Crippling Phobia

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Gemtun

Guest
It is 4:29 AM and I have been unable to sleep since 3 AM. The last three nights, I had only like 4 hours of sleep. The last two days I did not eat anything but 2 apples each day. Every hour or so since yesterday, I get into a panic attack which means my heartbeat is rapid and my body shaking.

Why?

Because I will be flying next Thursday. :Ohno: So this means this insanity will continue until next Thursday. I am already worn out from 2 days of insanity. :pissed:

Am I crazy? I have been flying nonstop since age 5 - even flew overseas and crisscrossed USA over and over yet this phobia gets worse and worse each year. Last time I flew was last November and December so these months were pure hell for me.

Now I will be flying to New Orleans next week and then again to Phoenix two weeks later.

Do you suffer from this? I feel like Im the only one who feels crippled by a phobia. Imagine this - while growing up, I dreamt of being an airline stewardess until I realized that my deafness wouldnt allow me - because traveling is my passion.

How do you handle this? The past several flights, I was completely bonked out on alcohol so all flights were in drunken stupor. I dont want to arrive in New Orleans at 8 30 AM completely drunk so help me out! :Oops:
 
Gemtun said:
It is 4:29 AM and I have been unable to sleep since 3 AM. The last three nights, I had only like 4 hours of sleep. The last two days I did not eat anything but 2 apples each day. Every hour or so since yesterday, I get into a panic attack which means my heartbeat is rapid and my body shaking.

Why?

Because I will be flying next Thursday. :Ohno: So this means this insanity will continue until next Thursday. I am already worn out from 2 days of insanity. :pissed:

Am I crazy? I have been flying nonstop since age 5 - even flew overseas and crisscrossed USA over and over yet this phobia gets worse and worse each year. Last time I flew was last November and December so these months were pure hell for me.

Now I will be flying to New Orleans next week and then again to Phoenix two weeks later.

Do you suffer from this? I feel like Im the only one who feels crippled by a phobia. Imagine this - while growing up, I dreamt of being an airline stewardess until I realized that my deafness wouldnt allow me - because traveling is my passion.

How do you handle this? The past several flights, I was completely bonked out on alcohol so all flights were in drunken stupor. I dont want to arrive in New Orleans at 8 30 AM completely drunk so help me out! :Oops:
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, I remember that we flew from South Dakota to St Paul, Minn last two years ago summer. You were panic when the plane flew up to the sky. Your hands were squeeze on the handle chair and took deeply breath. Too bad, we did not drink 8 glasses of wine before we flew. ;)

Good thing, rat was not sitting next you. You probably squeeze his balls. Poor him. :lol:
 
why don't you go and talk to your dr about it.
perhaps you will be allowed to take some mild tranquilizer which will help you to realx defore boarding and during the trip.
Ask for enough meds to have for return trip, too.

have a safe trip,
Fuzzy
 
<---- Phobia of height. :Ohno:
But, I am brave enough to face it and still fly in jet without movin' until my hands are gettin' stiff from holdin' on armrests. Sometimes, I took a book with me to read and try to relax. Gee - my time is gettin' closer and closer to May 5th. *Gulp* LOL

I refused to sit by the window. Yikes !
 
Why don't you take those drugs your always recommending to others???
 
I do. I've used beta blockers, benzodiazepines, and SSRI's many times, with impressive results.
 
Ahh, my insomnia has come back. I m flying again this Wednesday for Phoenix for my brother's wedding. :ugh2:

Too late for me to get meds or anything - I ll just stick with regular alcohol for now :whistle:

But yeah it is seriouss if it is controlling my life. I am sure that there are thousands of people out there who is deathly afraid of flying, not to mention many other kinds of phobias. Most swear by hypnotizing but that wouldnt work on a deaf person so that is out for me. Has anyone ever tried that?
 
By the way, my flight to New Orleans - I was completely soused on alcohol. I passed out even before the jet took off.

On the way back home, I took muscle relaxers so I could sleep through the flight. But I woke up clammy and sweating. I threw up on a lady sitting next to me. She was horrified. Talk about embarrasment! :/
 
Beta blockers, SSRI is a group of medicines that neeeds to be taken everyday and at least for two weeks to do their work,

and I don't think it's a good idea to stuff yourself with these for just one flight, two at most.


benzo... like Valium or Xanax would probably work better but they include nausea and vomiting as side effect.

A dr can give you something that goes to work immediately and does not need to be taken for prolonged period of time.

Fuzzy
 
Err ..umm, how long will the alcohol stay in the body before landin' ?

I will have 3 different planes to fly to and from. First from Iowa to Chicago and, then from Chicago to Seattle... and, then from Seattle to Juneau, Alaska. Each of these plane will take me to arrive in each town in about 1 1/2 hours.
 
Audiofuzzy said:
Beta blockers, SSRI is a group of medicines that neeeds to be taken everyday and at least for two weeks to do their work,
Click to expand...

The beta blockers can be used on an as-needed basis if needed for acute anxiety. A perfect combination for me is 100 mg. of Atenolol and 10 mg. of Valium right before a public speaking event. It’s wonderful—I can give a flawless performance with no anxiety whatsoever.
 
I am not going argue this because I simply don't know that much about medicines, but since I am a migraneur and Atenolol and other beta blockers (also calcium blockers, antiepileptics and antidperessants) are commonly used to prevent migraine I was always told it takes at least two weeks to get full benefits of these drugs. Some even takes longer than that.
So I am not sure how does it work for you.
Is it your own mixture or your dr have presribed it?

Fuzzy
 
How's about sleeping pills.. *shut your eyes off faster* ain't feel thing while you on plane... problem is.. hard wake you up when plane landed...

:ugh:
 
Sleepin' pills ? No thanks ! I prefer to view what's outside of the window while ridin' in the plane without feelin' of phobia of height.

I am considerin' to see my doctor about that this week before flyin' out on that day. There's a seat number on my air ticket that I have to sit by the window. Gee ...
 
Hi Gemtun, You might have Panic disorder or Anxiety disorder. I have panic disorder but I overcome my panic disorder. Breathing is a key! I learned to how breath right. It help so much. I don't take any anxiety pills because they dont help for lifetime. I dont want use them for lifetime if i still get panic attack. I thank my best Dr. Anderson that he taught me about how breath. I use breath with volumetric exerciser. My panic disorder goes very less. Wine or whiskey or whatever dont help you if you keep get anxiety disorder. You might need learn how breath with volumetric exerciser.
 
If you have fear of flying, Why don't you take the train? or the bus? ;)
 
Smoke a joint. They have helped me to relax on the plane. I still dont have a problems flying.

I really hope there is a way for u t feel relaxed on the plane. Maybe try out the other sorce of transportation like...train or bus? or even better take your car and go on the road trips. I'm sorry I guess I may not be of a help to u and Hoping your trip will be a good one. just hang in there :)
 
Buy a fascinating book or two... slip into a different world while you're in the air!
I can see the effects of phobia on flights, though... During my trip to Russia and Estonia, I held hands with another friend and told her jokes... she completely forgot about taking off or landing. She was really freaked out... she cried. Poor thing.
 
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