Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
I have not been on a plane since 1997.
How does one with Anxiety get on an airplane and relax? I am afraid I will have such a bad PA I will humiliate myself or have a heart attack on the plane. My best friend wants to pay for me to gp to Hawaii next year and I am terrified to be up so high and fly over the ocean for 5 hours. I don't think there is enough Ativan in the world to make me do this.
How does one with Anxiety get on an airplane and relax? I am afraid I will have such a bad PA I will humiliate myself or have a heart attack on the plane. My best friend wants to pay for me to gp to Hawaii next year and I am terrified to be up so high and fly over the ocean for 5 hours. I don't think there is enough Ativan in the world to make me do this.
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
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I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
It's funny because my very first full blown panic attack was when I was about to get on a plane. What I do is get something to focus on. Like...I download a gripping book on iTunes and listen to that the entire way. Or I try to sleep (even taking meds if I have to).
The most important part is not to think about being on a plane. Once you start thinking about falling, it gets very difficult.
Really for me it wasn't the flying, it was the confined space and my fear of plane accidents that got to me....
Best of luck ok? Worse comes to worse you can take a cruise to Hawaii! That would be beautiful. :)
Now, I am taking a smaller amount of Lexapro and I flew last month. It was much worse for me than before. To help, I did take some ativan and kept a magazine to occupy my thoughts and also my husband talked with me and massaged my shoulders. It was hard...I'm not gonna lie. But the best thing to do is be prepared.
Maybe you can visit the airport before and walk around just to be familiar with it. Try focusing on your breathing...nice and slow and even. Also, you may want to talk with a flight attendant before you board and see if they can seat you in first class where it's quieter (if you can pay for it) or maybe even just for take-off (i'm most afraid during take-off). I spoke with one and they brought me water and earphones right away to help me stay calmer. I found that the anticipation was 1000 times worse than the actualy flight. I calmed down by 15 minutes into it.
All in all, it was a combination of things I used. It was still hard, and yes I thought I was going to pass out and die, but I didn't. And that's the key! I kept repeating to myself "I'll be ok, it's just uncomfortable right now." Once the drinks and snacks came and the movie was on, I was better.
You shouldn't miss out on a trip of a lifetime. Talk with you doc and see what he thinks. Write me if you need. Good luck! You'll be OK!
There are workshops that specificly help with plane aniexty. Not sure where you could find one in your area but you could goggle it.
I took two planes before I reached Chicago when I got there I decided not to take a plane back home. I took a greyhound bus instead and it took 2 days to get home but I felt safer.
The first plane I kept my eyes open and thats when I panic b/c I thought the front of the plane was coming at me. On the second plane I closed my eyes and that helped.
Take Care and know that you are not alone.