Terrified traveller

Old Jan 4th, 2017, 09:15 AM
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Terrified traveller

Terrified Traveller

Hi guys, I have been in Thailand for the past month and I have to come back to Europe next week. I'm flying Bangkok Paris, 13h flight.... I suffer from acute anxiety when flying so I take Valium. It always works for me, but when I flew over to Thailand it didn't work. I took my recommended dose, 10mg and nothing, I took 5mg extra... nothing... I took another 5mg... still nothing... then I took another 10mg... absolutely no affect.... it is very stormy and monsoons since yesterday... the weather is predicted to stay like this until I fly... the woman in the chemist told me to buy dormicum or xanax.... don't know if it would help... what can I do... I feel terrible... I get so panicky I actually cried in the way over with a bit of turbulence... I'm afraid is going to be very bumpy due to weather!!... please can anyone help?... don't know what to do and the time is approaching fast
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Old Jan 4th, 2017, 09:49 AM
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Wow. You took enough Valium to put yourself into a near stupor. Xanax is the same class of drug, and it Valium didn't work, neither will Xanax. I suggest self hypnosis (get a book or find something on youtube). What exactly is this panic/fear all about? All fear generally boils down to a fear of death. Maybe it's time you deal with that inevitability. Kava tea is very relaxing, and often called nature's valium. Give it a try, along with starting a meditation practice. Many people take Benadryl to fly. You can OD on benadryl, so do not take more than the suggested dose. I like to listen to ambient/meditation music on noise cancelling headphones when I fly, and I wrap up tightly in a blanket...it's like putting a dog in a Thundershirt...works wonders for my dog, and for me. Remember that you are creating the situation, and you can put a stop to it. Free your mind mind and say, what happens happens.
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Old Jan 4th, 2017, 09:55 AM
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It isn't necessary to fly to get where we want to go, unless we're in a hurry. I've traveled by container ship from Asia to Europe, much preferred it to flying. In your case, you must decide if the time saved by flying is worth the terror.

I have no doubt some here will suggest that my solution is ridiculous, but only if we accept the usual way of doing things. I'm not afraid of flying but still prefer surface travel, even for long distances. So it seems to me you have 2 choices, be relaxed and don't fly, or continue to fly and be afraid.

I just read a book you might enjoy about not flying, 'A Fortune-Teller Told Me', by Tiziano Terzani, and despite his work as an Asia correspondant, didn't fly for a year. We tend to believe things must be a particular way, but they need not. If I were you I'd rethink priorities and consider not flying until you can without medicating yourself.
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Old Jan 4th, 2017, 10:14 AM
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Thanks for the responses... I have to catch the flight as I can not afford to travel by land which I much prefer.. I am getting a train from surathani to Bangkok which is 12h just to avoid one of the flights.
Ive tried meditation... it only works for me when I'm not in full pánico mode. Yeah, that's the fear, passing in a horrible way... I was always a nervous flyer but after a very turbulent flight I developed a phobia. I didn't fly for 5 years and travelled from Ireland to Spin driving 2 times a year, I eventually was forced to fly due to a family situation and since my husband likes travelling I joined. I was happy with the Valium for long flights, I don't take anything for the short ones, I just stuck my head to the window and look at the clouds, have a cry sometimes and hope to be ok... I spent most of the flight in the way over doing that... I can't read or watch a movie.. I can't even maintain a conversation... it's so frustrating...
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Old Jan 4th, 2017, 10:27 AM
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I think fear is a perfectly natural reaction to flying. And though you say you must, I still suggest you give it some thought for the future, if not this time. Use your imagination, rather thinking you MUST do it. Consider more enjoyable ways of getting where you'd like to go, and don't go when it isn't worth the bother. If I were as afraid as you say you are, I'd find a way, find the funds.
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Old Jan 4th, 2017, 11:26 AM
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if valium didn't work, xanax probably won't either (same family).
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Old Jan 4th, 2017, 06:27 PM
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If you do not take too much, maybe Ambien (if you can get a prescription) would allow you to sleep through it.

Assume you have tried it, but a glass of wine may mellow one out, of course, not with any other medication.

