bearthehair
02-26-2008, 03:00 AM
Hi Everyone,
I just recently join the forum and have been reading a lot of posts. I am glad to see I am not alone… of course I knew I wasn’t, but it was so great to see people talking about it! I wanted to give you a summary of my fears… I guess I will start at the beginning.
1st Flight – November 2006. I went with two colleagues to Chicago. I was nervous leading up to the flight, simply because I had no idea what flying was like. Once I got on the plane, even before take-off, I was perfectly relaxed
2nd Flight – July 2007. I went to Florida with a colleague for trade show. Never even was nervous. Flew JetBlue, loved it.
3rd Flight – September 2007. Flew to NC with colleague. Never worried.
4th Flight – November 2007. Flew to Florida with colleague. Never worried (except that we wouldn’t have time to park at Reagan! Haha :D )
5th Flight – November 2007. Thanksgiving, flying to NC to visit family by myself. I totally panicked. The flight was only 45 minutes, and honestly it might have been the worst 45 minutes of my life. Felt claustrophobic beyond description, scared in general… not of the plane or flying, I just felt terrified and I don’t know why. I was fine driving to the airport. It was when I was waiting I started getting nervous. I still don’t know how I got on the plane and survived emotionally. On the return flight, I sat next to the nicest Southwest mechanic and we chatted the whole time. I was essentially not nervous once we started chatted. I was doing well then, but still had some “fear of the fear” going on. But I managed very well.
6th Flight – November 2007. Flew to Chicago with a colleague again. A little nervous that’d I’d freak like last time. Nothing happened, but I kind of felt like I was watching over my shoulder for a panic attack, but it didn’t happen.
7th Flight – December 2007. Florida alone to meet up with colleague. I was worried for a few days before, and on the way to the airport. A sort of “I have a big exam coming up” feeling, but not panic. I got to the airport though, and while I was at the gate I started worrying a lot. I panicked. I actually boarded, and started having a terrible panic attack, even more so… I honestly felt like I was going to explode. At the last moment I got off the plane. I was so embarrassed and ashamed of myself. I am still.
As you can see, the big problems were flying alone. I think when I am with friends or colleagues, I am distracted enough to not feel the way I do. My problems are claustrophobia and having no control.
I felt so trapped on the planes during my panic attacks, as if I was sealed in a jar. I didn’t feel like I was going to run out of air like some people feel… I just felt so trapped!! I’m even jittery typing this part.
Having no control was also a problem to some extent (80% claustrophobia / 20% control). I completely trust the pilots and crews; I just don’t like being helpless.
Ironically, the idea of actually flying (being in air, turbulence, etc) does not scare me at all. Sure I don’t like turbulence, but it happens and I’m OK with it.
I do have a social anxiety problem which is treated with Paxil. It actually helps me a lot in everyday life. But I couldn’t help but feeling anxious on the plane about the claustrophobia and being surrounded by people and equipment.
Since the incidents, I have did talk to my psychiatrist. He gave me a prescription for Xanax 0.5mg. I haven’t tried flying with it yet, though I have taken one on a quiet evening to make sure I don’t have any reactions. I guess we will see what happens when I have to fly next.
That brings me to the big issue… what to do when I have to fly next. Right now, I honestly start getting nervous when I really think about the idea of flying. I feel as if I could barely do it with my peers, and certainly couldn’t fly by myself. I certainly have the claustrophobic and control fears still, but now I have the dreaded “fear of the fear” about panic attacks. I feel lost.
I am really frustrated with myself and my situation. The first four times I was completely fine, and since then this has come about. I will certainly have to fly again, but I feel as if I can’t do it. That is the wrong attitude to have… but I feel as if I can’t help but feel that way.
I ask if you have a moment to post any encouraging words or thoughts, ideas, etc. It would be most appreciated… I want to beat this!!
Will
I just recently join the forum and have been reading a lot of posts. I am glad to see I am not alone… of course I knew I wasn’t, but it was so great to see people talking about it! I wanted to give you a summary of my fears… I guess I will start at the beginning.
1st Flight – November 2006. I went with two colleagues to Chicago. I was nervous leading up to the flight, simply because I had no idea what flying was like. Once I got on the plane, even before take-off, I was perfectly relaxed
2nd Flight – July 2007. I went to Florida with a colleague for trade show. Never even was nervous. Flew JetBlue, loved it.
3rd Flight – September 2007. Flew to NC with colleague. Never worried.
4th Flight – November 2007. Flew to Florida with colleague. Never worried (except that we wouldn’t have time to park at Reagan! Haha :D )
5th Flight – November 2007. Thanksgiving, flying to NC to visit family by myself. I totally panicked. The flight was only 45 minutes, and honestly it might have been the worst 45 minutes of my life. Felt claustrophobic beyond description, scared in general… not of the plane or flying, I just felt terrified and I don’t know why. I was fine driving to the airport. It was when I was waiting I started getting nervous. I still don’t know how I got on the plane and survived emotionally. On the return flight, I sat next to the nicest Southwest mechanic and we chatted the whole time. I was essentially not nervous once we started chatted. I was doing well then, but still had some “fear of the fear” going on. But I managed very well.
6th Flight – November 2007. Flew to Chicago with a colleague again. A little nervous that’d I’d freak like last time. Nothing happened, but I kind of felt like I was watching over my shoulder for a panic attack, but it didn’t happen.
7th Flight – December 2007. Florida alone to meet up with colleague. I was worried for a few days before, and on the way to the airport. A sort of “I have a big exam coming up” feeling, but not panic. I got to the airport though, and while I was at the gate I started worrying a lot. I panicked. I actually boarded, and started having a terrible panic attack, even more so… I honestly felt like I was going to explode. At the last moment I got off the plane. I was so embarrassed and ashamed of myself. I am still.
As you can see, the big problems were flying alone. I think when I am with friends or colleagues, I am distracted enough to not feel the way I do. My problems are claustrophobia and having no control.
I felt so trapped on the planes during my panic attacks, as if I was sealed in a jar. I didn’t feel like I was going to run out of air like some people feel… I just felt so trapped!! I’m even jittery typing this part.
Having no control was also a problem to some extent (80% claustrophobia / 20% control). I completely trust the pilots and crews; I just don’t like being helpless.
Ironically, the idea of actually flying (being in air, turbulence, etc) does not scare me at all. Sure I don’t like turbulence, but it happens and I’m OK with it.
I do have a social anxiety problem which is treated with Paxil. It actually helps me a lot in everyday life. But I couldn’t help but feeling anxious on the plane about the claustrophobia and being surrounded by people and equipment.
Since the incidents, I have did talk to my psychiatrist. He gave me a prescription for Xanax 0.5mg. I haven’t tried flying with it yet, though I have taken one on a quiet evening to make sure I don’t have any reactions. I guess we will see what happens when I have to fly next.
That brings me to the big issue… what to do when I have to fly next. Right now, I honestly start getting nervous when I really think about the idea of flying. I feel as if I could barely do it with my peers, and certainly couldn’t fly by myself. I certainly have the claustrophobic and control fears still, but now I have the dreaded “fear of the fear” about panic attacks. I feel lost.
I am really frustrated with myself and my situation. The first four times I was completely fine, and since then this has come about. I will certainly have to fly again, but I feel as if I can’t do it. That is the wrong attitude to have… but I feel as if I can’t help but feel that way.
I ask if you have a moment to post any encouraging words or thoughts, ideas, etc. It would be most appreciated… I want to beat this!!
Will