To want something to help me travel by plane

[TheLyingBitchintheWardrobe]

I am travelling to the med for Christmas for a family wedding, but scared of flying as not flown for 5 years. GP won't give me diazepam which I thought I could get. What else can I do? My anxiety is awful already. Can someone help me?

I'm really shocked about diazepam as I had it last year.

I didn't even have to go to the doctors. It was just a telephone appointment.

I got 6 tablets. 3 for going, 3 for coming back.

I will be absolutely gutted if I can't get these for flying again, as it really is the only thing that takes the edge off for me.

I had it once for flying, didn't feel as if it made any difference.

Then I got a letter from the GP saying the rules had changed and they didn't prescribe it anymore.

I had hypnotherapy, didn't work either.

You have time to sort this fear out without medication
Pay for a fear of flying course and have some
Hypnosis
I'm not sure being drugged on a plane was ever a good idea TBH

That's probably why it's no longer prescribed. Plus a lot of people have a drink when flying and it affects you more than on the ground.

You've had lots of advice OP and something you might not have considered is that you can download meditations, podcasts, favourite radio shows to your phone and listen to them during the flight. For the first time ever this year I have done that. I've been on three sets of flights and it made a huge difference to how quickly the time seemed to pass. I find flying boring. And boring punctured by announcements and trolleys being pushed past when all you want it a rest. Listening to stuff blocks out the distractions.

All this for a wedding
Do you have to go?

This book changed my whole approach to flying, I can now fly confidently. It did the same for my mum. It basically explains how the plane works and what the noises mean, so helps your brain see what’s going on https://amzn.eu/d/h2uDFrv

Yes. It's my son getting married. I cannot say no! Otherwise believe me, I would!

Ah! Fair enough!
My coping involves a bacon roll with a glass of something bubbly prior to boarding, audio-book on as soon as the safety announcements are done, another glass of wine (if free), and eyes closed!

It's the anxiety I'm really struggling with. I've not flown since before covid, and I know it's irrational fear. It's the thought of being above water and dying if we crashed even though I know it's safe to fly. 😩

OK, thank you for that explanation.

I wonder why NICE has come to that conclusion?

I'm a dentist and personally don't prescribe anxiolytics because I'm liable for anything that might happen to a patient after taking them- I.e. en route to an appointment. I refer them to their GP for this if needed.

Interesting - why water rather than land? You're flying at pretty much the same height above both!
To be fair, the dying bit you would know very little about, and you know flying is so much safer than any other form of transport...
If by any chance, you are flying to the south of France, and I know you probably don't want to hear it (!), the views as you start the descent are stupendous - they override any anxiety you may have!

I have the same weird feeling! If I can see the ground I'm ok but the thought of being over thousands of miles of empty ocean terrifies me. We're planning a big holiday next year and I'm actively trying to change destinations so that it's closer. I know this completely irrational btw!

OP one thing that helps me a little is downloading a couple of movies to my iPad and sticking my headphones in. Helps me focus on something that isn't every damn creak of the stupid metal box far above the ground.

The main thing that helped me overcome my worry around flying was doing it more often. You start to realise how ordinary and boring it is really. There are thousands of flights every day. Take lots to do on the flight, nice snacks and step by step you will have done it.

Keep telling yourself you are excited, not nervous. They feel surprisingly similar.

Yes I've thought of this and will definitely try this. I tell my GC this too.

see if you can get Valium in the country you end up flying to. It’s ridiculous that you can’t get it for flying, it’s the perfect use for it.

You have time to work with a hypnotherapist. Have a look here https://www.afsfh.com

find a solution focused hypnotherapist who uses the rewind/reframe technique for fears and phobias this is a very effective technique. Good luck and enjoy the wedding and your Christmas in the sun! 😎

Honestly don't forget to breath, nice deep breaths.
Focus on one point during take off.
Look to the staff, I always find it so reassuring to see them looking a bit bored or calm and smiley - they do this most days it's fine.
Remind yourself it's more dangerous to drive to the airport than the flight itself.
Avoid alcohol
Eye mask? Or something snuggly like a cushion or blanket to clasp onto.
Tell yourself you're going for a wedding and it'll be amazing!

Try this:
https://healf.com/collections/sensate?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAoQ3uJW6RBnmwAU9WxjTO-UKIpRpY&gclid=CjwKCAiA9bq6BhAKEiwAH6bqoJptaD8kYfqIswtPJh4lPHUXwQWXS-GeTSk1MFWIgJkWL2vSWpjvlRoCv0oQAvD_BwE
I find it genuinely helpful for all sorts of anxiety. Get it in advance and start using so you know which ones work for you. There is one programme that literally knocks me out. It’s bizarre - but v helpful when I can’t sleep.

Re diazepam, it is irritating that it was prescribed in the way it was for things like flying and dentistry. This is not a proper use of a powerful and addictive drug. It is virtually impossible to get it now - even for severe episodes of chronic conditions - where it may well be needed. But that’s how it is. Without that I suppose I wouldn’t have found other methods so maybe many of us were prescribed it inappropriately.

@suki1964 suki1964 · Yesterday 23:56

If you can afford it you could try seeing a private GP.
Why? They still wont prescribe

They usually will if you have taken diazepam before for flying and can assure them it doesn't make you out of it/dozy.

The whole point about NICE guidelines is basically restricting and restricting what can be prescribed by the NHS to save money. If you know anyone who is on a cancer pathway where there are treatments available but they can't have for random reasons like they had the surgery first so cant now have the specific immuno/ drug therapy you will know how horribly draconian this is. It applies to pretty much anything. There are dementia decline delaying drugs which are really expensive but could give an individual a good quality of life for a few years - but too expensive so they tell you there is nothing you can have. It's all about money.

NICE actually say themselves
NICE helps practitioners and commissioners get the best care to patients, fast, while ensuring value for the taxpayer.

The nonsense about it being unsafe to have diazepam for flying is just that. These days the most they prescribe is 2.5mg tablets which has an effect but is such a small dose no one is going to fail to get off a plane in an emergency any more than they would if they had to be woken from a sleep and were more sleepy.

The whole NHS change is just daft. People have been taking diazepam for a bit of 'take the edge off 'calming for flying for decades and decades with no real problem. That's why private GPs will usually prescribe it for you because there is no issue actually.

@catlovingdoctor fair enough. I was pleasantly surprised that mine prescribed it willingly. It really did help a lot though!

I went through a weird phase of being scared of flying after I had my son (this was totally out of the blue - I used to work for an aircraft manufacturer and have a degree in the area so I know how safe it is and what the noises are).

What really helped me was considering that DH used to fly all the time for work, and I didn't worry about him at all. If I genuinely, deep down thought it was dangerous, then I should have been in a state every time he flew, and I wasn't. Of course, if your anxiety is too bad to rationalise, this thought probably won't help!

I think I f you fly next to someone who knows you hate flying and they try and chat all the way it just makes it worse. A stranger who doesn't know can be a distraction.

Noise cancelling headphones are a game changer.