Advice with anxiety?
 

Hello! I used to fly many times per year, but developed a fear of flying about seven or eight years ago after an aborted landing and a go round, which I understand now is not unusual but at the time was pretty scary. This was followed by several flights with various issues - turbulence, long delays, mechanical problems – that increased my fear & led me to not fly for over five years.

I am now flying this weekend. I’ve been preparing with lots of reading and methods to reduce anxiety. Also got an Ativan prescription and have tested it at home. I felt very prepared.

Until last night when the airline texted to say they had canceled our flight. They rescheduled, but it is a different schedule that I’m not quite sure how to cope with. Instead of six hours of travel, I now have nine: a 90 minute flight, a 2.5 hour layover, and a 4.5 hour flight.

I am worried the Ativan will not last. I’m concerned if I take it before the first flight, the biggest benefit will be during the layover, which does not feel helpful - I am fine on the ground! I am nervous to take more than one dose because I don’t know how I will react, & don’t have time to test it.

I think my options are to try to do the first flight without Ativan, or consider a second dose (or half dose?). My doctor tells me I can take a second dose but “only if I really need to.” That also causes me some stress – how do I know if I really need it? I also have to be at least marginally functional on the other end.

I just wondered if others on here had similar experiences with Ativan either lasting many hours or wearing off that they could share.

thank you all!!

Ask your doctor (even better, your pharmacist) what dose of Ativan is safe for you to take.

A family member of ours uses guided medidation podcasts to calm his anxiety. You can download them to your phone before travel and try them at home now to see if that helps relax you.

Although Ativan is a tiny pill, you can divide it into 2 or 4 bits for more conservative dosing; as suggested, primary doc or pharm.d. can recommend.

That said, I like the suggestion to use an app for relaxation/guided meditation/diaphragmatic breathing, especially for the first flight. "Calm" is a good one, free or premium.

Exposure (ERP) is the ticket to work through the flight anxiety if it persists. Anecdotally, I had a flying over water phobia for a while, so I flew to New Zealand and back to get over it; it worked!