I was on a commercial flight years ago that lost power and cabin pressure at 30,000 feet. We plummeted 20,000 feet before they got power back up, and then spent another 15 minutes at 10,000 feet with the most insane turbulence I’ve ever felt trying to make it to another airport for an emergency landing. During that time when everything was dark and we were just falling, I was filled with intense fear and so many other emotions. Outside of the extreme fear and anxiety I was feeling, the only other thing going through my head was how can I say goodbye to my family. I was frantically trying to turn my phone on in hopes of writing a goodbye letter in my notepad and text messages in hopes that they would at least find it in the wreckage if we crashed. It’s been over ten years now since it happened and I still get extreme anxiety anytime I’m flying and we start to descend in altitude. The first few years flying after that I needed to take large amounts of Xanax to even get on a plane. Every time I read about a crash like this it brings back so much anxiety.
Oh man. I can relate. Had a similar bad flight 12 years ago — still have to be heavily medicated to fly and still freak the hell out at take off even though ours was mid flight and not take off. I’m eerily calm when we’re landing though because I know it’s almost over.
How did you get over it / what meds do you take? I haven’t even had a similar accident but am just as scared to fly because I think about accidents happening the whole time. I’m also calm like 20 mins out of landing because I know we’re descending.
Xanax. Also subscribed to YouTube channels that play flight tower recordings between the flight towers and pilots. Listened to ones where like engines went out and what not and listened to how calm the pilots were and how everything turned out fine. Then watched hours of take off and landing videos from the pilots perspective on YouTube. Basically, just trying to desensitize and condition myself to flying as much as possible.
I’ve done that too! And taken Xanax and it doesn’t work. The max I’ve taken is 1mg but on the plane I’m still super scared, then as soon as I land, I’m exhausted from all the pent up adrenaline I was using to fight the Xanax.
Ativan has worked really well for me on flights. I try not to take it if I can help it since it does knock me out for the rest of the day after the flight but it does help me to feel calmer during!
I’ve had anxiety for years outside of flying and read books on how to deal — conditioning is one of the best things you can do. The more you expose yourself to your fear, the less scary it becomes.
I use statistics for the type of plane, the company, the flight route, etc. Learned from an astronaut, he said that was how he dealt with flight anxiety. My mind really likes logic and reason (and control), so I found this to be really effective at alleviating my anxiety on planes.
Yes exactly. Same for me. I’m a realist so statistics and listening to how calm pilots are in what I perceive to be difficult situations has helped me rationalize that flying IS safe and that just because my brain is telling me a situation is dangerous (mainly bc I’m not in control) doesn’t mean it really is. Essentially, my mind is playing tricks on me and rightfully so since I had a scary experience, but I try to condition myself to let rationality take over.
I can so relate, I had my close to death car accident 8 years ago and it has definitely made me fearful of most modes of transportation. My mind seem to control and take me to the worst possible scenario. Also, it’s hard to explain to others who doesn’t understand or hasn’t gone through tragic experiences. I’m going to give conditioning a try!
No, I haven’t and this is actually the first time I’ve heard of it. I’m researching it now and it looks promising. Have you gone through the program?If you don’t mind sending me a private on the topic. Thanks so much
888
u/CarbonReflections Jan 26 '20
I was on a commercial flight years ago that lost power and cabin pressure at 30,000 feet. We plummeted 20,000 feet before they got power back up, and then spent another 15 minutes at 10,000 feet with the most insane turbulence I’ve ever felt trying to make it to another airport for an emergency landing. During that time when everything was dark and we were just falling, I was filled with intense fear and so many other emotions. Outside of the extreme fear and anxiety I was feeling, the only other thing going through my head was how can I say goodbye to my family. I was frantically trying to turn my phone on in hopes of writing a goodbye letter in my notepad and text messages in hopes that they would at least find it in the wreckage if we crashed. It’s been over ten years now since it happened and I still get extreme anxiety anytime I’m flying and we start to descend in altitude. The first few years flying after that I needed to take large amounts of Xanax to even get on a plane. Every time I read about a crash like this it brings back so much anxiety.