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[Annidav]

Well! Haven't posted on here for a little while; I have cut down on the AD's (mirtazapine) and now only take a 30mg tablet very occasionally; however, I really  should have taken one last evening as we have just come back from holiday and I have been awake since just before 2a.m as I absolutely hate flying and found myself wide awake and catastrophising about the journey from that moment until we got off the plane back in this country; I was so worried I was going to have a panic attack on the plane as a result in front of my two kids - I didn't; I found myself muttering the words to "the sun'll come out tomorrow" from "Annie" during take off and landing (my daughter was in the school end of year production so it was kind of fresh in my mind...).... Got to go through it all again on Friday as we are flying to Dublin for my 50th Birthday - actually told my husband at the import this morning that we should cancel Dublin as I can't cope with the anxiety; I do have some diazepam tablets left over and am wondering whether I should take one on Friday morning - sorry I am waffling on!!!

[flutterby]

Hi Fiftygirl can empathise with you, although flying itself does not terrify me ( I don't particularly like it), even the thought of turbulence does. No one can guarantee a calm flight so I am on tenterhooks at least a week before the flight. I got 2mg diazepam for the flight which did take the edge off. However on a short flight I find a glass of wine instead calms me down more ( I don't drink very much usually). I would definitely go for the diazepam OR a glass of something alcoholic assuming you are allowed.
Use your distraction technique and/or do a simple anti anxiety breathing technique which you could Google
Happy 50th 
Flutterby x

[Justjules]

Fiftygirl - I can't contemplate flying without good old valium I'm afraid!  I don't really drink so that's not an option.  At least the flight to Dublin is only short so you can do it!! 

[CLKD]

I don't fly.  End of.  Why did you stop taking the AD? 

I can catastrophise for the UK!  Waking early is a sign of depression.  Something to do with cortisol too?  I would wake deeply, deeply afraid, prehensile fear ……… ADs helped to ease that.

[Hurdity]

Hi there

I can understand how you feel - I absolutely hate flying and have only come to it late in life as the children have left and we can afford it. I close my eyes and cling to my husband/grip the seat during take off and landing and turbulence has me terrified! However I am not a tablet person and have never had ADs so wouldn't even think of taking one - on an evening flight I usually have a glass of wine as soon as possible which relaxes me. What's the worst that can happen - the plane will crash? Well that's always a possibility when you fly or travel anywhere. Every time we fly somewhere I say I'm never going to do it again - but it's like having babies (for me anyway!) - you forget about the awful long labour and the memory recedes so have another one 

If you need to take a pill in order to go - then do it - or have a glass of wine as I do (depends on time of flight of course - but maybe not!!!). I presume it can't do you any harm (the pill) as an occasional one-off as long as you keep it at that as they are so addictive and difficult to come off.

Enjoy your trip to Dublin and your birthday - you must go!  You would regret it if you didn't. We flew to Prague for mine (long time ago!).

Hurdity x

[dangermouse]

A bit like how the song helped, if you now start to replace any negative thoughts about your upcoming flight with 'it will be ok, everything will be fine', this will give you something tangible to think about, rather than trying not to think about all the terrifying scenarios you're probably very good at coming up with! It's also the truth, where your negative thoughts are exaggerations and are untrue. Even if things don't go perfectly, they will work out in the end and everything will be ok.

Good luck!

[Annie0710]

I don't enjoy flying but I won't let it stop me

My flight feelings are identical to Hurdity, I grip OHs hand so tight on taking off and any Wobblies during the flight petrifies me

I have a double Bacardi in the bar before boarding the plane, I tried Valium once and it didn't work on me

Annie x

[Evelyn63]

Im similar to Annie and Huridty, don't like it but won't prevent me travelling.  Try and fast forward to your birthday and all the things you will be dong and before you know it you will have landed at Dublin.  I always watch the cabin crew, they always seem so calm and relaxed so I reckon things must be ok ! 

[CLKD]

However much I do the 'talk' once the physicality of panic attacks take over I'm lost.  No way could I get into a confined space  - plane, coach, bus, train ………. I can travel with Himself driving but no one else. 

If my time is up then that's karma - so if I got into a Smartie tube and it crashed then that's it.  But can't cope with the thought of a confined space with 100s of other smelly farty grumbly people ……….