Hi

My best friend is petrified of flying, but she really wants to come over and see me.

Has anyone got any suggestions? She was given some mild sedatives before from the doctor but they weren't strong enough and she ended up having a panic attack on the plane! She knows there are stronger available but if they space her out too much she's worried they won't let her on the plane.

I know there used to be a course at Gatwick you could take, has anyone ever tried it?

Thanks in advance.

Helen

Booze and lots of it. There's a bar in every airport for a reason.


(sorry couldn't help myself)

I am absolutely petrified of flying too, and will be very interested to hear any "remedies" for it. I get sweaty palms even if I'm only dropping off or picking up somebody from the airport, nevermind actually getting on the plane myself!!!!

It has ruined a lot of travel opportunities for me because my fear of flying is so bad. I do fly when absolutely necessary, but my idea of fun is not a vacation that requires a long flight.

Look forward to some good answers to this dilemma!!!!

I'm in the same boat, er, plane, so to speak.

Talk to a doctor about getting a prescription for an anxiety medication. There's something called "lorazepam" (sold as "Ativan," brand name, and some others) which works a treat. I take that when I'm on the long haul flights to the UK and back. The prescription bottle even says "take 1 prior to flying." I don't use it any other time. They may make you sleepy the first time you take them, but taking them shortly before the flight shouldn't be a problem, once she figures out that she won't zonk out in the boarding area and miss the flight.

Alternatively, there are some sleep medications that can help zonk you out (though if the panic sets in leading up to and while getting on the flight, that won't help! so a mix of the two can be safe. Check with your doctor of course before mixing meds!!!!). Ambien is a good choice - I'm sure there are others. That sort of pill shouldn't be taken before she's SURE the flight is leaving because once it works, you will be OUT like a light! Fighting it isn't fun!

I have heard of the classes that promise to work you out of your fear. I haven't tried that yet (I'm comfortable with my irrrational fear at this point - don't enjoy it, but it doesn't stop me from getting places).

There's always the option of counseling or seeing a psychiatrist/psychologist to see what the root of the issue is. Some specialize in phobias, etc.

I feel for your friend - it's not a fun fear to have!

(Hmm, do I sound like a pill popper now? I'm really not. But I don't feel bad for working with my doc to find a safe way to make air travel more comfortable on my mind!)

(I'd also recommend flying Virgin, if possible. I find their seat-back on demand type video set up to be a great distraction.)

I don't recommend drinking heavily. For me, it just enhances my weepiness at the whole affair, plus she wouldn't want them to not allow her on the flight for being too intoxicated. And they say booze is even more effective at higher altitudes. Up-chucking at 35,000 feet can't be fun!

p.s. I've requested that honeymoon plans NOT involve flying anywhere. I would be the sort to fret about the flight all during the big day! That would suck!

Take a cruise over!

She tried that, made her worse!

I should have said, it's not just flying, she's awful in any mode of transport. Flying is the worse though. Couple of years ago I convinced her to come on the channel tunnel with me (boats are a definate no no for her). She was very calm about going and felt confident. Then the day before we went the London bombings happened, which just sent her into sheer panic. She still went through with it but was a nervous wreck and I felt so bad for her.

Raymaga that's exactly how she is. She won't even go near an airport to pick people up. The whole flying/plane thing just terrifies her.

Thanks for the names of the drugs TimsDaisy - I'll email her now and get her to ask her doctor about them.

Her last flight when she freaked out, she ended up drawing blood on her boyfriends hands where she was clenching them so tight. Poor guy loves travelling too!

Thanks for the suggestions so far!

Helen

http://www.cureyourfearofflying.com/

http://www.hypnotherapyforlondon.co.uk/hyp...r_of_flying.htm

My trip to Egypt this past December was my first trip outside of the US. I needed to be sedated but didn't want to be too too out of it, so my doctor gave me lorazepam. Worked like a charm!!!! I was actually fine without anything until I boarded the plane. I think just knowing I had the stuff with me helped me. Then once we started to taxi onto the runway I put one under my tongue since I didn't have any water with me and the doc said that would make it work faster. I felt soooooooooooooo completely relaxed and found out the girl next to me had just taken the same thing. lol. Also, the fact that it was an overnight flight helped too since I slept after they had served dinner.

