Taking something for flying?
Discussion
Not sure if this is the right area or Health Matters but....
I'm not the best at it, guaranteed full blown panic and generally ruins my holiday. I usually just have a few drinks but I have completely stopped for 2 years (no real reason other than I wasn't enjoying it) and don't want to start again just for a flight.
Tried diazepam once and it never worked, was too wound up and I was eating them like sweets at one point in the hope I'd pass out.
Just wondered if there is something stronger a doctor would prescribed? Going to call them tomorrow but just wondered if there are any other flying ****ebags on here and what you may have taken to help?
I'm not the best at it, guaranteed full blown panic and generally ruins my holiday. I usually just have a few drinks but I have completely stopped for 2 years (no real reason other than I wasn't enjoying it) and don't want to start again just for a flight.
Tried diazepam once and it never worked, was too wound up and I was eating them like sweets at one point in the hope I'd pass out.
Just wondered if there is something stronger a doctor would prescribed? Going to call them tomorrow but just wondered if there are any other flying ****ebags on here and what you may have taken to help?
A friend, similar to you, did this course:
https://flyingwithconfidence.com/
It worked for him.
I doubt a Dr is going to give you anything effective.
https://flyingwithconfidence.com/
It worked for him.
I doubt a Dr is going to give you anything effective.
This takes practice. But, it works. It was a main tenet of much of my work as a psychotherapist
In a nutshell: accept that you're going to be very nervous during the flight.
The issue here is that you are already preparing yourself to being attached to your negative thoughts.
You will be powerless over the operation of the plane. There's nothing you can do personally about that.
Instead, it will help if you are curious about your thoughts and feelings during the flight. Those negative thoughts are only a handful of the many that you'll have that day.
You do not have to be controlled by them. The fear will come in waves and will pass. Acknowledge them then detach from them. Watch them pass as you would watch a leaf winding its way down a babbling brook.
Heres two ropey you tube videos which introduce Attachment and Commitment Therapy. I hope that what they suggest is of help to you.
Remember, these thoughts are just thoughts, nothing more than that. They only have power if you become attached to them. Otherwise, they're just thoughts.
In a nutshell: accept that you're going to be very nervous during the flight.
The issue here is that you are already preparing yourself to being attached to your negative thoughts.
You will be powerless over the operation of the plane. There's nothing you can do personally about that.
Instead, it will help if you are curious about your thoughts and feelings during the flight. Those negative thoughts are only a handful of the many that you'll have that day.
You do not have to be controlled by them. The fear will come in waves and will pass. Acknowledge them then detach from them. Watch them pass as you would watch a leaf winding its way down a babbling brook.
Heres two ropey you tube videos which introduce Attachment and Commitment Therapy. I hope that what they suggest is of help to you.
Remember, these thoughts are just thoughts, nothing more than that. They only have power if you become attached to them. Otherwise, they're just thoughts.
Edited by Blib on Sunday 2nd July 20:07
The OG Jester said:
I've had panic attacks for years, tried everything to help with them but it's not worked. CBT, Hypnotherapy, Hypnosis, CBD oil, drink, meditation, Reiko, Tai Chi, exercise......
Certain situations make it worse.
I used to suffer from anxiety, but am past it now. I dreaded flying.Certain situations make it worse.
Here it is: "Nothing bad will happen".
That's all you have to hang on to. Its your body & brain f
king with you with adrenaline and other chemicals from way back when we had to run from lions. You can beat it - every time you feel an episode coming on (self doubt) KEEP reminding yourself how NOTHING actually bad ever happened before - you never died, your heart didn't stop beating, people didn't point and laugh at you. You just felt very s
t and got through it. Each time you do this, you slowly reinforce it, and it becomes less and less of a problem, until, like me, it's not a problem, at all.
BTW - CBT worked wonders for me, but you have to believe/trust the process.
Personally, if you haven't got a handle on it come flight time, I'd have a couple of beers. I used alcohol to manage it at 1st. It works well, as long as you are in control (doc told me off big time for doing this, but, it worked at the time).
Weed? (I love a smoke) - is a terrible idea for anxiety - it just makes it worse long term unless yo ustick to CBD only, and that, I've no idea how effective it is.
You have my sympathy - anxiety is a bloody nightmare - but you will be shot of it eventually.
I'm looking to do CBT again but I feel so weak minded. I get on a mindset that there will be a magic pill cure for me one day and it isn't coming so I just suffer on.
It really has affected my life in ways people would gasp at and all the things I've missed out on.
Thanks for the replies.
The bus video makes perfect sense but I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to start making changed. I know it's up to me and no one else.
It really has affected my life in ways people would gasp at and all the things I've missed out on.
Thanks for the replies.
The bus video makes perfect sense but I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to start making changed. I know it's up to me and no one else.
