How about a couple of 'stiff drinks' before boarding the plane. Then after takeoff another. Then maybe you can sleep the rest of the flight or just have fun.

I would really try to get into a doctor for an anti-anxiety medicine like Ativan or Valium. You only need a small amount, and you only need to take it once - possibly twice during a long trip. I have several friends who never flew - they'd take trains to California (from Boston) - until they got Ativan. It makes a plane ride bearable for an anxious person.

alcahol will just dehydrate you, and act as a diuretic as well, making things worse, if the last thing you want to do is get up.

calling your old doctor and trying to arrange for a prescription (or samples?) might be the easiest way- a new doctor may not take your say-so (on the rare occasion I've changed Dr's, I've brought documentation of my few chronic conditions to forestall that)

I'm not a particularly nervous flier- but I can't get through a flight without a hedge of saline spray for my sinuses, a 'hydrosol' spray for the rest of me(water, essential oil, and a drop of dish soap works in a pinch, but I'm spoiled) and a set of headphones...and a bag of in-season fruit.

I have a few months before I fly so hopefully I can get something accomplished (may have to throw a royal hissy fit). I don't look like nor act like someone that would have this problem - it always surprises the people around me. And like I said, I've flown more than most people I know. It is strange to feel differently now than the way I was in my teens and twenties - those days I would hop a plane and fly around the world all by myself. Nowadays I can't even be a passenger in a fast car on a bumpy road (it's the bumpiness that causes the problem not the fear of death by airplane crash). But I have flown places and spent the entire week there uncomfortable and fearful and of course panicking about getting back on a plane to come home.

I don't drink so the martini isn't gonna happen - especially at sunrise.

John, I used to LOVE to fly.... until I saw replay after replay after replay (on the news) of that plane tumbling wing over wing in the Iowa cornfield. I'd really prefer to NOT have to fly if I don't really have to. But if I did..... I would just do a lot of praying and doing my best to control my thoughts. A lot of anxiety is the result of the thought-life in our head. If we can master that, we can overcome the anxiety.

Best wishes to you,
Jen

Chinacat is correct - the last thing you'd want to do is drink, anyway. But do drink a lot of non-alcoholic beverages.

I'm not only a nervous flyer, I panic. I must fly from time to time and I take Ativan. It's whatever strength the smallest dose is and it works fine. I take one 20/30 minutes before boarding.
Good luck.
Marian

Nervous flyer here, too. I didn't used to be - when you're young you feel so invincible!

Things I do:

Usually take some Xanax 30 minutes before takeoff.

Think about how my husband takes 50 flights a year, and he's still here.

I found a very good online "fear of flying class" written by a pilot. It's really worth the time!

These all help, but I still find myself watching the flight attendants to see if they seem calm...haha.

Here is a link that might be useful: online fear of flying class

Weed30 - You're right about the number of flights that do land safely. As my brother pointed out, the overwhelming majority of planes on 9/11 landed safely.

I have to admit to being a bit weirded out when flying three days after 9/11, but then I thought about allowing myself to be confined to ground transport because of what these terrorists did, and realized that wasn't an option.

Oh, my. I don't think I could have flown 3 days after! Bravo !

Funny thing is, I am not afraid to fly in a helicopter, which is probably more risky. My brother flies one and I love going up. I guess I feel safe because he's the pilot...

A few months ago I was flying and there was a girl who obviously had never flown before who sat directly behind me. She was with someone who explained every sound and movement of the plane to her. I never noticed all the noises before when flying but I was quite anxious by the time we landed.

My dd is a very nervous flyer and she says drinking 2 glasses of wine before the flight helps her enough to be able to fly in peace.

I take Ativan. It's helped me make two trips to London, when I previously wouldn't get on plane.

Weed - I was in Ohio for my father's funeral and had to go back home to Boston. And I *hate* the train.

Finally broke down and went to the doctor. He said he could get me Valium. Is that Ativan?

My fear, or should I say IRRATIONAL FEAR isn't that the plane is gonna crash. It is that the flight is gonna be long and bumpy. I don't ride roller coasters for a reason. I also fear being the lone survivor scrambling around having to attend to everyone else's injuries - well that and having to fight off sharks (even if we're over land). All this creative thinking really gave my therapist a workout.

I have a stomach/esophagus problem that causes me to feel massively uncomfortable and ill-at-ease for days after being shaken or bounced. You know how when you're driving on a flat country road and your stomach heaves when you go over a little rise in the road. Well, afterwards my chest feels like the beginnings of a heart attack for days, sometimes an entire week. This is not fun. If it ever gets worse I will have to have surgery (hiatal hernia surgery). I am trying to modify my life to avoid surgery. So, I avoid bumpy roads and roller coasters.

My theory is that when we are younger we tolerate being a passenger better because we are used to not doing the driving. But as we age and gain experience (and car crash experience) we tolerate back seat travel less and less.

Ativan is lorazapam, and Valium is diazapam. All the "pams" (benzodiazepines) are anti-anxiety drugs.

I'm so glad to hear you got a prescription. It sounds as though your anxiety is pretty significant, and nothing seems to work as well as medication. And you only need one, maybe two, doses, so no issues with long-term use (though most people tolerate long-term use quite well).

I hope you take the maximum dose allowed by your doctor, and try to enjoy your trip. The Valium may make you a bit sleepy, but that's okay. At least you'll feel better than without it!

Yes, and thanks. In the past I have spent entire vacations paying attention to where the local hospital was because I just knew something was wrong with me and didn't wanna be too far away from medical professionals. Now that I know what it is and I am taking medicine to control it the best I can do is avoid being bumped around. It's a 10 hour flight from Raleigh to Anchorage - the return flight will be at night so sleeping through it won't cause any problems. Sleeping all day and then getting there in time for 19 hour days is gonna wreak havoc with the old sleep cycle but it shouldn't be that bad - at least I can go outside and pretend its daytime.

just smoke a lot of pot, and you'll be good to go!