Good luck!

I was so terrified of flying last time I was getting hives! What did I end up taking? 2 dramamine and a clonopin. the clonopin calmed me down and put me to sleep (or maybe it was the dramamine?) but then the restless legs set in and I was awake for 8.5 hours of my 9 hr flight

on my way back I took a stergeron 15 and half a clonopin. I stayed awake (I had no choice, I was on the isle and the 2 people next to me had the smallest damn bladders ever! That and they were getting 2 drinks every time the drink cart passed by!) but I was calm enough, even through the 5 hrs of turbulance that could have rivaled the pilot episode of Lost.

My best experience ever was 2 dramamine, one xanax and I woke up in Zurich 2 more dramamine for the conecting flight and I woke up in Romania. I loved it.

I took this course here:
http://www.fearofflyinghelp.com/intro.shtml

and my future MIL told me about Bach's remedy drops, they are supposed to calm you down. I've never tried them but she and other members of the family swear by them. I couldn't find them here and I totaly forgot to look while I was in the UK.

Tell her not to waste her money; I took two fear of flying courses, they didn't work for me. Nothing did; I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

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Tell her not to waste her money; I took two fear of flying courses, they didn't work for me. Nothing did; I'm sorry I can't be of more help.
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So how do you cope when you fly?

I'm no psychiatrist but if your friend has issues with ALL forms of travel, and from how you described her reaction after the London bombings (scary things to be sure!), it sounds like she has a fear of something other-than flying. Probably either death or of not being in control of things. She might want to talk to her doc about both medications and speaking to a mental health professional about how to control her fears, or hopefully work through them completely. I've heard about people whose fears of travel turn into full blown agoraphobia - the fear of certain situations that can render people completely home-bound!

I empathize with your friend's fears. I hope she finds someone to help, along with something - like meds - to help as well!

I don't fly.

I also get very, very worried when flying, especially during take off. I absolutly hate it! My palms sweat, I start to cry and if I'm traveling by myself I feel sorry for the person sitting next to me! Luckily, I've only ever canceled a vacation once due to my anxiety. (cheap weekend trip to Sweden). I do fly quite frequently- last year alone I took over 13 flights because I refuse to let my anxiety get the better of me! I refuse to let it stop me from doing one of the things I love, which is to explore other cultures and places. Anyway - I was taking hypnotherapy classes back in England and decided to ask my hypnotherapist to help me out for my up and coming flight to the states. Well, the last flight I took to Phoenix may have been one of the most bumpy flights I've taken but I was at ease! Even during take off I actually looked out of the window and felt calm. Normally I have my face in my hands crying and shaking!! So it worked for me - granted I've taken just 1 flight but it was nice to actually sit back and relax for once!!!

Thanks all for your suggestions, I've emailed them all to her to consider.

TimsDaisy I think you're right that it's more than just fear of flying. Maybe if she can conquer that, it will help in other areas too.

I'll keep you posted on whether she books or not!

Helen

I also have a fear of flying - well heights specially - and well i finally persuaded myself to fly after I got divorced many years ago - the thought of tavelling and meeting new ppl was my goal and well with the internet I met so many lovely people after my divorce that I just had to meet them - so basically I focused on the end result - lucky for me I had a good friend who would drive me to the airport and wait with me till it was time for me to board and I would make my way to the gate - and board as i got on the plane I would tell the hostesses I was very very nervous and scared - and asked them to keep an eye on me. Which they did ever so often!! as to my fear of heights i insisted on a seat near the window - sounds silly but I had just finished reading a book called "feel the fear and do it anyway" so basically I faced my own fear!! I even managed to get the courage to ask to go into the cockpit which I did and wow it is amazing!!! Basically take deep breaths - I personally find that whenever I am nervous I tend to talk alot - I basically feel sorry for the person sitting next to me on the plane but I always introduce myself as well it is a long flight to the states and to be sitting to a stranger that long is no fun lol. All of the times I have flown to the states the person next to me has allways been sympathetic and understood that I was scared of flying and talked to me about anything to help distract me and calm me down. And when you are once up in the sky - its not that bad actually.

