Scared of Cabin pressure

[BOOTCAMP]

Hi all,

This seems like a great site, I'm new, but I've already read several posts that have helped me better understand some of my fears. I have panic\anxiety disorder, and, I'm so scared that I'm gonna panic on the plane and not have enough oxygen to control breathing, thus hyperventilate. I've got a flight from ATL to Tampa on friday; my first ever...but I'm not sure that I can do it....anyone else with this phobia..I've read that the oxygen level is a lot lower up there...pleaseeeeeeee

[jen8]

Welcome, I am fairly new as well. However, the only part I can help you with is the medical stuff (I am a nurse, who also suffers from anxiety at times). First, remember that when you hyperventilate, it is because you have TOO MUCH oxygen. When you are told to breathe into a paper bag is is for a reason. Follow me... You breath in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. When you hyperventilate you begin to breathe at a very fast rate. There for you are breathing in more oxygen than you need and do not have time to convert the oxygen in your lungs to carbon dioxide. What you need at that time is Carbon Dioxide, not more oxygen. Therefore we tell you to breath in a bag so that you can RE-BREATHE you carbon dioxide and take in LESS oxygen.

Eventually you will balance out and come back to normal. Just tell yourself this. A panic attack is you mind in overdrive. Avoid other triggers if you know yours (like coffee or anything that makes your heart rate go up). After you understand what is happening with panic attacks they are a lot less scary. As a nurse I can tell you that it is the cheapest medical thing you can handle, because a paper bag is very cheap! So if you have to grab a bag (which there is always one in front of you in the seat) Just use it! Have you used one before? It is really a quick fix and you will feel better as soon as you do it and slow down your breathing, and begin to put your body back in balance. (If you feel the attack is coming, despite your best efforts, you can try to cup your hands and breath into them for a couple minutes. Same idea, but easier because your hands are right there. If you are in a full blown attack you many need the bag though. But then relax asap because you are going to miss a great view of the land below like you have never seen it. :angel:

Worst case senario, you have an attack...don't sweat too much. I think that flight attendents today are like nurses. They are super smart and have seen it all and helped all. They know what to do in emergencies. Chances are they have seen panic attacks and they will know exaclty what to do. Chances are also, that if you have an attack, it will not be from lack of oxygen, it will because of fear itself.

Good news... from what I have read, (others can probably explain it better), I read that there is more fresh air on a plane than in your work place! I used to get sick just thinking of all that nasty reused air. But now I feel good knowing when the blower is in my face over my head, it is very fresh air. Also, keep the blower on, it will help if you are a person with anxiety. It helps hit your cheek bones and that has something to do with the nerves and relaxing you.

In case of a drop in cabin pressure, from what I am reading, it sounds like no big deal. Captain Ray even tells a story about it somewhere when it happened to him. This is where the cabin pressure changes and the oxygen masks come down. I always thought, this is dumb, I dont want more oxygen as I fall to my death. I truly thought it meant the plane was going to crash, thats crazy, I now know! The problem is that knoweldge is power and I had never learned anything about a plane. If the oxygen masks pop out, just put it on and relax. They just need to get the plane back down to around 10,000 feet (i think) and then all is well. Hopefully someone more experienced can help me out with this part.

Try to rest easy. Yes the air is different up there, but as for your oxygen, it is taken care of. The only thing you will do by hyperventilating, is to get TOO MUCH oxygen, which you will have brought on by yourself. Good luck on your flight and please let me know how it goes.

I am still scared about mine in 5 weeks. But am working very hard on it all. Keep us posted. :thumbsup:

[BOOTCAMP]

Thanks so very much, I wasn't aware of the medical reason for hyperventilation, that helped a lot. My main concern is not being able to breath very good up there. I seem to have issues on the ground with my breathing when the panic comes on. I have all sorts of phobias about my heart beating to fast,skipped beats, hyperv..etc...I const check my pulse when this comes on. I just dont know what I'll do up there when/if I panic..I read somewhere that the air is a lot thinner in the cabin and its like being on an 8,000 foot mountain..wouldn't that make it harder to breath and cause breathlessness..sorry! I know this is odd, but I'm just what iffing my self to death..I'm suppose to fly out friday, but its not looking to good..

[MarcoAviator]

... IF the oxygen masks pop out, just put it on and relax. They just need to get the plane back down to around 10,000 feet (i think) and then all is well. Hopefully someone more experienced can help me out with this part.
...

Oh yes. You know what you are talking about. You did your research already I see ...

You nailed it. It's 10,000 feet ... the pilot will most likely put the plane in a somewhat steeper descent than normal to get below 10,000 as soon as possible .

Look at you! you came here to get help and you are already helping others! :shocked: :happyguy::thumbsup:

[BOOTCAMP]

Thanks for the feedback. I would say that my cardiovascular is low to normal, but my fear is that I'm gonna freak out and have to deal with trying to control my breathing while I fight for air because of the high atltitude. Could this realy cause me problems; I think that the flight is only 1hr 30 min, which to me seems sooooooooo long. If it were only 1 hour it would prob make me feel a little better. I think I can do it, but just afraid to take that chance. My wife and two sons will be with me, so that might help..They seem excited about flying(their first time also). If I dont do this, I'll be so ashamed, and they'll be so let down..

