Terrified about my honeymoon...

mne0617

Ok, so we are flying to Disney... I am absolutely terrified beyond belief of airplanes period. Like start hyperventilating and panic... anyway, FI knows this, but we only have 4 days and want to make the most of it. That being said, I got to suck it up, any of you use a sedative or anything when flying? Could a dr. perscribe something?

pirategal03

Am I reading right that it's just fear, not motion sickness?

(ha, "just", I don't mean to diminish it)

ecuchika

Well Drammine (did I spell that wrong!) is for motion sickness..would that calm you down?  I wouldn't want to take meds before a plane ride though....but thats just me I kinda like the whole experience

pirategal03

http://www.airsafe.com/novice.htm

http://www.guidetopsychology.com/fearfly.htm#9

http://www.independenttraveler.com/resources/article.cfm?AID=16&category=1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fear_of_flying

mne0617

yes, its not motion sickness. I am just terrified!

caseyeverhart

When I was ready to take my first airplane flight (by myself!) I was terrified.  To keep me at ease I googled "fear of flying" and there were LOTS of tips that come up!

I think the one that helped me out the most was "Everyone around you has flown hundreds of times, if their not freaking out, you're probably ok"

A Dr. may be able to prescribe an anti-anxiety type medication.  Wouldn't hurt to ask!

kristyand

Yes that is a prescribable diagnosable anxiety disorder if it interferes with your life. Psychiatrists (General Docs can too but I never encourage any one go to one for psychotropic meds) can prescribe a ton of meds for acute onset anxiety. Just be specific as to what happens, they will give you a prescription for some benzodiazepine that you would take 30 mins before you think your acute anxiety will begin and depending on what usually happens, and what they prescribe you it should either a. reduce feelings of anxiousness or b. do that plus down grade any panic attacks. If you have any more questions just page me.

sundrop24

I would definitely ask a doctor.  My dad is terrified too, but he drinks the day he has to fly. Its funny, but I feel bad that he is scared.  I get motion sickness when I fly  

sunnysarahinNC

hey girl!

ask your doctor! FI is the same way, and used to fly up from ATL to visit me in Raleigh while we were in school- only a 90 minute flight, and he got so shaken up! it's a very common fear, and when he went to the doctor, they gave him anti-anxiety meds without any question. i'm not sure what he takes, but i'm sure your doc would prescribe you the proper meds.

or, you could do what the surgeon who sat next to me on my last flight did, and have about 7 glasses of wine in like 2 hours!

cdrierson

Xanax!  Same med Kristy is describing, but this is the trade name.  For short term use, just get it from a general doc.  If you are having recurrent issues, pay to see the psych.

I only need it in confined spaces.  I'm talking about MRI machines, etc.  But since it is for only those instances, I just have my regular family doc prescribe me a dose. 

janice1980

depending on how long the flight is I would be careful about taking a prescription, especially something new.  You don't want to be "out of it" while on your honeymoon.  But I am also a sucker for natural remedies and try to avoid prescription if I can help it.

just as a suggestion of natural things you can do to help, get you an eye mask and dab a couple drops of lavender oil on the bottom closest to your nose. and put it on during take off and flight.  Take some valerian root (or any medicine or herb that will help you relax or sleep) You can ask you local health stores or vitamin shop. Have you FI, (DH by this time) give you a quick massage before you get on the plane.  And a glass or 4 of wine, beer, or alcohol will help also. 

Good luck with everything!

ANSchick08

If you have time, you could go to your regular doctor and get a prescription for anxiety meds.  Or try going to a local health food type store and ask someone there for a natural calming alternative.  If you don't plan on doing much the evening you get there you could probably just take a benedryl and sleep through the flight.  Or maybe have a couple glasses of wine.

