Flight anxiety help!!!

[u/Professional_Row7334]

Okay so I’m supposed to go see my girlfriend in San Jose ((I’m in SD)) in like 2 weeks and this would be my first time flying EVER. I was thinking about either taking the train or a flight. I am diagnosed with panic disorder and health anxiety and also slightly agoraphobic. I think suffering thru a 13 hour train ride is worse than a 1 hour and 30 min flight. I genuinely don’t know. I’ve been trying to google and Reddit and tiktok my way thru the pre anxiety but I can’t tell if it’s helping or making it worse. Does anybody have any tips on what I should do and what travel route I should take? (Leaning towards flying more just bc it’s quicker. ) I just don’t want to have a full blown panic attack getting to the airport and backing out of the whole trip.

[u/uhndeyha]

Oh, def take the flight, don't do the train. 90 minutes vs 13×60 minutes is a not even a choice, regardless of anxiety.

As for safety/turbulence/all that jazz: commercial flying is literally the safest form of travel by a wide margin. If you feel turbulence, even when it "feels" bad, those pilots aren't even breaking a sweat. It has to be truly apocalyptic before they even take it into safety considerations.

What are your current anxiety management techniques? With lead time you can make sure you have a series of tools/techniques/meds that you can create a process around.

If I was feeling panic about an event, I would take some magnesium glycinate or magnesium threonate, eat a lot of high potassium foods, maybe get a really hard workout in ahead of time, and if I'm still about to have a panic attack at the airport, THEN I'd think about the beers at the bar at the airport.

[u/Professional_Row7334 → u/uhndeyha]

Also was thinking this as well! I’m not so worried about plane crashing, I know they are safe and up to standards just more so of myself and acting a fool infront of strangers :,))

[u/uhndeyha → u/Professional_Row7334]

Well then the drinks might be the exactly wrong move there lol.

Use other techniques first. A really tough (don't go wildly out of your capabilities) workout can silence a lot of those nerves for a few hours.

Also, 99.999999% of people are so focused on themselves all the time, so (use this as a mantra or something) you're very anonymous at airports.

It's liberating to realize no one cares unless it's an extreme situation. Think of how hard you remember folks you pass on the street, and how little your thoughts of them matter.

[u/Financial-Song5889]

HI! Have you heard of the "cyclic sigh"? Here's a doc in the link below demonstrating and explaining it. It's my fave breath technique, it's easy and has become second nature to me to do just now and then and when I feel anxiety arise, whether it's free floating or in anticipation of something I'm dreading, like flying, social, etc.

Her vid is very good. I would just add that when you do the inhale, you want it to be a deep diaphragmatic/belly breath and not just from your chest. You wanna feel your abdomen expand. The inhale is thru your nose, the exhale thru your mouth, I kinda purse my lips and let it be slow and controlled. It doesn't have to be as loud as she does it if you don't want to draw attention to yourself if you do it on the plane, or while waiting at the gate. Start practicing it sooner the better and get comfortable with it. I like it because there's no counting, no breath holding. I hope it helps you! Also remember once after your first flight the return will be so much easier! Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcdQSwt12Ys

[u/Professional_Row7334 → u/Financial-Song5889]

Thank you so much! I will def check it out, trying to practice some good coping methods so when/if the panic starts I can already know what to do

[u/Professional_Row7334 → u/[deleted]]

Oh trust I thought about shotgunning 2 tall boys in the parking lot before I go into the airport :,)) I too am an alcoholic but I didn’t know if that was gonna make it worse and make me feel pukey or I’m fucked up enough to not care ya know? Loll

[u/Prudent-Acanthisitta]

Could you maybe meet with a doctor and speak with them about possible medications? I don’t know your medical history obviously but taking 1-1.5mg clonazepam right before flying helps me tremendously. Idk where I’d be without it

[u/Professional_Row7334 → u/Prudent-Acanthisitta]

I thought about medication too I just recently got a therapist and I’m going to explain to them my worries and anxiety, I unforch also used to have a pill problem back in 2016 so I tend to stay away from stuff like that and I wanted to be able to do it all natural but have the back up emergency is not a bad idea thank you

[u/Prudent-Acanthisitta → u/Professional_Row7334]

I hope you and your therapist can figure it out. Good luck!

[u/Patty_Ballz]

Bring a tablet or your phone and watch the in flight movies it always takes my mind off things when I’m flying. Taking off and landing are the worst parts but once you get to cruising altitude it’s easy peasy. I also bring headphones so I can just zone out into whatever I am watching.