I get really restless when I fly. My psychologist tells me I have an altitude problem. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

The best relaxation technique I have ever tried, I love it! When I get restless or tense, this nearly puts me to sleep.
It's a little kooky and takes a while to do but it works.
First you close your eyes. (But then, how would you read the rest of this?)
Start by consciously focusing your attention on the toes of your right foot. Then imagine all the tiny muscles in your toes relaxing the most most they've ever been, as if they were being massaged, imagining the tension literally melting away. Then slowly shift your focus to the top of you foot, imagining it being massaged, tension melting away. Then imagin the same on the bottom of your foot. Slowly focus on each part of your foot, then ankle, then lower leg, imagining each of them relaxing away one at a time. Consider each muscle group separately (muscles on top of the foot, then muscles on the bottom, then on the sides, or muscles in the back of your leg, then the front, then the side ) and imagine the tension just slipping away as you work your way up your right leg, paying extra attention to joints and muscles that may be especially tense or over worked (even the seemingly insignificant ones like your toes or jaws). Once you get to the upper thigh, switch to the left leg and slowly envision the same process with the left leg, working your way up. Then take care to notice how even more relaxed the other leg feels now. Then do the same with hips and pelvis, back muscles, abs, sides, shoulders, then start on fingers of your right hand and work your way up just as you did with the legs. Then do the same with your neck, working your way up to your scalp, and even your facial muscles.

So it sounds really strange when I type it, but this really works. It's almost like getting a fully body massage without getting a physical massage, you imagine it instead. The key is to go slowly, and consider each and every muscle and bone in your body separately, imagining each one just melting away. It seems counterintuitive to relax your body by focusing so intensely on it, but to me its sort of sensual/meditative, and gives me some time to consider how tense and restless even the most unimportant seeming parts of my body can become, and the end result is this wonderful state of relaxation, both physically and mentally.

I get really keyed upsometimes and my body just won't stop or slow down, sometimes this is the only thing that works... Although I'm sure valium would do the trick much more quickly.

I promise this would work if I could describe it as well as it was taught to me, and if I weren't typing it.

Good luck.


Addition- Not sure if you should do this before the flight or at the beginning of it... but try the technique before hand and see if it works

Answer 2

Altitude problem or attitude problem, Goat Boy? Seriously, flying nowadays IS stressful. Back in the early days, when my mom was one of the first flight attendants (yes, they used to call them stewardesses), the airlines made a huge effort to make everything about a flight pleasant and relaxing. It's just not fun any more, when passengers are treated like dangerous cattle and not fed and watered throughout the flight. You have every right to be restless, but there are only limited options for remedy: drugs is one; or take a long, engrossing book to read; or put some relaxation sounds on your Ipod and try to send yourself elsewhere, mentally. Or play Sudoku, do crossword puzzles, find someone interesting to talk with in the next seat...

Answer 3

By all means, see a doctor, preferably an ENT specialist. It sounds to me like you have very small or constricted passages in both your Eustachian tubes and your sinuses. The fact that you get these symptoms when flying commercial, with a typical cabin altitude of around 8,000 feet, is troubling. You sound like a serious risk for sinus barotrauma. (Pressure differentials cause the linings to tear. Lots of blood, even more pain, and no flying whatsoever for at least 6 months. You don't want this.) Bottom line: As others have said, get thee to a doctor.

Answer 4

Walking is better for your health. I travel in airplanes as well but have no problem with it. If it is altitude that is bothering you then it is not as high as you might think. As far as your body is concerned you fly at about 8000 feet. Not very high at all. Reason? the pressure in the cabin is approximately the same as it would be if you were on land at 8000 feet. Would rather be on an airplane than on a bus.

Answer 5

Wow, I thought my spitting in peoples face was the inner core of my altitude problem. I guess I should just take trains instead!

Answer 6

Get an iPod, download Jimmy Buffett's "Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude", strap on the headphones and enjoy!

Answer 7

Only way I see is to change your altitude problem to an latitude one :-)

Answer 8

Man, we could've told you that. They get paid to tell you that? :P
Well, i personally dont trust them, never did like people who believe in the quasi-science of the mind, its just something we cant delve into...Anyways, where are you going? Perhaps you could take a boat or ferry or take small flights?

Answer 9

haha! That's funny! I get told things like that all the time, only mines normally, that I have an attitude problem!

Answer 10

I could repeat myself,you know my theory on flying and altimeters,but I think you should take advantage of Fever!!'s kind offer.