And just wanted to say you will love Disney for your honeymoon!  We had a great time.  Make sure you get the bride & groom ears at the store in Epcot!

shigaites

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_north-carolina_terrified-honeymoon?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:115Discussion:74b7a66e-e0b3-4e6e-a36e-ba136f54d55ePost:7327c470-02a8-47f4-adb0-f1f897ba76dd">Re: Terrified about my honeymoon...</a>:
[QUOTE] I think the one that helped me out the most was "Everyone around you has flown hundreds of times, if their not freaking out, you're probably ok" A Dr. may be able to prescribe an anti-anxiety type medication.  Wouldn't hurt to ask!
Posted by caseyeverhart[/QUOTE]

<div>heh I've never thought of that before but it's so true!  I've been on more airplanes than I can even remember so if I'm not freaking out on the plane we're all most likely fine :)</div>

sunnysarahinNC

as janice said, definitely if you go with a medicine, try it out first! i forgot to add that FI did a trial run a week or so before his flight, per his doctor's request

it will be nice to have DH (at that point!) beside you as well!!

mne0617

Thanks ladies. Yeah, its pretty bad. I had a really bad experience flying when I was younger. We flew at an altitude that was too low, and my ear drums burst. Then we hit HORRIBLE turbulence, and had to stay seated the entire 4 hour flight. I guess that experience kind of traumatized me, now I can't even drop someone off at the airport without freaking out. Fortunately, we never really have to fly-- I am all for a road trip--. 

ktyd8

The flight to Orlando is only about an hour and 20 min. We just went to Disney for our honeymoon and it seemed like we got up in the air and just a little while later they were telling us we were getting ready to land. I think it's one of the easier flights to go on plus they will serve you some drinks and a snack (at least Southwest did). Good luck and have a blast! Make sure to ask at your resort (if you're staying on Disney property) or at one of the parks, for your Just Married buttons!

kristyand

yeah that sounds like a little ptsd rightfully turned anxiety disorder likely with panic attacks. i am NOT diagnosing, i am just saying... treat this with care on the front end. you do not want a nightmare experience on the way to your honeymoon. i would see a psychiatrist for SURE (i am a therapist in the yale psychiatric hospital). you likely need more than meds, likely a little therapy on the front end would be helpful in conjunction with meds. and NO good psychiatrist is going to prescribe you an anti-anxiety med without you trying a half dose of it first while NOT on an airplane just to see how it affects you. then she should have you try the whole dose once--looking for basically nothing to happen (as you wouldn't be in the triggering situation) but also looking for you to not feel sedated. as that is not the goal. so no worries about taking a new med on the way to your honeymoon, that is not how it should happen anyhow. and i didn't want to list exactly what meds i was thinking because psychiatrists are often weary of persons coming in with an agenda for their meds but it could be a multitude of meds including xanax as was mentioned above but that wasn't what i was thinking. that does tend to be a benzo though that general docs often recommend and most often psychiatrists are more nuanced with their selection.

again, any questions you can page or email me. but i am not saying any of this as a therapist to you, just as a person with a bit of knowledge in the field and a bride on the knot. lol.

but i do care, and do not want you to have to go through that and/or fear it leading up because the days preceding that flight are really lovely days you deserve to enjoy without fear.

kristyand

whoa--do you really have one week to go? do your best to get apts early in the week, this is likely cutting it a bit too close. in which case i just would encourage you go the dramamine route simply to put you to sleep and not have to deal with it. (terrible rec but i dont want you to have panic attacks, and you likely wont get in and trial a med by saturday given it is the week of your wedding).

mne0617

Thanks Kristy. That is something that I really need to work on. We didn't know that were going to be taking a honeymoon right away, so I didn't think I had to worry about that for a while. Since I work flexible hours, it was based on FI's schedule. His boss decided to surprise him with a few extra days off, after denying his request for PTO previously. We only booked our honeymoon 2 days ago. Flying from PGV(Greenville)-Char. then from Char. to Orl. Thanks for your help guys, I am really trying to get past this because we want to travel more frequently to other places (Hawaii, New Zealand...both of which you can't drive to lol. ) 

Kristy, I am going to PM you.