[jen8]

Look at you! you came here to get help and you are already helping others! :shocked: :happyguy::thumbsup:[/quote]

Well panic is one thing I have learned a lot about. I figure the best way to become less afraid is to become more educated. Thats all we can do, right? :D

[jen8]

Thanks so very much, I wasn't aware of the medical reason for hyperventilation, that helped a lot. My main concern is not being able to breath very good up there. I seem to have issues on the ground with my breathing when the panic comes on. I have all sorts of phobias about my heart beating to fast,skipped beats, hyperv..etc...I const check my pulse when this comes on. I just dont know what I'll do up there when/if I panic..I read somewhere that the air is a lot thinner in the cabin and its like being on an 8,000 foot mountain..wouldn't that make it harder to breath and cause breathlessness..sorry! I know this is odd, but I'm just what iffing my self to death..I'm suppose to fly out friday, but its not looking to good..

One great thing you can do is to just look around! I would bet my last dollar (becuase of they many flights I have been on), I have never seen even one person gasping for air. Millions of people fly all the time and all seem to breathe just fine. Remember, if you start having trouble breathing, it is not the plane, it is your mind playing tricks on you. :rolleyes: Just remember to tell yourself exactly what is happening, maybe print these things out and take them with you, then you will relax more. Again, worst case senario, you need to breathe into a bag, then guess what, in a few minutes its over! And you can go back to your flight. Anxiety is something that has taken me Mannnnnny years to learn how to control. You will really need to probably do alot of work to learn as much about it as you can. I used to think that everything was going wrong with my body and thought my heart was just going to stop or something. And you are not crazy, many people who have gone through this understand. A panic attack actually makes you feel like you are dying. But once you learn alot about them, you will realize they are much easier to control than you think.

All your phobias are due to one thing "ANXIETY". Try to stop thinking that you have a million problems (phobias), this way its easier to fix just one. The heart thing is the number one thing with anxiety. As a nurse I can tell you that your heart can withstand alot. We had a baby the other day whos heart rate was over 280 for 36 hours straight. And the doctor told us to relax and it got better. The baby is just fine. So unless yours is over 200 then try to relax a little. Also, skipped beats are not a normal cause of death. Many people have them and some don't even know they have it. For example, if your heart rate is 110 at take off, who cares! I bet many peoples are because they are excited to go on vacation. No worries there.

Maybe go to your doctor, or a cardiologist, that way you can rest easy and start to really deal with your anxiety.

Take a good look at your kids, I will bet they be very calm. And try for their sake not to freak out too much. Thats how people like me get a phobia of planes. They see their parents freak out. Maybe if you can feel that you have to be there for them, you will focus less on yourself. The mind is very easy to distract when it comes to anxiety. Maybe even play some card games with them. Try to make it fun for them, it may even be fun for you too :happyguy:

But follow my lead STOP THE NEGATIVE TALK IN YOUR HEAD! Your inner self hears these negative comments. It does not know when you are just being a smart ass either! So if you are saying, I don't think I will have enough oxygen, it will think that.

Promise me this, start saying positive things ( I am with you on this one) say it in your head, say it out loud, just say it...
1) Airplanes are safe
2) I will have plenty of oxygen on the plane
3) I control my body and I will be able to breathe fine on the plane
4) My heart is fine (stop taking your pulse too. You may be only feeding the problem. Believe me, if it does become 200 for some reason, YOU WILL know it without having to check it)

Also, try the belly breathing exercise. Put one hand on your chest, and one on your belly. Then try breathing through your belly by pushing out your belly instead of your chest. Trust me this works. You will be unable to panic. ;)

It all may sound silly, but I bet you will be suprised to see how well it works. You will even feel better after you start saying it. And do not use words like; maybe, might, kinda. You get the idea, just 100% positive talk to yourself. This is how I overcame so much of my anxiety. Its a simple and free treatment. So i am doing the same thing now with my fear of planes. We will be fine (there I started!)

No more negative talk!!! (for either of us) Please keep us posted, and good luck, you will do great!:tongue:

[BOOTCAMP]

Thanks for all the support. I'm just so nervous, I scanned back over my posts and laughed at all my grammar errors, I will be fine nonetheless.this site has helped so much in such a short little time.

I feel the Lord led me here ( I've been praying a great deal ), so thanks again, especially you "jen8", that was right on the money on how I've been about my heart, I've created a phobia about it.

I'm gonna do this.............................................. :D

[jen8]

I'm gonna do this.............................................. :D


See thats what I am talking about!!! Keep up the positive talk. And don't even worry about the grammer. I work midnights so sometimes I am typing at 4 am, or like now at 9am when i just got off work! Keep in touch to let us know how your flight goes, don't forget about us :tiphat:

[CaptainStark]

It is our diverse membership that makes this board so helpful. This thread is a great example of why Taking Flight is such a boon to people looking for answers and help flying.

Yesterday I had a lady and her husband on the first of two practice flights before a vacation trip. Facing turbulence and a snowstorm pressing down on PVD, she stayed with us and flew -and she made it! She was spent when she got there but she was determined to fly back home. I hope she joins up with us as well.

Congratulations to everyone on this board both for what you need and what you bring to the table in an effort to help others. In helping others, we all help ourselves in the process.:thumbsup:

:ray:
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