C.M.
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What about something natural like St. John's Wort or Kava Kava?
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My husband and I are taking a trip to Italy in March....our first vacation together in about 5 years (WITHOUT KIDS!!). Only problem, I've become a nutcase when it comes to flying. And seeing that this will be like a 10-12 hour flight, I don't think I'll be able to make it w/out taking something. I would imagine they'd have to make an emergency landing due to me losing my mind :) Any ideas on something I can take/do to knock me out?? or calm me down?? Sorry, but I don't think breathing, relaxing, meditation, books, puzzles, dvds, cds or anything else is going to help. I do those things on a daily basis (minus the meditation) so I can't imagine any of them doing any good.
What about something natural like St. John's Wort or Kava Kava?
A really good person to ask about this is your doctor. S/He can prescribe the appropriate medication. And actually, breathing, meditation, books, music and what not can distract you and calm you down as well. Don't be so quick to dismiss those things.
If you are serious about your health, you will NOT take meds. The World Health Organization recommends against it. After even four hours of sedation in a passenger seat, the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis doubles, and continues to increase sharply after that. Your flight is far longer than four hours. Forget about meds. Not only do that put you at risk, they do NOT help you psychologically; they actually increase panic attacks when flying according to research. If you are serious about help, there is only one way to go. You have to strengthen yourself psychologically to deal with flying. This kind of help is available at http://www.fearofflying.com
I suffer from the same issue and I have found relief in Valium. Ask your doctor for it. All you need is 1/2 a pill or one pill. I never take it for anything else. It'll take the edge off of your anxiety. Take it about 1/2 before take off. Your flight most likely will take off in the evening so you will be able to be relaxed enought to fall asleep at some point. Once you get high into the air, you will not feel any turbulance. It will be a smooth flight.
Most importantly, I also pray that God will give me the peace that I need to get through the flight. He knows the fear and anxiety that you are feeling and he tells us to cast that upon him. Ask him to have His Holy Spirit help you. (His solution might be in the form a wonderfully, calm person next to you.who you get so caught up talking with, that the flight will go fast.:). Force yourself to go and enjoy. You'll be glad you did. Good luck.
I have had panic attacks on planes before and they are so bad that Valium and other anti-anxiety drugs (and even narcotics like Vicodin) simply do not work.
However, I have found TREMENDOUS success with beta blockers. These drugs, traditionally used for heart conditions, are often taken by those with flight phobia or stage fright. My particular drug is Propranolol, but there are others.
I'd also recommend some visualization or visits to a hypnotherapist (maybe for next time). These really do work better than knock-me-out drugs, plus you can still be present for your children.
