Anti-Anxiety Thread

[PrettyInPink]

Let me start by saying I plan to talk to my doctor about this at my next physical in January.

I hate flying and am very much afraid of it but do it with my family to go on vacation when I have to. In May I have to fly from Boston to DC for my brother's college graduation and I have to fly alone (something I have never done). Due to time constraints with work, I can't drive or take a train. I am considering asking my doctor for anti-anxiety meds for the flight.

Anyone have experience using anti-anxiety meds for one time anxiety provoking situations?

[Dominion]

Input is appreciated in threads... but keep the advice legal.

OP: Your doctor will be very likely to prescribe you with an anti anxiety medication for the flight. It's fairly common, and works well for many people every day.

[yolo]

benzodiazepines are a likely choice the doctor may perscribe you. Better known as xanax, valium, etc.

I've flown a lot, i usually just read or sleep between take off/landing.

[Golf(e)]

Originally Posted by Dominion

Input is appreciated in threads... but keep the advice legal.

OP: Your doctor will be very likely to prescribe you with an anti anxiety medication for the flight. It's fairly common, and works well for many people every day.

I dont see how what i said was illegal, he could get a prescription from his doctor

[house]

Benzo's just made me sleepy but work great for some people. What specifically about the flight is provoking your anxiety? There may be some things you could do to help sensitize you for the experience and make it more manageable.

[LAZERGUNPEWPEW]

If it still makes you anxious. Think about the pilots that fly every 2-3 days. Do you think that they'd take the job if it was super dangerous? Do you think that the gov would allow flying if it was super unsafe.

You've probably heard it before, and its true, you're more likely to be killed driving your car than you are in a plane.

My uncle's a pilot and he flies a plane, or is on a flying plane 10~ a month. You really have nothing to worry about.

[PrettyInPink]

Originally Posted by LAZERGUNPEWPEW

If it still makes you anxious. Think about the pilots that fly every 2-3 days. Do you think that they'd take the job if it was super dangerous? Do you think that the gov would allow flying if it was super unsafe.

You've probably heard it before, and its true, you're more likely to be killed driving your car than you are in a plane.

My uncle's a pilot and he flies a plane, or is on a flying plane 10~ a month. You really have nothing to worry about.

I understand all this and have gotten much better over the years than I used to be. I hate takeoff (which I also know, statistically is one of the more dangerous parts of the flight). Once we're up I'm generally okay though always on edge (aka don't talk to me, just let me listen to music). I practice yoga and do yoga breathing during take off but I also always hold someone's hand. Since I'm flying alone I think I am going to need some help from meds for this trip. I generally don't like taking medication but I have a very hard time envisioning myself on this flight without provoking an anxious feeling.

[Drizzt]

my mom hated flying, like really really hates it, she went to the doctor and he gave her some ativan, shit works like a charm. She takes it right before she gets on the plane, she is a lot calmer and pretty much just falls asleep.

Another example of using it: My brother in law HATES the dentist, just the sound of the drill freaks him out (if he hears it on tv or something). He takes one before he goes to the dentist and he is fine then.

edit: My mom ONLY uses it for flying and my brother in law ONLY uses it for the dentist. So those are two examples that i know of where people take them for a single anxiety enduing situation.

[RiderOnTheStorm]

Benzos are GREAT for this sort of thing, and your doctor should have no problem providing you with a low dosage. I have a pretty bad anxiety disorder anyway, and I get a low dose of clonazepam (klonopin) for everyday use, and it works great when I have to fly, because I absolutely HATE flying. Tell your doc, and I doubt you're going to have a problem getting like a three or five day dosage.

However, if you have an addiction history, or something like it, make sure he only gives you a couple days worth. Only take it when flying (because withdrawals after ten days can give you seizures, I learned that the hard way), and try to stay away from xanax because from what I understand that has higher addiction rates.

[KanukSally]

i take effexor and ativan every day. im ALWAYS high

[notoriouscwe]

How about just having a few drinks before the flight? I grew up flying a lot so I have never minded it, but that's what I recommend to most people. Also, Boston to DC is an incredibly short flight. Just turn on your ipod and before you know it you'll be there.

[fool]

Agreed...I don't think getting medication should be too difficult. One of my friend's family members took some type of pills before getting on a flight and abruptly stopped before the metal detector because she had to "empty the electricity from her pockets."

[PrettyInPink]

Originally Posted by fool

Agreed...I don't think getting medication should be too difficult. One of my friend's family members took some type of pills before getting on a flight and abruptly stopped before the metal detector because she had to "empty the electricity from her pockets."

Ha yeahhhh I don't want to be for the flight either...

[IMFlacid]

Doc had me taking bystolic (used for high blood pressure) but also used for stress, it blocks some signal from your brain that makes your heart beat faster when under stress.. beta blocker

but i needed to get off it because it was affecting my attempt at weight loss, i was still able to but since i would have trouble getting my heart rate more then 110... well

[Stoneman]

wow you have some extreme flight anxiety. If it is indeed this bad, do not hesitate to talk to a doctor NOW, so that your next flight you have something to help you through it. Def get some meds to use only when you fly to calm you down.

I have been flying 5-10 times a year since I was born, never used to bother me until one day it was like a switch went off. Turblance drives me nuts and just the fact that if something goes wrong I am powerless to help the situation, and that I am so high above the ground I will most likely die

Anyways, what I do is just tell myself, I'm already on the plane, there is nothing I can do, so just relax. If something goes wrong, it goes wrong. If it doesn't, it doesn't. There is nothing I can do as a passenger so I might as well not worry about it since that can't help the situation anyways. I usually just get realllllllllly stressed out.

However, if I get mildly intoxicated by say having 4 beers or so in rapid succession on an empty stomach right before getting on the plane, then I seem to enjoy the flight and welcome the turbulence with a big grin and a "ride the lightning mentality" this makes flying more expesnive though