diamond
07-18-2010, 10:02 PM
A week from today, I'll be getting on an airplane for the first time in 11 years! :happyguy: I am SUPER excited about the trip, but I also have been concerned about the flight anxiety. Until I found this site, I honestly did not have a name for what it was I go through, but since I came here and started reading and studying, I realize that what I have is agoraphobia...fear of having a panic attack in a place where I am trapped. And maybe it is a combination of claustrophobia too.
Honestly that is what bothers me the most about flying. And, about driving on a busy interstate, bridges, tunnels, performing, etc. The horrible fear that if something were to happen to me, I could not get out of the situation.
Anyway, I thought I would describe what I feel like and maybe someone here can help me to demystify these feelings? Or something...I don't know what I'm looking for, really except to articulate and give words to what I go through, and just vent. I've never done that until I came here, and strangely enough, I find it comforting.
It starts when the doors to the plane are closed. It feels so...final. I can't get out. I'm trapped, I'm stuck. It almost feels like a tomb, or that I'm being buried alive. However, I'm still on the ground, so it's not too bad...but after those doors close, it's hard to back out.
Then, we take off. I think the taking off is actually kinda fun. I don't mind the high speed or the lift off, or even being up in the air.
It's just that awful feeling that, if I have a panic attack, I can't get out! And that triggers a panic attack! I've never had a full blown panic, but I'm always on the edge...and it's still very unpleasant. The emotional and mental strain it places on me is every bit as hard if not worse than the panic itself. I end up beating myself up, feeling stupid, foolish, etc.
I just want to ENJOY this flight. I really, really do. I want to enjoy experiencing my daughter's first flight and seeing that through her eyes. I want to ENJOY what is waiting for us on the other side. I want to ENJOY the 4 hour leg and then another 2 hours. I plan to bring magazines and crossword/cryptogram puzzles to keep my mind occupied, and lots of snacks. I even like the hum of the engine. It's rather soothing...but not enough to take away the panic!
I do not like feeling trapped. :( I do not like the feeling of being in a dream, like I"m going to leave my body or like I'm not real or something weird like that. Like I"m losing touch with reality, or I'm going insane. I don't like feeling like I don't have enough air, and I keep breathing and then I fill up with gas and am all gassy. Yuck! I hope I remember to breathe DEEP!!!!
So far, I've been sleeping well...I've not been so anxious to the point of losing sleep over this. And I don't have panic attacks just thinking about it, which is good. I am taking some vitamins and herbs that help too.
But I want to successfully overcome this!!! This may be the first of many, many more flights in my future (and I have a good number under my belt as it is, I've been to over 25 countries!) and I am determined that I am going to get past this.
Has anyone here ever successfully overcome the panic???
Honestly that is what bothers me the most about flying. And, about driving on a busy interstate, bridges, tunnels, performing, etc. The horrible fear that if something were to happen to me, I could not get out of the situation.
Anyway, I thought I would describe what I feel like and maybe someone here can help me to demystify these feelings? Or something...I don't know what I'm looking for, really except to articulate and give words to what I go through, and just vent. I've never done that until I came here, and strangely enough, I find it comforting.
It starts when the doors to the plane are closed. It feels so...final. I can't get out. I'm trapped, I'm stuck. It almost feels like a tomb, or that I'm being buried alive. However, I'm still on the ground, so it's not too bad...but after those doors close, it's hard to back out.
Then, we take off. I think the taking off is actually kinda fun. I don't mind the high speed or the lift off, or even being up in the air.
It's just that awful feeling that, if I have a panic attack, I can't get out! And that triggers a panic attack! I've never had a full blown panic, but I'm always on the edge...and it's still very unpleasant. The emotional and mental strain it places on me is every bit as hard if not worse than the panic itself. I end up beating myself up, feeling stupid, foolish, etc.
I just want to ENJOY this flight. I really, really do. I want to enjoy experiencing my daughter's first flight and seeing that through her eyes. I want to ENJOY what is waiting for us on the other side. I want to ENJOY the 4 hour leg and then another 2 hours. I plan to bring magazines and crossword/cryptogram puzzles to keep my mind occupied, and lots of snacks. I even like the hum of the engine. It's rather soothing...but not enough to take away the panic!
I do not like feeling trapped. :( I do not like the feeling of being in a dream, like I"m going to leave my body or like I'm not real or something weird like that. Like I"m losing touch with reality, or I'm going insane. I don't like feeling like I don't have enough air, and I keep breathing and then I fill up with gas and am all gassy. Yuck! I hope I remember to breathe DEEP!!!!
So far, I've been sleeping well...I've not been so anxious to the point of losing sleep over this. And I don't have panic attacks just thinking about it, which is good. I am taking some vitamins and herbs that help too.
But I want to successfully overcome this!!! This may be the first of many, many more flights in my future (and I have a good number under my belt as it is, I've been to over 25 countries!) and I am determined that I am going to get past this.
Has anyone here ever successfully overcome the panic???