Who do I need to see?

[JoandMax]

Hi,

I currently have another thread going about my crippling fear of flying which has all come to a head in the last couple of weeks. Its brought up all kinds of issues and I think has made me realise I am suffering with a deep rooted anxiety and I need help.

DH and DCs are still going on our trip, I'm not anymore. So they leave Thursday night and I am struggling to hold it together. I need to start getting help as its like the floodgates have opened and I feel like I'm sinking into a huge depression or on the verge of a panic attack. I do not want to do this as I don't want my kids to see me like this. I want them to be able to go off and have a great time and I don't want to spend the entire week feeling as desperate as I do now. I can't sleep, eat and frequent bouts of crying whilst hidden in the loo.

I'm not in the UK so we don't have a GP as such, you just go to whatever specialist you need.

So who do I see for something like this?

Thanks

hypnotherapy for the flying?

Hi, I watched a TV programme about this which covered a fear of flying course run by one of the airlines (Virgin I think). It was psychotherapy plus time in the aircraft (on the ground at first). Try Googling fear of flying - may be one of the air carriers offer a similar course where you are?

Hi,

It sounds like you have been suffering from anxiety for a while but it's all come to a head because of the issue of flying?

So what you probably need to do is treat the underlying anxiety problem which makes you anxious about things such as flying.

If this is the case, I would normally say visit your GP, however if you need to choose a specialist to see then I would recommend a psychologist, psychiatrist, counsellor or another mental health specialist.

It does sound like you have an underlying depression/anxiety issue.

The current peak stress may pass once the trip is over but it might not be long till the next one?

I would say either psychiatrist if you think having some medication to reduce anxiety would be useful (short term) or counsellor if you want to try a talking (more effective long term).

Possibly both.

best wishes!

Most definitely come to a head, I'm pretty much at rock bottom......

I have an appointment with a psychiatrist for next week, they're part of a large clinic so other resources there too.

Just need to get through DH and the DCs going at the end of the week

I have had hypnotherapy recently which hasn't workwd. I've also booked a BA fear of flying course for October but need something before then

I am not sure I would try to fix the specific flying thing at the same time as addressing the underlying anxiety...but then again having a goal to focus on might be motivational?

setraline is pretty good short term stop gap for anxiety while you get yourself sorted out...

I got dosed with it for depression but once I was on it I lost my fear of wasps, moths, butterflies and heights.

At least some of the above has held now I am back off it....

I have booked it as a goal really - I've always just flown and hated it then gone into complete denial until I need to fly again! Plus there's only one course per year where we are (not in UK so we're expats so have to be able to fly). It's also making me address the anxiety issues beforehand.....

This has been the first time I've ever not been able to go through with it.

Thanks for your responses

Ah I see, that makes sense!