any buttons, zips or fastenings would probably be a safer bet.

I'm so sorry OP, this must be really stressful for you and I hope you find a way to manage things that works for you.

DS2 has ADD and anxiety and really struggles with crowds of people. Before we flew this summer, I contacted the airline and the airport special assistance team and they were great. We didn’t need to queue at any point, boarded the plane first and at the airport coming home were escorted through the airport and on to the plane.

If you contact the airport/airline and explain your PTSD they may be able to put some similar support mechanisms in place and give you mechanism for the airport security staff to know you need assistance/struggle with the security process.

In addition I’ve never had to be patted down by security even flying to America but then I’ve never set off the scanner. To minimise the risk can you make sure you are not wearing metal/anything that might set the scanner off (if that would help you obviously as it’s not clear if it’s the whole process of the physical contact element you struggle with)

Nice result OP!

I’m agreeing in principle to being scanned and patted down.

I'm fucking not. I travel by air every week for work. I pass through the same two airports. At one I get an intrusive search most times (90%) - at the other I've had one in two years.

99% of "security" is incompetent, ineffective, pointless and excessive.

assuming they’re done for everyone’s safety. IMHO they are done so airports can tick a box. 99% of "checks" aren't needed and aren't doing anything useful IMHO.

I remember back in 2003 my DH and I were travelling to Austria and we had to change aeroplanes in Munich. For some reason (they may have been looking for a woman my age or something), I was searched several times and I absolutely freaked out. I have PTSD because of childhood SA, but at the time my memories were repressed so I had no idea why it affected me the way it did.

Now I understand why it affected me the way it did. I’ve had EMDR therapy since then so it might make me less anxious about it.

Sorry you’ve been given such a hard time on this thread, OP. I know why you find it difficult.

Sorry Mittens - hope the EMDR does its job! 

Was - given the different standards across different airports they can’t all be necessary. However, most people seem to think when I explain what happened to me at security is that I’m trying to avoid it. I definitely don’t want to go through it, but I’m resigned to it. If I start suggesting I think a lot of it is a waste of time (ie why do some airports have obligatory scanners for all passengers because that’s safe, while others still use metal detectors with random scanner selections because that’s safe, some rarely have pat downs, others have their hands in your waistband almost routinely) the discussion has no chance of getting me the info I want (to get through security without passing out).

And once again, I know not to wear metal, have phone, coins or liquids in my pockets etc!!!