Must admit I don't like flying, and I think it's down to the odd thought of being trapped. I can't get off the plane for those hours in the air, and it's a thought I absolutely hate. It can send me into a panic in my mind.
Totally irrational, I know.
I just combat it with a G&T at the airport and two cheeky ones on the flight, then I'm perfectly fine.
Totally irrational, I know.
I just combat it with a G&T at the airport and two cheeky ones on the flight, then I'm perfectly fine.
I don't much care for flying, but have developed some techniques to make it easier.
1) Get an aisle seat so you don't keep looking out of the window and thinking about how far down the ground is.
2) Sort out plenty of music and podcasts to keep you distracted, plus decent headphones.
3) a couple of glasses of red wine when the trolley comes around.
4) Close your eyes, turn the sound up on your music and ignore the world around you.
Someone once said that the plane moving around in turbulence what just like a boat bobbing over some waves, totally normal and nothing to worry about.
1) Get an aisle seat so you don't keep looking out of the window and thinking about how far down the ground is.
2) Sort out plenty of music and podcasts to keep you distracted, plus decent headphones.
3) a couple of glasses of red wine when the trolley comes around.
4) Close your eyes, turn the sound up on your music and ignore the world around you.
Someone once said that the plane moving around in turbulence what just like a boat bobbing over some waves, totally normal and nothing to worry about.
The OG Jester said:
I'm looking to do CBT again but I feel so weak minded. I get on a mindset that there will be a magic pill cure for me one day and it isn't coming so I just suffer on.
It really has affected my life in ways people would gasp at and all the things I've missed out on.
Thanks for the replies.
The bus video makes perfect sense but I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to start making changed. I know it's up to me and no one else.
And, therin lies the beauty of the theory.It really has affected my life in ways people would gasp at and all the things I've missed out on.
Thanks for the replies.
The bus video makes perfect sense but I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to start making changed. I know it's up to me and no one else.
The very last thing that you need to be in situations such as this is 'strong'.
Instead, by acknowledging your fear, accepting that you are experiencing it and then letting it go you will find relief.
It's too much for me to go into here. But, if you can find a therapist who practices Acceptance and Committment Therapy, you may well find the answer to your fear of flying.
The flight is a tiny part of your holiday. The fear will pass. You know it will, because it has always passed before.
The OG Jester said:
I'm looking to do CBT again but I feel so weak minded. I get on a mindset that there will be a magic pill cure for me one day and it isn't coming so I just suffer on.
It really has affected my life in ways people would gasp at and all the things I've missed out on.
Thanks for the replies.
The bus video makes perfect sense but I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to start making changed. I know it's up to me and no one else.
Hi mateIt really has affected my life in ways people would gasp at and all the things I've missed out on.
Thanks for the replies.
The bus video makes perfect sense but I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to start making changed. I know it's up to me and no one else.
First of all, you're not weak minded. I couldn't get on a plane for a few years and felt just as hopeless as you do right now. Missed out on work progression, weddings, all sorts. I would strongly recommend doing the BA Flying with Confidence course (https://flyingwithconfidence.com/)
They know what they are doing and if you really want to get to a point where you aren't missing out on things anymore its the easiest way to open that ability back up again. Being in a big room with lots of friendly people who were just as afraid (or more afraid) of flying but equally motivated to start doing it helped me a lot.
Good luck and try to not beat yourself up too much
vixen1700 said:
Must admit I don't like flying, and I think it's down to the odd thought of being trapped. I can't get off the plane for those hours in the air, and it's a thought I absolutely hate. It can send me into a panic in my mind.
Totally irrational, I know.
I just combat it with a G&T at the airport and two cheeky ones on the flight, then I'm perfectly fine.
do you ever get that feeling, on the motorway as a passenger, that you just want to open the car door to see what happens?Totally irrational, I know.
I just combat it with a G&T at the airport and two cheeky ones on the flight, then I'm perfectly fine.
GiantCardboardPlato said:
meanwhile I cannot believe it's takien me like 10+ years (been here a while...) to learn what blib does/did for a living.
surprised you didn't use PH to get more business blib, most people posting are a bit unhinged.
Sadly, most are far beyond my limited skills. surprised you didn't use PH to get more business blib, most people posting are a bit unhinged.
GiantCardboardPlato said:
do you ever get that feeling, on the motorway as a passenger, that you just want to open the car door to see what happens?
No, but I get the same feeling of being 'trapped' on motorways. I'm not too bad on motorways I know, but if we're going somewhere I don't know I start asking how far is it until the next junction etc.
Having said that, I'm nowhere near as bad as say a decade ago when the thought of a long motorway trip would have me sweating, especially seeing 'No hard shoulder for 15 miles' signs
Nowhere to stop and nowhere to get off!
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