i tried that but it didnt seem to work. i felt like i was going to die

yeah i suffer panic attacks but i get that feeling like im going to die sometimes paper bag help sometimes it doesn't

hi rey and tony, if the paper doesn't look for you both, what did u guys do when u guys suffered a panic attack on the plane? or how you overcomes with it?

Hi all, I often have anticipatory anxiety BEFORE I know I have to fly (hence my reason for being on this site...I have a transatlantic flight in 2 days). I find that xanax is the best thing for me. Take it about 45 minutes before the flight and repeat every few hours if it doesn't do the trick.

Ya I had a really bad panic attack on a plane. My vision went, hands locked into a ridiculous position and so on. I had to breathe into a paper bag for the last two hours of the flight. On the plus side got moved to first class. I'm going to be taking a plane again soon, hopefully drugs will help.

Panic attack is your body's way of telling you "Get Out Now".... It's all in your head. I have been suffering from Panic attacks for a long time, (never had one in flight) but it's exactly the same. What i do in this case is keep on telling myself to RELAX and that it is all in my head and nothing medically is wrong with me. Panic attacks are just your body producing a lot more adrenalin than normal. That's why you get these nasty feelings.
Hope that helps, i am still trying to overcome fear of flying myself.

Mike

I fly out on Sunday and find myself building fear. The thought of getting on the plane and the door closing is not going to be an easy task to overcome. There is one video on youtube that really helped me. It is a guy that explains that no one has ever died from a panic attack and to remind yourself that you will be okay. Anyone who is reading this knows that it does feel like death is about to take place but please realize you will make it through.
I also feel better knowing that I am not alone..

i'm only 16 and have been flying for the past six years and every summer that comes now, i still dread it. last year i suffered a major panic attack whilst the plane was taking off, and i thought i was going to pass out. my eye sight wewnt blury, my heart was beating unbelieveably fast and my hands went numb. I had to sit and take deep breaths for about 20 minutes before my heart rate finally calmed down, it was truly awful and has now made me never want to fly again. I think it was the idea of feeling 'trapped' and the fact that i could not get off the plane whenever i wanted to, which made me panic. I want to stop these attacks before they start ruining my life!

i have been flying since i was 6 years old i have be all over the world australia america all over europe but one day i started gettin chest pains on holiday and havent been the same since. i go numb on planes i cant move i go completley stiff i used to love to travel now its ruining my life and im only 17

I had an attack on the plane a few months ago, and while I know all the right things to do, I'm still nervous about a flight I'm about to take tomorrow. So these tips will help me as much as I hope they help you!

Flight attendants are amazing and well-informed about panic attacks. If you need help, ask for it, and they'll patiently guide you through it. My flight attendants gave me oxygen from the tank (a paper bag can also help level out your CO2 levels which deplete during flights), let me sit in the back of the plane and gave me ice packs for the back of my neck. (Studies show that ice water, ice packs, splashing cold water on your face, etc. can distract the mind from panic.)

I took a Xanax mid-attack, but that was probably too late, so try to take something before you board if your doctor has something for you. I'm also loading up my iPod with relaxing music, breathing meditations and sound. I'm going to bring chamomile tea, too, since they usually don't have that on flights. You can also try to get some vigorous exercise beforehand, that might help.

Finally, don't underestimate the power of positive thoughts: I will beat panic!

i flew in the first time, iafred when the plane geton (becouse ihad panic from speed,hight)but when the plane its up ,im ok.but for the second time ihad realy(:'......panic .ipray toooooo much,itry to take deep breathe,say to my self its ok ,but no thing work
ihave to com back ,what to do

IM going to canda in the summer and I think ill die 10 years old any help appercated

I started having panic attacks at age 22. They got worse after the first one. Then after about a year. I just got over them. Then at about age 35 I had to take a morning flight. I stayed up all night in a panic. I did not want to get on that plan and I had no choice. Once on the plane I was fine. However, I have made many flights since that one and I dread every flight. For a week leading up to the flight I worry each night. I have no fear that the plan will crash. I seem to fear the panic attack more than anything else. I just do not want to have one on a plane. I am flying in a few days and am trying to find things that will help. I will share a few things I have learned.
The build up to the flight is worse than the flight itself.
The panic attack only last a little while, Then I just get tired and go to sleep.
Take things on the plane to do. Ipad, magizine, etc. It uses the time and gives you something that you can control.
Think of the worst that can happen and accept it.
Hope some of those help.

im 21 and have been suffering panic attacks 2 years now,i cant be in large crowds or use public transport the taughts of it,but im going away in a month and dread when my boyfriend drops me off at the airport as he drives and if anything ever happens he comes straight for me makes situations for me easier known i can get out of them quick he's like my security blanket anyways im dreadin once i get trew the metal detectors teres no way back then boarding the plane known i cant just get off,after 2years i kinda no how to control my taughts n deal wit panic attacks when it happens but its ruining my holiday the taughts of been in another country out of my comfort zone

Well... i had Panic disorder for 15 years and barely left my house... now I fly all the time.. in fact, next week I leave for a 5 week trip to Portugal, The Canary Islands, and Hawaii. 6 flights total... one of them almost 11 hours long! But I love flying now.

