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Fear of Flying - Anxiety

My doctor (nurse practitioner) has given me a small Rx for generic Xanax for my fear of flying.  I THOUGHT I'd be able to take it as needed, but everything I read says it takes longer for it to work.

I have 2mg tabs that I can break into .5 mg doses.  I tried .5mg then 1 mg....and didnt notice anything different.  I have a flight in about 10 days and now I'm getting ...anxious about it.  Should I just keep "testing" various dosages.  She orig said .5 mg up to 2 mg per day....but I only need it for the flight.  Should I try the full tablet 2 mg. ....I'd rather know NOW what the effects will be rather than waiting til day of...if 2mg doesnt work, I'm not sure what I'll do for the flight.  (BTW my medicare doesnt cover the cost of controlled Rx's.....I am wondering if I should just take a couple of tylenol pm.
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Avatar universal
Hi,
Do not worry. Basic statistics, and based on official statistical data, shows in fact that it is easier to get killed in your car accident on the way to the airport than in your air flight.
With reputable airline, they say, that a chance to die in one flight is around 1 in 10 million. I hope you realize how large nuber it is! Keep it in mind when you fly! I trust you do not think that air flight service and pilots are desperate people and suicidal - if it was any differen, otherwise. Do you? Most of them fly almost every day their entire lives, and they still retire!
So, keep your cool!
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Avatar universal
dont fly...i used to fly...but years ago i flew to Georgia, my anxiety was very high on the way there, and i thought about taking a bus back (im in Ohio) but i had to get back to work....the flight back, i was just as scared.
Stop flying, ive quit, and now i dont have to worry about it...
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Avatar universal
Irenak, I've tried .5mg and 1mg and I don't feel any different.  I may try the Dramamine, but i really didn't want to go to sleep entirely.  


Rysiek,  I actually LOVE everything about flying except the Turbulence.  In 2008 I had a bad experience DFW-LGA. In total in didnt last that long, and I realize a) nothing is likely to happen to plane, and b) if the pilot thought it was bad, he would have made alternate plans for landing elsewhere.   At least I will still get on a plane.

One reason for doing this trip (Cancun)...........I tried a 1+ hr trip to Boston in April and had an awful time.......I figure If I cant do this 4 hour trip now, then I sure wont be able to do the trip JFK-PHX at Christmas (and that's to see my sister).

In my entire flying life, I have flown the day after major air disasters many times.  I even saw the story recently of that crash in (I think) south America where the plane broke into 3 pieces (fortunately only 1 person died, and not from the aircrash).  That didnt deter me.  

Going to Cancun, if I have problems going down there, I still have to fly back... At least if I went somewhere in the USA, I might have "options".  I just have to deal with it (there are other major stressors going on such as being out of work for nearly two years.....)

Appreciate your comments.
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Avatar universal
Hi,
Please tell me specifically first what is there in flying that you are afraid of? Is it a fear of possibly being killed in air flight accident or what else? It is important to know first. Please let me know. I look forward to it, so I can answer.
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Avatar universal
I don't have a fear of flying but I get motion sickness.  1 over the counter dramamine will knock me out.  I only have to take half of one.  I switched to Bonine because I felt better on it.    A normal dose of with either of these medications should help you. 1 Dramamine or 2 Bonine.  They will calm you down and make you tired. With my motion sickness, my body temperature goes up, I get nausea, it feels like a bad flu. So, this would be an alternative to your xanax. Make sure you take it at least an hour before you fly.  You will probably sleep the whole flight.

With your xanax, if and when you use it, take the .5mg an hour before you board the flight.  You will only take another .5 if you feel like it is wearing off or is not working as well as you like.  If you think you need more at the time when you are boarding the plane, that would be a good time to take more. Do not take the full 2 mg all at once.  Your body is not used to it and they may be carrying you off the plane.  There is no way to practice for this. There is no way to find out now how it will affect you.  You are not going to feel the same way now as you will feel on the day you fly.  Do not over medicate yourself out of fear and do not combine medications or mix with alcohol.  

Take an ipod or something with you and listen to calming music.  Find an essential oil that you love.  Put some on a q-tip or piece of cloth and smell it.  Close your eyes as much as possible and see yourself doing calm wonderful things.  Practice calming yourself with the music and smell before you get on the plane so that you are kind of programming yourself. Practice at home.

There is a very real reason why you are afraid of flying.   It might seem irrational, but it came from somewhere either in this life or most likely a past one. There are many alternative modalities that can be of help to you.  Energy healing, past life regression, etc.  Look around and find a reputable practitioner.  If you are not open to alternatives, find a therapist who specializes in this type of thing.  If your doctor won't help you find someone, keep looking yourself.  

You will be fine.  Have you ever been to an amusement park? Don't think of the plan as a plane.  Think of yourself as being at Disney World or something.  

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