smokycmt
09-20-2004, 09:47 PM
I have some time at the end of my work day here in Miami so I thought I would post my first trip report while it is still fresh in my mind....
Ok, the week leading up to my trip I had a lot of anticipatory anxiety (crying and moody :rolleyes ). I don't know why, I have stopped questioning it at this point and have come to accept that this happens to me. Saturday night I went to bed fairly early since I had to be up at 5am. I woke around 2am thinking it was time to get up and had trouble falling back to sleep for the last 3 hours. I woke my husband (lucky him) and he tried his best to stay with me!! I felt pretty good getting ready in the morning, we left the house, I was ok, and as we pulled up to the curb at the airport it happened....the tears :( Anthony left me off and whispered his reassuring words in my ear and I was off into the terminal. Now, the airport was very crowded, which I appreciated and I went right through security. Two people butted in front of me in line but I was not about to get into an argument at 7am on a Sunday morning but I was a bit irritated:evil .
So, I made my way to the gate and proceeded to sit there for about 1/2 hour before boarding. I hate waiting in the airport. I look around at all of these other people and wonder how they are so calm when my insides are doing somersaults. It finally comes time to board and I have a window seat by the wing (my favorite!). We are on an Airbus 321 (pretty big bird!) and the flight is full but not sold out...which is also nice. We are delayed a few minutes but nothing big. It is a beautiful day in Philly, perfect for flying! We take off down the runway after waiting only about 10 minutes and as we climb I do the little trick of counting to 200. I do it with my eyes closed b/c I don't like the feeling of takeoff. By the time I reach 142, the ding goes off....we are at 10,000 feet. I am going to do that from now on. It is a fairly smooth flight and I decide to take out my headphones and magazine. I find if I lose myself in music and mindless reading my anxiety is more controlled.
I didn't have any panic attacks on this flight but wish the week leading up to it wasn't so stressful. I always say that during a panic attack I need to "escape" (get the heck outta dodge). Well, my husband said to me on Saturday maybe you just need to redefine "escape"...meaning, use your music and magazine as your escape, instead of thinking about getting off the plane. He's so smart :lol
We land in FLL early and all is well. I must say I am not looking very forward to flight home but will try my best to use the tools again!!
I will post my return trip report on Wed. Thanks again for all of your support!!
Chris
Ok, the week leading up to my trip I had a lot of anticipatory anxiety (crying and moody :rolleyes ). I don't know why, I have stopped questioning it at this point and have come to accept that this happens to me. Saturday night I went to bed fairly early since I had to be up at 5am. I woke around 2am thinking it was time to get up and had trouble falling back to sleep for the last 3 hours. I woke my husband (lucky him) and he tried his best to stay with me!! I felt pretty good getting ready in the morning, we left the house, I was ok, and as we pulled up to the curb at the airport it happened....the tears :( Anthony left me off and whispered his reassuring words in my ear and I was off into the terminal. Now, the airport was very crowded, which I appreciated and I went right through security. Two people butted in front of me in line but I was not about to get into an argument at 7am on a Sunday morning but I was a bit irritated:evil .
So, I made my way to the gate and proceeded to sit there for about 1/2 hour before boarding. I hate waiting in the airport. I look around at all of these other people and wonder how they are so calm when my insides are doing somersaults. It finally comes time to board and I have a window seat by the wing (my favorite!). We are on an Airbus 321 (pretty big bird!) and the flight is full but not sold out...which is also nice. We are delayed a few minutes but nothing big. It is a beautiful day in Philly, perfect for flying! We take off down the runway after waiting only about 10 minutes and as we climb I do the little trick of counting to 200. I do it with my eyes closed b/c I don't like the feeling of takeoff. By the time I reach 142, the ding goes off....we are at 10,000 feet. I am going to do that from now on. It is a fairly smooth flight and I decide to take out my headphones and magazine. I find if I lose myself in music and mindless reading my anxiety is more controlled.
I didn't have any panic attacks on this flight but wish the week leading up to it wasn't so stressful. I always say that during a panic attack I need to "escape" (get the heck outta dodge). Well, my husband said to me on Saturday maybe you just need to redefine "escape"...meaning, use your music and magazine as your escape, instead of thinking about getting off the plane. He's so smart :lol
We land in FLL early and all is well. I must say I am not looking very forward to flight home but will try my best to use the tools again!!
I will post my return trip report on Wed. Thanks again for all of your support!!
Chris