Fear of Flying - anxiety reaction

[Gigi_007]

I have developed a Fear of Flying since after 9-11. Or so I thought and now maybe its from PCOS! I've actually walked off of 3 planes due to the panic attacks.

Does anyone else here have that, and did you correlate it to your PCOS?

It would be such a relief to know if they are related and could be taken care of with meds/ yoga, or something PCOS cure related.

I have flown the World believe it or not , and since all that flying under my belt have developed this insane fear.

Next month , my family is having a vacation in Las Vegas which is an hour flight from LA and I was wanting to fly. But those panic attacks are so hard to overcome when I walk on board a flight. Last time I flew I went with a super calm friend, who was bless her heart, totally understanding of my 'craziness'

The one good thing about PCOS is it really brings out the best in good people and you can see who is an asset in your life.

[Bethann]

I am afraid of flying, it's one of the most common fears (think about it, on some instinctual level your body knows you shouldn't be that far off the ground.) I handle it with xanax, my psychologist said we couldn't really work on it behaviorally because I fly to seldom, only about 1 a year (because of finances, not anxiety.)

[CaptTomBunn]

Even among professions, the cause of fear of flying is not well understood. All of us develop a specific amount of ability to regulate anxiety. Whatever amount we develop is developed very early in life. What matters later is how much life events challenge the amount of ability to regulate anxiety (and calm ourselves when dealing with uncertainty) we have.

Keep in mind, though, that on the ground we can employ three "security blankets" 1. control of situations, 2. reassurance about situations, and 3 a way to escape the situation.

Many of us can deal with anxiety on the ground because we have control, reassurance, and then have escape as a backup. But on a plane, we have no control, and unless sitting next to a pilot, no reassurance. Escape isn't possible either. That leaves a person, when flying, with ONLY the basic built-in ability to deal with anxiety.

Sure 9/11 or a bad flight can make it worse, but so can anything else. Everything that can cause anxiety adds up to produce the total amount.

Behavior therapy for fear of flying is not useful, nor is any other USUAL form of therapy. It took me ten years of graduate and post graduate study and work with thousands of clients to find something that does work.

If you would like more info, please email me at tom@fearofflying.com

Capt Tom Bunn LCSW

[CaptTomBunn]

Even among professions, the cause of fear of flying is not well understood. All of us develop a specific amount of ability to regulate anxiety. Whatever amount we develop is developed very early in life. What matters later is how much life events challenge the amount of ability to regulate anxiety (and calm ourselves when dealing with uncertainty) we have.

Keep in mind, though, that on the ground we can employ three "security blankets" 1. control of situations, 2. reassurance about situations, and 3 a way to escape the situation.

Many of us can deal with anxiety on the ground because we have control, reassurance, and then have escape as a backup. But on a plane, we have no control, and unless sitting next to a pilot, no reassurance. Escape isn't possible either. That leaves a person, when flying, with ONLY the basic built-in ability to deal with anxiety.

Sure 9/11 or a bad flight can make it worse, but so can anything else. Everything that can cause anxiety adds up to produce the total amount.

Behavior therapy for fear of flying is not useful, nor is any other USUAL form of therapy. It took me ten years of graduate and post graduate study and work with thousands of clients to find something that does work.

If you would like more info, please see fearofflying.com/ where there is a video that explains this in detail.

Capt Tom Bunn LCSW

[elocinintherain]

I am very high anxiety.
I would really recommend learning some "coping" techniques... like deep counted breathing (breath in and as you are doing this, count to 5 in your head at a normal slow speed. Breath out, counting down from 5 doing the same thing), focusing on something else (like a period at the end of a sentence in a book or where the lines of a t cross on a business card), or refocusing by snapping a rubberband on your wrist.
Also, in addition to using these techniques, ask your doctor for some benzos. These are anti-anxiety meds that are taken as needed, such as Xanax, Ativan, Valium, and Klonopin. I love Klonopin, personally.
Good Luck!

[jayjay5]

I don't have any advice to offer but I just wanted to say I hear where you're coming from!

I too have travelled a lot but in recent times the more I fly, the more scared I seem to get. I've never had a bad flight (except for a sightseeing tour over the Grand Canyon but that's a whooole other story) I hope things get better for you x

[stacey88]

i have this same thing.
i used to be a frequent flyer, as my mother lives in another state.
but about 3 years ago i developed EMETIPHOBIA. which is the fear of throwing up, or seeing someone else do this.
i get very anxious when i'm out and about and i start to feel a bit sick and i have panic attacks and need to be near the bathroom.
my fear of fying was me, being stuck inside a plane and feeling or getting sick, or someone else being right near me with me having no escape.
its a dreadful feeling and i know that it is not the exact same thing that you are having but i can understand the fear of flying and having panic attacks.
to be honest, i dont once even considder the plane to crash, its all about being sick.

i hope you get yourself in a nice mental state to enjoy some flying again.

[Bethann]

I am very high anxiety.
Also, in addition to using these techniques, ask your doctor for some benzos. These are anti-anxiety meds that are taken as needed, such as Xanax, Ativan, Valium, and Klonopin. I love Klonopin, personally.
Good Luck!

Yep, I second that (and I tend to think in general people take these too much), it would only be a very occasional use. I'm actually going to try my first flight without them this week, in part because I think they helped me break the cycle--part of what I was afraid of was flipping out while flying, which made me more anxious...Anyway, my flight this week is pretty short, so I plan to take Xanax with me, but not take it unless I start to have problems (Xanax is pretty fast acting.)