Post by kellsbelles on Oct 5, 2015 12:52:33 GMT -5
Has anyone successfully done therapy or a program that helped with fear of flying? I swear the older I get the worse I am. Yesterday I almost had a panic attack and wanted to get off the plane before we took off. I have to do something because I want to see the world and not be limited by this. Thanks!
Post by speckledfrog on Oct 5, 2015 13:06:19 GMT -5
I had a lot of heightened anxieties after my sons were born that I didn't really have before, so I think your stronger reaction yesterday may have to do with that.
I had a lot of heightened anxieties after my sons were born that I didn't really have before, so I think your stronger reaction yesterday may have to do with that.
This is absolutely true. I was more scared of him dying or being hurt than anything. I'm thinking a good therapist could help me out with both. Did anything help you?
My fear of flying has gotten worse the older I have gotten as well. I didn't do therapy and skipped right to drugs, valium does wonders.
I fly for work, and I hate it. Xanax and Valium.
I realized I was kind of short before. I know that my fear of flying is irrational and getting into the car is more dangerous, etc. but that doesn't make me feel better when I am on a plane. For me I don't think talking to someone about my irrational fear is going to help nearly as much the drugs. I know that it can work for other people.
Plus on the list of priorities of things I need to work through with my therapist, fear of flying is pretty low.
This looks great thanks! I think being more educated would help.
That's what I liked about this course. It taught me a lot about planes, why they're making certain noises, etc. It's really quick and easy reading. I took it after 9/11, because that's when I was having major flying anxiety, but I still think of things I learned from it when I'm on a flight.
Very helpful! I think if I knew the science and reasons behind things like the turbulence and air pockets etc it would take the unknown and some fear away. Thanks again!
I realized I was kind of short before. I know that my fear of flying is irrational and getting into the car is more dangerous, etc. but that doesn't make me feel better when I am on a plane. For me I don't think talking to someone about my irrational fear is going to help nearly as much the drugs. I know that it can work for other people.
Plus on the list of priorities of things I need to work through with my therapist, fear of flying is pretty low.
Agreed. I know rationally that it is a very safe way to travel. And that the likelihood of something happening is so rare, but I am terrified. I fly out on Thursday this week and already have butterflies in my stomach and slept about 3 hours last night. It legit terrifies me.
BUT, as I do it SO often (literally, every other week for the last 5 years), a few things have made me feel better: I sit where I can keep an eye on the flight attendants. If they look calm, then I can stay calm. I also started taking REALLY small personal planes, where it is just me and the pilot and one or two other passengers. I thought it would be AWFUL, but being able to talk to the pilots really helped reassure me. We would hit awful turbulence in a plane the size of my station wagon and the pilot would be fine, joking with me and telling me this is 100% normal. It seriously helped.
I hate flying, too, and it's definitely gotten worse the older I get. I actually like flying with the kids because it distracts me a bit more. I sometimes take a small dose of Valium or similar, and it helps take the edge off. On that note, does anyone know if there is anything safe to take while breastfeeding?
I hate flying, too, and it's definitely gotten worse the older I get. I actually like flying with the kids because it distracts me a bit more. I sometimes take a small dose of Valium or similar, and it helps take the edge off. On that note, does anyone know if there is anything safe to take while breastfeeding?
That's what I wasn't sure of was the breastfeeding aspect w meds like that-I'm in the same boat.
Post by gerberdaisy on Oct 5, 2015 18:07:28 GMT -5
I did the free online course as well and found it really helpful. Knowing what all the dings are, why lights go on, more about turbulence made me feel so much better.
I used to panic for a week leading up till flying then had to close my eyes and count until the flight was over, now I'm almost totally okay with it.
Post by capttombunnlcsw on Oct 6, 2015 16:20:25 GMT -5
Someone suggest fearofflyinghelp which is run by Captain Stacey Chance. It is an excellent course for a person who needs to understand how safe flying is. Some, though, are concerned about claustrophobia or in-flight panic. Those problems are not controlled by information.
There is a great deal of misinformation on breathing/relaxation exercises. Courses run by airlines tell clients they can rely on them to maintain emotional control. Even mental health professions recommend them. Anyone who advises breathing/relaxation exercises to control feelings when flying has not checked the research. Research on breathing exercises shows they are completely useless for flying.
Claustrophobia and panic are caused by unconscious processes, so to control these problems, changes in the unconscious processes are needed. How this is done is explained in detail in my book "SOAR: The Breakthrough Treatment for Fear of Flying" and in the SOAR courses on the web.
As to anti-anxiety meds, a person who knows the full story about anti-anxiety meds would never think of using them for flying - or for other anxiety issues - unless every other possible solution had first been tried. My blog at Psychology Today deals with the meds issue. To find the blog, search "benzo psychology today flying" but briefly, when a person flies using anti-anxiety meds, they damage the circuits in the brain that regulate emotion.
I'm going to check out the course mentioned by pps. I have lived abroad in various countries and am a frequent traveller, but over the years I have developed a fear of flying. It's made worse when H flies with me, because I'm more afraid of us both dying.