First thing is first... go see a cardiologist that specializes in Mitral Valve Prolapse... he MUST specialize in this or a regular cardiologist with no training might miss the diagnoses. A large number of people who panic in claustrophobic situations suffer from MVP. A simple beta blocker works and does the trick. That's what cured me.

But... xanax is also great. Also know that 99% of the time, a plane is close to land in case of an emergency... even when you fly transatlantic, it actually flies in a semi circle up along most of the coast of America and Canada and Greenland before going to Europe... so you're always near land for those of you who think you're going to die.

Also remember... a panic attack can physically only last ten minutes before your body depletes itself of adrenaline... so it's impossible to PANIC for an entire flight. You might have anxiety, but you're not panicking.

Finally.... carbon dioxide is a real big culprit. Try this.... breath in to the count of 3 but breath out slower to the count of 6. Or breathe in 4 and breath out 8... always breathe out double what you breathe in... this will decrease CO2 in ur system, stop the hyperventilation, and bring your heartbeat back to normal.... always give in to your panic attacks. In fact, TRY TO HAVE A PANIC ATTACK AT WILL... I bet you you'll land before you ever have one if you keep trying to give yourself a panic attack

Also... one last thing... while i know MORE than anyone that when you're in the middle of a panic attack all knowledge goes to shit and you think OMG this is the big one i'm going to die.... chances are you're not going to die... that's what panic disorder is... it messes with your mind... it's just your body's misinterpretation of internal signals that something is seriously wrong... be glad your body does this because in a real emergency it can save your life!

Have a safe flight!

Hi peeps. Ive got a flight in 2 days and im shitting it. Its a 2 hour flight to portugal.. Ive been suffering from panic/anxiety attacks since march this year. I havent had a full on attack in a while but ive been suffering from shortness of breath/Hard to take in a good breath which is scaring me alot as ive seen the cabin oxygen drops while in the air and im scared i wont be able to breath. I went to the doctors they said im fine just mild asthma and gave me a pump but it dont seem to work. Do you think its anxiety/panic related? Im really scared of going by plane, I have been since little so maybe this is whats causing my breathing problems? Need help asap

Thanks to Anthony, your post helped me calm down a little. I am flying for the first time tomorrow, it's unavoidable and I have really bad anxiety and panic attacks even in normal situations.

I think one of the things that helped me most was when you said that they are prepared to land in emergencies.. and I'm only going to be flying for a few hours. Hopefully I can remember this in the morning.

I have a 12.5 hour flight soon. Have had panic attacks on long flights before - not fun. Just found out I am in the middle of a full plane in a middle seat. Can the airline accommodate in any way? Any suggestions? I just need an aisle so that I do not feel hemmed in. I don't know how I am going to get on that flight!?!

Dear Captain Lim, you stated: Although CO2 is not required for us to survive, the body monitors this gas so as to maintain a balanced body system. When there is a drop in CO2, the body natural response is to increase the breathing rate.
But, if the CO2 concentrations on blood drop the way to correct it is through the methabolic pathway, not hyperventilating. Hyperventilation itself is the cause of CO2 blood drop.

Regards


Dr. Flores

Hiya,I am 31 an have suffred panic/anxiety attacks since I was 22 ,the thought of lose of control an not been able to open a window silly I know but even talking about it makes my palms sweet ...I have even considered doing a fear of flying course.i am despite to travel abroad for my two young children please can you advise me

I fly July 16, what if i start screaming during the panic attack, (its happened before) i dont want to scare the other people on board.

can any medication make you pass out instantly for a couple hours!

and im scared to take a Xanax.. does it help or make you seem wasted drunk?

As a former flight attendant, telling people to breath in a paper bag is not sensible. The plane is already a hypoxic environment so the passenger will already be breathing in the same air on the plane anyway.

I have had panic/anxiety going on for the last year. I am 46 years old. I have flown all my life. I always gotten a little nervous during turbulence, but otherwise ok. I was just diagnosed with a thyroid problem, which is most likely the anxiety/panic culprit. howver, i don't get any meds till after my trip. When I get a panic attack, I start grabbing my face and body in fear, and yelling, and moving weird. I am scared this will happen on the flight to hawaii. ughh. 5 hours over the ocean. I have ativan. will that work? what will the flight attendants do to help me if it happens? Please , any advice would be highly appreciated. I leave in 2 days. Thank you so much!

