Anxious about Traveling

[brit 14]

About three months ago my friends and I decided it would be fun to do some traveling. So we started to plan a trip to Europe, which was pretty easy because my friend's uncle is a traveling agent and we are going to go with him and some of her other family. We're going to London, Dublin, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, and Barcelona, which I'm super excited for.

The only problem is I am really anxious about the plane rides. I have only been in a plane once when I was nine years old and I remember I hated the feeling of taking off and landing. But now I know it's going to be so much worse because I already have thoughts like "what if the plane crashes" or "what if there's a terrorist". 

At first we were going to be taking plane rides to each place, but her uncle decided that we could rent a car and drive to some of the places, which I'm very thankful for because that means I'll only have to go on a plane four times rather than seven times. But, I am still very nervous about those times, especially because the flight there and back will be about six hours, and her uncle told us there's a chance we might not even be able to sit next to each other, so I'll be by myself probably next to a stranger having a massive panic attack. 

The flight there I'm going to try to take a sleeping aide like melatonin so I can sleep on the way there because our flight is set to leave later in the evening, but that also makes me a bit nervous because I've never taken a sleeping aide before. For some reason those types of medicines have always scared me, but I know I won't be able to fall asleep on the plane unless I do take something. 

I already paid for all the plane tickets so there's no turning back now, which I am glad for because I do not want my anxiety to keep me from experiencing a really fun trip. But I just keep having these thoughts about me dying. I saw this post on Facebook about these photos of people they took right before they died and a lot of them were people right before they boarded a plane that crashed. I know it probably wasn't a good idea to look at that, but now it just makes me think "how about if that's me". I'm so scared of getting into a crash and dying. 

Does anyone have any tips on how to handle this? Or things to do to make myself feel more comfortable/less anxious on the plane?

[Bterflymom 155]

I used to be afraid when the plane hit rough spots but the steward told me to just think of it as pot holes in the sky so that's what I do now.  We're flying to London in May and that's a long flight too and I'm not looking forward to being all cramped up but must get there so that's just how it is.  I always take a xanax before I fly so I'm calm and my favorite part is landing because we're back on solid ground.  If you're not sitting with a friend ask someone to trade seats with you, most people will do that for you.  Enjoy your trip, it sounds wonderful.

 

[Silas 8]

I get a lot of anxiety about flying as well, and about travel 

One year, I decided to take the family to Disney World, but I was stressed about flying, so I insisted on driving. While passing through Atlanta, a trucker apparently decided I was going too slow (I was in the middle lane), so he pulled around me and deliberately cut me off, almost causing a massive accident.

Later, I realized that driving in the car with the family was far more dangerous than flying. My anxiety had caused me to make a bad decision in regards to risks. 

Flying really is safe, but as people with anxiety, we like to be in total control all the time. 

[Bobnnat 496]

Brit, melatonin is very mild and over the counter. It should help you sleep but unlike a Rx sleeping pill, you will be able to awaken immediately if prompted to do so. I usually take 2 or even 3 on occasion at night and I know it helps me fall asleep quicker than if I didn't take it, but I don't notice any dizziness or other adverse events, even if I wake to use the bathroom during the night.

Enjoy your trip!

[brit 14]

So this is the night before my trip and my anxiety has been so bad this week about the airplane. I've almost felt like this week was leading up to my doom, which I know isn't true, but my mind likes to keep those thoughts constantly in the back of my head. I decided not to take any sleeping aide as I feel more comfortable trying to fall asleep on my own. I have some ginger root capsules to take for motion sickness though, so hopefully those will help, but I just hope my anxiety isn't too bad while on the plane. I can feel the anxiety churning in my stomach, I'm so scared and I don't know what to do about it. 

I've tried to rationalize my thoughts and look at this situation as what it really is, but my anxious thoughts keep overpowering anything else. Also the thought of dying while in the plane isn't the only thing causing me anxiety, its also just the take off and landing. I don't even like rides at amusement parks, I've never even been on a roller coaster, so I can just imagine how scary it will feel to take off and come back down. 

Worst of all is my friends and I just found out we definitely can't sit next to each other on the plane, so I'll basically be by myself, possibly next to a stranger. I'm starting to freak out so much, I know I'm overthinking but I can't stop. I just don't know how to handle this.

[Bobnnat 496]

Hi Brit,

Oh well. I was going to suggest squeezing the hand of your travelling partner during take off and landing, but that might send the wrong message now!  Seriously though, I've been on many flights and the take off and landing is usually very smooth. You're rolling down the runway then all of a sudden you feel the plane angling into the air. I find it a soothing feeling.  Landing can be seemless or occasionally you feel a bump or two upon touchdown. It's over in an instant.

As I've gotten older my mantra when facing things I don't want to do, but know I have to, is "there's nothing to it, but to do it". The fear ahead of time is far worse than the reality.

[brit 14]

Hi Bob,

 that's true, I know I'm overthinking and anticipation is the worst part, I've been doing research on planes and it's made me feel a bit better and you explaining how the take off and landing are that's actually helped reassure me a lot, thank you!