I have a long flight coming up at the end of January and the anticipatory anxiety is killing me

[Frantic1]

Hi everyone,

i am new to to the forum but certainly not new to anxiety. I have had anxiety since I can remember. I am scared of everything at the moment. It has all come about since confronting my fear of flying in September. I have been exposing myself to flying in the hope it will eventually ease. I have flown 6 times and it seems to be getting worse, not better. I have a long flight coming up at the end of January and the anticipatory anxiety is killing me. I am anxious from the moment I wake up in the morning until the moment I fall asleep. I went and saw my GP today who has now referred me to a psychiatrist. I finally told my husband how bad my anxiety was and although sympathetic he doesn't really get it. I just feel so alone most of the time and can't stop crying.

Frantic1

[Bethie]

Hugs Frantic

No disrespect to the males here because they do understand but alot of people don't.

Its not as easy as just snap out of it your being silly you know it's all ok logic. That really ps me off when I hear it from people.

Untill i had my son 14 years ago my hobby was SCUBA diving with my favorite being night wreck diving. But since having my son I suffer anxety to the point of not being able to go in a elevator. If I have no choice my partner has to hold me because I shake and close my eyes and ears.

Is there anyway that you could maybe take a cruise to where your going. It would be a shame to have to take sleeping tablets for the whole flight.

Maybe get your husband to come to your doctor with you so your GP can talk to him as well.

[Frantic1]

Bethie I would love to take a cruise but I have a fear of boats too. My anxiety got worse after I had my kids. I have been trying really hard to overcome this fear as my daughter is an athlete and is competing overseas. If I could knock myself out for the flight I would do it but my doctor doesn't want me to do that

Frantic1

[Frantic1]

I am really struggling with this. I feel sick in the stomach all the time and have diarrhoea almost constantly. My medication doesn't seem to be working and my psychologist appointment isn't until Thursday. I feel like I am going mad. I just want it to stop 😭

[geoff]

hi Frantic, I'm sorry that you do have these fears, but can you google 'fear of flying' I'm sure you may have, however one way to overcome this fear is by doing what's called 'desensitisation', it maybe a way your psych will treat you with, so look it up and understand how it actually works.
Perhaps go to a building where they have lifts, wait until you feel comfortable and take it to the next floor, just one floor above, get out and refresh yourself, have a drink and take it back to the ground floor, suggest this to your psych.
When you feel comfortable then take the lift all the way up to the top floor, it's the movement that you need to get used to.
See how this goes. Geoff.

[Bethie]

Hi Frantic

I get the same thing with the diareah. My doctor suggested to me to take a few over the counter tablets to stop it before I go anywhere that I may get a attack and it works. Might not sound like much but by doing this I don' feel as bad, some of the fear is taken away. I used to worry about finding a toilet and about my son if he was ok waiting just outside while I went.

[Frantic1]

Geoff I have done the fear of flying course and I have tried to desensitize myself by taking flights. I have been on 6 so far but it doesn’t seem to be working. I have no problems with lifts or heights

[geoff]

hi Frantic, I'm sorry that desensitisation didn't work, so can you google this 'what happens when desensitisation doesn't work', you may have already. Geoff.

[Frantic1]

Geoff I googled it and nothing came up. All of the websites say desensitisation works. The problem is I have to fly to America with my family in 5 weeks and I just can't get on the plane. So my choices are to force myself and be this way until I get back or let them go without me and deal with the guilt and anxiety of them being away from me. I just don't know what to do

[Frantic1]

I really need some help. I have been to my GP and my psychologist and I am seeing the psychiatrist next Wednesday. I am having continual panic attacks and I just don't know what to do. The only thing that calms me down is medication. I can't leave the house, I can't eat and the only relief I get is when I am asleep. I have rung my GP but she isn't in until this afternoon. I can't live like this anymore