Honestly, do not stress about the flight. They say the taking off and landing is when anxiety is at its peak. I used to be afraid of flying but I studied on it and learned what each and every sound the plane makes means. Knowing your surroundings and knowing what's going on really helps. Also,talk to the person beside you. You'd be amazed at some of the life stories you'd collect.

Thanks Anthony, I read your advise and I feel less nervous about my flight next week

The first time i flied to London i never felt the anxiety or anything i was 7 at that time and flying by myself unaccompanied minor i was meeting my mum in london flying from zimbabwe a couple of years later flying for about the 6th time and that was the first time i felt it and it grew bigger once i started living with my mum i couldnt leave her sight even when she went to work i started having panic attacks but now i am thirteen and have out grown all that the only fear i have is flying again , is there a sollution like therapy a month before i leave so that i dont feel it at all ?

Hi everyone my names Donovan and I'm 23 and had panic and agoraphobia for the last year. I can only manage to go go to food store which is 2 minutes walk from where I live,thing is me and my gf have booked 2 week holiday in Rome near collusium in November does anyone think I can do it, your help would be appreciated, thankyou.

I will taking frequent trips starting in January until...I do have a problem with panic attacks....I do know that the blood pressure gets elevated,but nervousness as well, what can I do to prevent this from happening... oh and menopause, hot flashes don't go hand in hand

So I am 40 and have had panic attacks since I was 24 or so. Having been medicated - I get them very infrequently (due to meds). Anxiety is a bitch and there are many many kinds, from tingling in the limbs to flat out feeling like you are going to have an accident in your pants. (It happens). One of the greatest things I have learned is that if you allow yourself to let them intensify - they will! I have pulled over on the freeway to just calm the hell down - just because I allowed it to get out of control. Breathing is HUGE! Calming yourself down when you feel that light headedness coming on. Seriously - tell yourself everything is going to be okay and like many others have said in this post - distract yourself. I don't have a fear of flying. I have been flying as a kid from LA to NY all my childhood unaccompanied and have been in 2 near accidents and 1 actual crash! You would think I would never step on a plane again! At this point in my life I have learned its just easiest to pop a xanax or 2, have a cocktail and chill out. It isn't the flight for me - it's the build up and the anxiety of why I am flying in the first place.
Family visits (aka holiday hell), business meetings in other countries, whatever it is - you just need to almost get excited about the trip. Trust me - I have a 32 hr trans atlantic coming up in 2 weeks - the longest flight I have ever been on. It's not the flying that is the bitch - its the being soooooo bloody close to people for such a great length of time and having your ass hurting on top of it all. Invest in a comfortable head rest or neck brace - chomp on some pills and have a drink, break out the ipod and enjoy yourself. If you have the funds, I recommend first class. A comfortable seat makes a world of difference and not feeling cramped helps.
Safe Journeys........and don't mix pills and alcohol without talking to your DR. I know I made it sound recreational but its not. Mid flight death is not the solution. Point is - get yourself in a relaxed place and enjoy the flight. I am usually fast asleep before take off. Miss the drink cart and am waking up just as we are about to land.

Hi,

I have read some of the experiences about panic attacks in general and have do not agree with the the call on using the sick bag, I have been on a flight and had a panic attack and feel that saying use a sick bag is the last point of call, yes it is nice to know that is an option but the best advise i have had myself is to accept the anxiety and tell your body nothing is going to happen, I used to always want out of the situation when anxiety struck but after that advise i stayed in the situation and kept telling myself it will pass and it did and now i feel so much better knowing my body can cope with what panic can throw at me and you know what life's far to sure to let the anxiety take over. I hope this helps.

hello, i've always enjoyed flying, never had a problem, never even thought about it. i've had mild anxiety most my life but quite bad depending on the situation. last year i suddenly felt very sick and faint on a packed train and had to sit on the floor by myself, i felt very anxious and struggled to get on trains without panicing until just recently and even now i haven't traveled alone. this gave me a new anxiety about flying and last year i went to portugal (from england) and was extremely worried boarding telling my boyfriend i couldn't do it but got on and was crying by the take off i felt as though i NEEDED to get off, i couldn't stand how fenced in i was with loads of strangers and i freaked out for the hole flight crying, shaking, feeling sick/dizzy, panicing, for the last hour i managed to just lie down clenched and stayed that way until we landed. it was embarassing. i spent the whole holiday absolutely dreading the return flight so didn't enjoy it and although it wasn't as bad i just lay down for the whole flight feeling that dizzy sickness and anxiety.

now, i want to take my little girl on holiday but i am dreading flying so will not book until i am confident i can do it. i'm so confused why this started happening. it has been reasuring reading other people have been in a similar situation so if anyone has any advice/explanations for me i'd be very greatful so i can get on with my life. my brother in law is getting married in mexico this year (an 11 hour flight) i doubt i'll be going, but i'd love to.

