If i have panic attacts what should i do to stay calm while flying?

Answer 1

There are many more natural remedies to help w/ anxiety, nervousness that won't leave you w/ a hangover the next day.

Inositol, buy at a health food store or vitamin specialty store, safe in doses up to 3000mg a day, no known drug interactions, or side effects.

GABA, a calming neurotransmitter, also very safe, can buy at the same place (also available at GNC store) safe in high doses up to 3000 mg per day.

5-HTP is a form of the amino acid tryptophan, which is what makes us sleep when we eat turkey, however 5-HTP can increase serotonin activity which is our bodies calming mechanism.

Try some alternative methods before resorting to Rx drugs...try them out before you fly to see which works best for you, every one responds differently to medications, vitamins, supplements.

Best wishes and enjoy the flight!

Answer 2

I have this same problem. And it sucks, really badly, I know. I had one bad flight in particular - from HI to CA and it was totally exhausting to be in a state of panic for that long.

That being said, I have made great progress since then, and can fly with just a bit of anxiety or sometimes none - but no panic anymore! Here's what has worked for me:

I have a bottle of Xanax in my purse 'just in case' - it's kind of a safety blanket to know that it's there should I need it, most times I don't have to take any but it's good to know it's there. I also have an iPod video that I take with me on flights, and I download a few movies on it before I leave so that I have something to watch and distract me. Mellow songs are also on my iPod so I can just relax and listen, close my eyes, if I want to.
Then it's also kind of a frame of mind thing. If you worry long before your flight, by the time you board the plane you are going to be a wreck. You have to tell yourself that, hey, you've flown before, you're still here, nothing bad happened. For me I worry about blood clots and stuff because I have a clotting disorder and plane rides can increase this risk. I just pop my aspirin, make sure to get up a few times during the flight, and all is well. I've never gotten a clot from a flight before. So I remind myself of that and try and relax. The movies are a big help because one or two movies later and I'm at my destination, getting off the plane and it makes the time go much quicker.
Hope that helps.

Answer 3

My son is a Captain of a 737, he knows I "hate" flying. I didn't want to take any drugs so I asked him what I could do to help me stay calm while flying.

He told me to put on the earphones and tune into (can't remember the number) but there is only one that works right from the beginning and it's the Captain and first Officer talking to the Tower and other planes..you can hear everything and it really helps me calm down. It's weird, but you feel like it's not such a big deal anymore when you hear them talking to everyone, It really helps.

Answer 4

you could try some anti anxiety herbs such as kava or st johns wort, and also try listening to a cd with affirmations set to music which can calm you and help anxiety..there are a few companies on the net which sell them. some of them will put your brain waves into a more relaxed state similar to meditation by listening to the music.
make sure you eat a good protein rich meal before you fly, as a drop in blood sugar can also cause anxiety and panic attack feelings. i used to get panic attacks but they went after making sure i had protein at every meal and eating small frequent meals throughout the day.
the chinese herbal formula tian wan bu xin dan or the emperors pills also helped me a lot.
calcium and magnesium supplements also help relaxation.
good luck!

Answer 5

My husband has a tremendous fear of flying. During the flight I held his hand and kept talking to him about everything except flying.

The thing is that you need to find something else to think about. A 'security blanket' of whatever kind might help too.

If all else fails- I don't like suggesting medicines, but you might need a tranquilizer before your flight, such as Valium. And afterwards see a psychiatrist to help you deal with the fear.

Good luck!

Answer 6

You may want to consult your family doctor about a prescription for an anti-anxiety drug such as klonopin

Answer 7

smoke a blunt, take some vicodin and drink some alcohol........sweet dreams