situational panic/anxiety?

[Nissigus]

Any one else have a terrible fear of flying or bridges?  I get panic attacks whenever i have to cross a bridge, or when i am near semi truck an the interstate. I am supposed to be flying to CA. with my family and I am dreading it.  I keep picturing the plane going down with me and my family on it, and it litterally makes my stomach turn.   I have to dose myself with atavan every time I fly, and even then I'm still very tense. I hate to be on a med all the time if these are my only areas affected.  I don't really feel that overly anxious through out the day, but I freak when it comes to those above mentioned things.  I hate living with the fear and feel like it does limit my life in some ways.  Anyone else have this situational panic/anxiety? Do you take meds on a day to day basis?  Do you think the meds Help the panic episodes? I am thinking about trying Buspar, but didn't know if it would help my panic since it seems to be brought on by certain things only. I take the Atavan or Xanax for flying, but it's a little hard to use it when you are driving, or when you MAY come up on a bridge out of the blue....Any suggestions?

[suzi-q]

I do not have that problem.  I am writing to talk about the buspar.  Buspar is a med that you have to take every day and takes weeks to feel the effects.  Unless you suffer from panic all the time, I wouldn't recommend it.  It is for long term panic and anxiety.  Xanax seems like your best alternative if it is just for that flying time.

[karatekid123]

talk to your doctor about lorazepam. it's taken as needed, and is in and out or your system in about 6 hours. maybe that would help more with your anxiety provoking situations

[meme123]

Okayy i am 19 years old and i started getting panic attacks about 3 months ago....for no reason at all i had this huge fear of dying and even if i hurt myself in a little way i would get these crazy panic attacks anyways this lady gave me this website about this girl who gets over panic attacks and tells you how. Honestly this is what stopped mine. I have not had a panic attack now for a month and before i was getting them 4-5 times a month....i know my situation doesnt seem as bad as yours and i totally understand what your goign through they are nto fun in anyway and no one knows what they are like unless you get them but here is the website PLEASE take a look at it and read it, it might not completly help you but its worth a try www.geocities.com/spiroll2/stoppa.htm.Keep smiling and let me know what you tink!

[meme123]

sorrrry you have to add an"L" at the ennnd!:):)

[Lemonhed]

Thanks for this thread too.

I have nightmares about just being on a plane, and panicking just waiting for it to take off.  Not being able to fly limits our vacation options, and gives me all the usual feelings of 'being crazy' and feeling 'like a wuss' etc.  I've definitely been interested in finding out what drugs I could take that would let me take a plane ride...I sooo want to go see Ireland, or Africa, or Australia.  I was pretty dicey and edgey before 9/11, and now I'm just plain agauinst flying, no way no how.  I worry a lot about highly improbable disaters, etc etc., and it really bugs because I have a great life, wonderful family, and all is well and right with the world.  But I get insanely afraid of dying too, and can't even think about it.  Planes put me in the same mindset.  Bridges I'm okay with, mostly.  Suspension bridges are fine, but if the bridge is older, and doesn't look as sturdy, it does make me really nervous.  For me it's unexpected body twinges and pains.  It sets off the "what was that?" chain, and if I don't get myself distracted from it quickly, I can spend the whole day freaking out about what is no more that perfectly normal achey (achy) muscles.
So yeah, I hear ya, and I say hang in there.  

I'll be seeing a doctor soon about all this, so I'll post if he has anything helpful on the subject too.