I do think MmePerdu's ideas are really good. Personally, if time and money allowed, I would never fly, not because I am afraid, but because I love ships. If you are going for work is there some way you could work from aboard a ship?
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Old Jan 4th, 2017, 07:18 PM
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Hey thanks guys all your advice is very welcomed and I'm thinking about all the options... I still think my plane will crash as usual!! I'm going to go to the gp and see what can they do... they sell everything over the counter here in Thailand but I don't want to overdose.. alcohol not an option as I don't drink cause I get drunk too fast and feel horrible... I think I'm just a weird human... meditation only works for lighter situations.. even the death of my own parents did not bring the levels of stress I go through when flying... all I do is cry and look through the window, if there's turbulence I shake like crazy and my heart races so bad I think I'm going to have a heart attack....maybe if I could talk to the pilot!
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Old Jan 4th, 2017, 07:21 PM
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Ive never tried ambien... I will talk to the doctor about it ��... I travelled by boat and trains a lot due to my fear but this time Inhave to get back to Europe as I have to be back by the 16th ��
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Old Jan 4th, 2017, 07:48 PM
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The good thing about Ambien is it seems more effective if/when you have not taken it for awhile and the effect is fairly quick with the lowest dose. Some people do sleepwalk, but I am pretty sure somebody would sit you back down on the plane. LOL!
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Old Jan 4th, 2017, 08:10 PM
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Please see your other thread:
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...-traveller.cfm
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Old Jan 5th, 2017, 06:44 AM
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I wouldn't mind sleep walking as far as I don't realise haha... that's awesome! No dsnget of DVT haha thanks so much!! I'll try it!! I'm so lucky there's a typhoon hitting here haha
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Old Jan 5th, 2017, 09:20 AM
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Ambien works very well for my sister in law, but I would not travel alone while taking it. She seems lucid when she is on Ambien, feels calm and sleeps well on the flight even though she is afraid of flying, but she remembers absolutely NOTHING about her trip the next day. She has conversations, makes decisions, walks on her own--in short, she seems perfectly normal. But she is, effectively, sleepwalking. That freaks me out!
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Old Jan 5th, 2017, 09:42 AM
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Personally, Valium is my drug of choice when I want to sleep on a flight. But if I need to wake up, I'm awake instantly. But as NewbE implies, I wouldn't take anything for a flight that renders me incapable of logical decisive action, as in getting off a burning plane (sorry t2102). THAT would scare me.
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Old Jan 5th, 2017, 02:07 PM
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A book I read about fear of flying made some interesting points.

Some people have difficulty giving up control which causes extreme anxiety. I know it's a problem for me - once when we had to dog-leg to an airport (deliberately delaying arrival), I had an overwhelming desire to ask the attendant if the plane had enough fuel.

Another point is that the more you know about the workings of the plane, the less you fear. Examples - the flicker of lights when the plane goes from airport system to its own; the thud of loading baggage; the whine/thump when the wheels are raised/dropped; etc.

And also, it helps to know that the vast majority of accidents (and remember there are statistically very few) occur during take-off and landing. So you can relax after the first 10 minutes and until the last ten.

I hate flying too, but that book helped.

Good luck!
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Old Jan 5th, 2017, 06:00 PM
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Thanks Ngail, yeah I think I will give a go at a combination of things... I'll get some literature online to read over the next few days, fear of loosing control plays a big one and then Inwill be brave and talk to the crew... to see what sort of flight is expected... I will go to the dc and explain what happened with the Valium and see what can they give me... I am travelling with my husband so if I sleep walk I don't really mind Injust hope I'm not as freaked as I sleep walk... thanks everyone for your time posting answers... it really helped
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Old Jan 5th, 2017, 06:19 PM
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OMG, you are traveling with your husband, all is good! OK, I know it is sexist. I don't care. This is when a man can be the hero. Take whatever you need to sleep and let him take care of you.
I usually sleep anywhere, and my long standing pact with my dear husband is if anything goes wrong, he is just to kiss my cheek and let me sleep. OTOH, if I should be awake and he is asleep, I will wake him immediately so I wouldn't have to be brave alone.
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Old Jan 5th, 2017, 06:37 PM
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@ Sassafrass:
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Old Jan 5th, 2017, 07:29 PM
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<This is when a man can be the hero.>
I'd say that any traveling companion can be a hero when flying with a scared person by doing whatever needs to be done to make the scared person less scared. But whatever.
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Old Jan 5th, 2017, 10:51 PM
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NewbE,
You are, of course, 100% right. A hero can be anyone, man or woman, who steps up to the task. In the OP's case, she is traveling with her husband so he is the logical one for her to rely on, and letting your spouse, no matter the gender, be a hero for you is kind of a gift for both people.
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