Terrified of flying 😩

[Jojotodd]

Hi lovely mums,
I’m due to fly to Spain on Monday with my OH and my 2 kids. I am freaking out. I’m so anxious and am working myself up into a right state and it’s only Wednesday!

I’ve always suffered from anxiety especially linked to being trapped/locked in. I get a racing heart and panic on trains as well as recently freaking out stuck in traffic in an Uber. I almost jumped out.

The bit that gets to me is the bit where the doors close and knowing that I can’t get off/out if I panic. I know it’s ridiculous and I feel silly for feeling this way. I just don’t want to have a panic attack on the plane 🙈

So, having not flown for 2 years, I am now meant to fly on Monday. I’m not scared that the plane will crash, I’m scared that I’ll have a panic attack when the doors close. I’ve taken propranolol (beta blockers) in the past for public speaking which help to slow my racing heart/flight or fight response but my doc has said that diazepam will be better and has prescribed me 4 x 2mg. She says take 1 at the gate and then maybe another in the air. Has anyone had experience of this? Does it stop your heart racing/the feeling that you want to run off the plane? I’m worried that it won’t work for me and that I should just take the beta blockers (although they do nothing for the psychological anxiety).

Any help would be greatly appreciated - I know medication is not the solution and I am looking to do a CBT course but they can’t fit me in until October 😂
Jo x

Seriously, diazepam from the GP if you can get it. Ive heard that they're reluctant to prescribe now but I've been with the same GP surgery for years and last did 4 flights in 2019 - I asked them to check my notes and they saw I'd been prescribed for previous flights going back years, wasn't a problem.
Definitely read up as much as you can about how planes work and all the safety features.
Which part frightens you the most? For me it's take off, ascending and turbulence. If you have seats near the wing, turbulence will be less. Once I'm up and the plane levels I'm okay, don't mind descending but will clutch the arm rests and lift myself up in the seat if I feel the slightest jolt

Ooh also massively recommend having a playlist you love on Spotify, downloading it so you can listen in airplane mode as the flight takes off. I had "safe" songs for taking off and then "adrenaline high" songs to reward myself with on landing.

I am do terrible with flying too. I have a wine on the way there which helps. I have always been totally sober on the way home and im a wreck. Hope you get some helpful tips xx

@goddessofmischief my fear is being locked in/claustrophobia- which isn’t ideal on a plane 😂😂 I have 4 x 2mg diazepam that my gp gave me - do you think that will do it? Some people say it didn’t work for them or they took more. I’ve only got 4 tablets for 2 flights. What did you take and when?

@claret3189 thanks hun - I gave definitely got some really useful tips from here - I just need to stop working myself up so much 🤣🙈

Hate flying but using hypnotherapy and diazepam, I’ve flown so many times now - mostly long haul too. 2x 2mg diazepam (along with a glass or two of wine which I know isn’t recommended) really helps.

But the hypnotherapy was the most helpful. I was having sleepless nights as soon as I booked the flights. The hypnotherapy worked so well it brought by anxiety down from a 10 to a 4. I was given lots of helpful advice about self hypnotherapy and tried it out at home so I could practice before I boarded.

I have a little ritual now when I fly. I have a drink of fizz before I board. I don’t use diazepam now but I still have them to hand if I feel I need them. I download a selection of great TV and try to see the flight as part of the holiday. I also tell the flight attendants that I’m a nervous flyer and they are always so understanding. They usually check in on me as they’re passing. Good luck.

@Wideawakeandconfused I’m so glad the hypnotherapy worked for you - I’m a sceptic but I guess I should give it a go too as the anxiety I’m feeling is awful and really not something I want to go through every time I fly! I will take the diazepam but I’m still worried it won’t work 🙈🙈😂😂 x

I'd take both beta blockers and diazepam

I'm no doctor so that might be contra indicated.

Reduce racing heart will help calm you then the Diaz will take to another level down.

If you've never taken it before 2mg will be pretty effective. Larger doses are needed often when a tolerance is built up.

Definitely at the gate. There's so much faffing time between then and doors closing.

Just make sure you save half of the tablets for coming home!

Ps stop reading stories here. Porters telling you that you need more than 2x2mg won't help you at all!

*posters

I have exactly the same issue, bloody nightmare! It's now extended to pretty much any trapped in situation - trains, coaches etc. So I'm watching this thread with interest

@Jojotodd , if you do this, I'll be so bloody proud of you! I've never been so terrified as I was on my last flight (10 years ago), it's horrific

…. always insist on seeing pilot before take off

Nice if it can be facilitated but can I point out that it’s not always possible, so please don’t get stressed if a request for such gets turned down.

The period when you are boarding is often a very very busy one for the pilots (and the cabin crew). There’s certainly a lot going on on the flight deck prior to departure that has to be done with a high degree of thoroughness and so during those processes any scope for distraction needs to be minimized.

I’m sure that if a quick look through the flight deck door can be squeezed into the time available the cabin crew will do their best to facilitate it, most especially for somebody who has explained they are a nervous flyer, but sometimes it just can’t be done.

@DrRichardBurke thanks 😊 I’ll take them at the gate and hope for the best! I’ve got my beta blockers in case but prob won’t mix - fingers crossed the diazepam will do the job!

@blahblahblah321 ah thanks hun - I just want to get through it and not freak my kids out! I also panic on trains etc - anywhere where the doors shut and I can’t get out. Arrrgghhh I hate being like this - I’m looking into the CBT course
Hope you get a handle on it too hun - it really is debilitating 😩 x

@notimagain it’s always comforting to see the stewards looking calm and the captain - but my problem is not the flying part, it’s rye being trapped/locked in part 😂😂 not ideal for a flight!
I will def try to let the stewards know I’m panicky 😂🙈🤞🤞 x