Anyone dealt with fear of flying?

[y4m]

DH has huge anxiety about flying, which seems to be getting worse and worse with each flight (and this new job demands much more flying). I know it must be bad, because he's actually willing to go see a doctor about it.

We have a PPO, so no referrals needed. What type of doctor do you see about something like that?

[bunch]

Edit

Eta: i have a huge fear of needles and did several sessions of flooding therapy with a psychologist. It was very helpful. I found mine through my EPA benefit website.

[orangello]

I do - low dosage xanax has helped tremendously. I take one on the way to the airport, and then another half or whole one depending on how I'm feeling and how long the flight is. Since the dosage is very low, it doesn't knock me out. I've never had an issue being too drowsy after getting off the plane.

Good luck to him! It's totally irrational and stupid, and I still can't get over it. So frustrating.

[Kore]

I saw my internal medicine doctor, & he prescribed me Xanax. It makes flying so much more pleasant.

[kelly072206]

I discussed my flying fear with my PCP and she also prescribed a low dose of Xanax. I haven't actually taken any of it yet. I think just having the option has eased my anxiety a little bit.

[thedutchgirl]

If he wants to address the actual issue, rather than simply medicate, a psychologist who does cognitive behavioral therapy can help. An anti anxiety med may also be useful, but dealing with the root of the issue will ultimately give him coping mechanisms and perhaps solve the issue.

I have some low-level anxiety with flying, and the one thing that helped me the post is reading all the Ask the Pilot columns on Salon. Once I understood a lot more about the mechanics of flying, my anxiety abated.

[cep1976]

I just read this post on a blog about overcoming a fear of flying: apracticalwedding.com/2012/05/on-overcoming-fear-of-flying/

[ohgillian]

Xanax + this website: www.fearofflyinghelp.com/

[ijack]

My dad took Ativan until he got used to flying and could cope on shorter flights. He still takes it on long flights and those over oceans. Another thing that really helped him was flying on the corporate jet because he didn't feel so much a part of the herd, but I realize that isn't always an option.

[sigmund01]

I am terrified of flying but I won't let it stop me from traveling (although if I have any other option I will use it, including spending days on a train across the US when time permits). Over the years I have tried drinking (too hard to sustain over hours of a flight), xanax and ativan (didn't help that much), and have settled on taking 10 mg of Valium with the key being that I take it on my way to the airport so it has time to kick in before take-off (the *worst* part for me).

My regular internist is the only person I've seen about this. I have not yet attempted to address the root issue, which is essentially a fear of death that manifests in anxiety over low probability, high impact events that I have no control over. But I probably should at some point. I did try some of the reading linked above but, for me, knowing more about how planes worked did the opposite of help me. I basically don't want to think about them ever. Although one of the things I miss most about Seattle is the Blue Angels show at Seafair so go figure.

I'm pregnant now and had to make two cross country round trips last month with no anxiety meds and it SUCKED, but I did surprisingly well. Good luck to your husband!

[rex]

I used to have a legitimate phobia of flying. I was a child so I think my fear translated into different behaviors than an adult would have. I would cry and become tense immediately upon entering an airport. I would then need continuous assurance that I wouldn't die on the plane. before 9/11 I was allowed to meet the Captain and after 9/11 I was an adult so I was over it.

Aside from anti-anxiety medication or techniques or speaking to a psychologist, the best way to get over the fear is to keep flying. I now enjoy airports. I am somewhat anxious on an airplane but I make sure I always get a window seat so I can see
what's going on out the window and I just close my eyes and breath at take off and when landing I just look outside.