Retrospect: Fear of Flying

For those of you who are afraid to travel abroad due to a fear of flying, like me, it may seem like
everyone is not afraid and armed with statistics to show you how safe it is. Well, no shame here.
I am COMPLETELY afraid of flying. This was a new development as I was born to parents whose
parents live on the other side of the world. I used to fly every two years before middle school and
that didn’t scare me at all. Now the thought of lift off makes my palms sweaty and my pulse quicken.

This is what happened to me:

I have general anxiety and I have access to Ativan. I find it calming, though it fails to make me sleepy.
For my first flight to Paris I took my prescribed amount 20 minutes before boarding, then half another
pill a good 20 minutes after boarding the plane. The last dose I let dissolve under my tongue so that it
could absorb quicker. That did not help. I was stuck white knuckling my arm rests on the aisle seat
while this teen next to me in the window seat casually leaning on the window played her music rhythm
games. I drifted in and out of sleep and terror, jumping at every shake of the plane, envying those
snoring away or enjoying their tiny in-seat screens.

Don’t do that.

For my flight back, I decided to stay up all night. I understand that some dislike travelling tired, but I
really wanted to knock out. I avoided coffee even the day before, and stayed up late admiring the city
lights before turning in to binge netflix all night. Then in the morning, I ate just enough to not be hungry
and as little liquids as I could so as to not wake up on the flight back. Then, at the airport, I took my
medication much earlier. Really about half an hour before boarding and the one and a half pills at once.
I was already drowsy at this point and had not a care in the world. By the time I hit my seat and my
neighbor seats were all filled, I was out. Beautifully, by the time I woke up we were about to land.

For you, you can try Benadryl if you have allergies to induce sleep. Or drink any tea that can make you
sleepy or anything that has ever caused you drowsiness. I would even recommend a Nyquil if you have
some. It’s only a one time thing, it should not be a problem for your liver/kidneys. If you are legal, I
suppose wine might help!

Simply, knock yourself out!

p.s. I find that it helps to have headphones in and to play my favorite song on repeat on a low volume.
It helped put me in a good headspace before the flight and blocked out the sounds of people scrambling
to stuff their overhead luggage and muffle some of the terrifying engine sounds. Good luck my friends!