As to drinking before you get on the flight well i would recommend dont overdo that - otherwise they wont let you fly if very intoxicated!.

I use Lorazapam too for anxiety mainly when i go to dentists and hospitals etc and I will be taking it when i go for my medical and interview - and yes it does make one drowsy - ive been taking it a few times now and it stillmakes me drowsy - but hey atleast you will manage to sleep on the plane - opps sorry your friend I mean lol

Lina (UKC)

Drinking is pretty much the worst thing you can do if you have a fear of flying.

Tranquilizers are only a crutch.

The number one causes of aerophobia are claustrophobia/related anxieties and plain, pure ignorance about how airplanes work and how they fly.

My aerophobia is so bad that at this point I refuse to fly, but I come from a family of pilots and have personally flown an airplane before. My fear of flying emerged when I was recovering from a nervous breakdown in 1996 and basically impossible to treat. Nothing has worked. However, I can answer questions about the industry and the physics of flight if anyone has any. I'm actually good at soothing other fearful fliers; it just doesn't work on me.

Well my Mum was terrified of flying, she'd dig her nails into your arm and draw blood. She'd have a stiff G&T before take off and shut her eyes. It kind of worked, except for whoever was sitting next to her.

Me? I adore flying, absolutely love it. But I adore aeroplanes full stop so anything to do with them I embrace 100%. Take off and landing are the best bits, all that power as you shoot up into the air. W00t!

Edit: this probably isn't helping anyone is it? Sorry!

Certain anti-anxiety meds are used for fear of flying cases...Xanax for one. When you are on one of the big planes, it's not so bad. You barely feel anything.

I had a bad experience recently. Flew from Chicago to Springfield Ill on a little prop plane. There were 3 of us on the flight not including the pilots. These planes have no cockpit door so you can see and hear everything. Anyway...bad storms were forming to the east of us on take off. As we were climbing, we hit very bad turbulence and started dropping fast. The warning alarms were going off because of the rapid drop. I was literally hugging the seat in front of me to hold on. Luckily no one was sitting there...I don't think I would have cared at that point though.

You're not shooting into the air. It's not thrust alone that makes an airplane fly.

When a plane is on its takeoff roll, the angle of attack of the wing creates a pressure differential above and below the wing, simultaneously pushing it from below and sucking it from above. Check out still photographs of large aircraft, particularly 747s and Airbus 340s, taking off. You'll see some flexion in the wings. That's the suckage.

The alarm could have been a wind shear alarm or a ground proximity alarm.

In strong turbulence it feels like you're falling a lot...some people say it's hundreds of feet...but in actuality it's usually no more than 10-12 feet, though if an aircraft is being constantly buffeted it can lose a thousand feet in altitude by the time it has flown through it. It won't lose it all at once though.

Bernouli effect. Fun stuff. Learned WAY more about that than I ever cared to in grad school; then had to help pilot buddy of mine study for an exam on the same topic. Wee!

And on the small plane experience. I hear ya on that one. Used to fly out of good ole Waco Regional Airport (yeah, it's one of those that you walk onto the tarmac to get on the planes.) All of those planes were "puddle jumpers" just connecting to get on a bigger plane. Turbulence is brutal in them. Hit my head on the wall (is it called a wall in a plane?) once because of stormy weather. Still that wasn't as bad as what you described, but I can imagine!

EDIT: Geez, aren't I a ray of sunshine. Large planes are fine, no worries at all. Usually quite smooth. Even the small ones aren't generally all that bad - as long as it isn't bad weather.

The turbulence is worse in a single-engine Piper that only seats four people. Turbulence doesn't bother me; it's the crashing and the dying that bother me.