Charles Linden is the name someone was looking for. He suffered panic disorder for 25+ years (same as me) and was able to overcome it. He has an iPad app that I use a lot called "PATD" or "Panic Attack Talk Down" which provides videos (stores on the iPad, not streaming so no need for internet) in which he looks straight into the camera and talks you out of your panic. Charles Linden's books and software are a little expensive. However - they have really, really helped me. I will be 33 this month and still get major panic attacks. I keep xanax with me at all times as a comforting off switch. Just knowing I have them makes me feel better. I also take tiagabine (an anti-convulsant) every night and surprisingly it has helped my panic disorder a great deal. Lately though - with 3 days from a flight to beautiful Colorado for snowboarding, I find that the flight is weighing very heavily on my subconscious mind and I've been in a constant state of panic. Even with the 1mg xanax pills I've been taking (maybe 2 a day) - the panic does not go away completely. I will probably take 2 or 3 before the flight since I know my body can handle it.

Here is the method I have been using. I have not been very diligent with the manual and the meditations. However, the iPad app is like having a spiritual guide with me when I feel anxious:

http://www.lindenmethod.com/

I also wanted to note that panic and anxiety disorders are behavioral. I would highly recommend seeing a behavioral therapist. Mine has been an angel to me and helped me resolve some child hood memories very quickly. I also believe panic is part genetic as most people on my mother's side of the family have it. It could also be from witnessing my mother panic a lot as a child that caused me to get the disorder.

The bottom line is that something has happened to you and you have subconsciously trained your brain over and over to panic when it is an inappropriate emotion unless you are in real danger (and during being held at gun point - it was appropriate to panic and yet some kind of survival instinct kicked in so hard that the panic was the last thing on my mind).

Because panic is a learned behavior - it can be unlearned. My best advice is to either find a good behavioral therapist who specializes in forms of cognitive behavioral therapy. Positive thoughts are the best cure for panic, and yet they can be soooo difficult to achieve. You must train yourself to think positive thoughts when you panic. Your panic is inappropriate and you are in no danger. Any sensations you may feel (rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, nausea, numbness, chest pain, light headedness etc) are ONLY SENSATIONS. They are not real and they have never caused you physical harm. I know how difficult it is when you are in the middle of panic mode. It doesn't last forever. The panic will go away regardless of how bad you feel. It will go away very quickly if you can forcefully reject any negative thought as it attempts to enter your mind and replace it with something positive. "What a beautiful sky". "I am great". "I am in no danger". "I am an eternal Spirit and God (whatever that may be to you) is with me, loving me at all times".

I also find that I can literally shock panic away by dumping ice water down my back. And if you have ice water and are having a panic attack - DO IT. Don't care how it looks. Nobody knows what you're going through and there is nothing to be ashamed of. I know that the feeling of embarrassment from others seeing you can exist, and can make the panic feel worse. You don't want people to think you're crazy. #1 You're not crazy. #2 People will think what they want, no matter what you do. I've been a lot more open about my disorder at work and I've found that people have reciprocated it with compassion and I feel blessed to have such a great team.

I am no longer ashamed to tell people I have panic disorder. I did my best to hide my urges to gasp for breath and pinch my leg, or dance around, or whatever I have to do to distract myself from the panic. Letting people know about my disorder was liberating. Now, if I'm in a meeting and feel confined or if someone asks me to sit up in the front with them, I just tell them "I have panic disorder and I feel more comfortable in the back.". Or "I'm having a panic attack and I'm going outside". People have been very cool and understanding about it.

An important thing to know is that long inhales energize your body, while long exhales calm your body.

With that said - A good breathing exercise that does help (even though it is difficult to do when amidst an attack) is to breathe in for 3 seconds, then breathe out for 6 seconds. This effectively causes raised CO2 levels as discussed earlier and will calm you if you can keep forcing yourself to do it no matter what.

That's all for now!

Hi I am Janette. I'm 32 yrs old and have suffered from panic attacks since I was a child. I am flying to Hawaii in 3 days. ( my husbands surprise anniversary gift) I had the worst panic attack of my life on a plane. I was sure I would die I'm not even excited for this trip to paradise bcuz of the fear of a panic attack . Please if you can give me some advice or encouragement . Also are flight attendants trained for these situations? This panic is ruining my life!! ;(,