Hi Everyone,

I'm new here but I'm hoping someone can offer some advice to help my hubby. I feel terrible for him because I have no fear of flying but he is terrified.

About a year ago we took a trip to Orlando from Burlington, VT. He did manage to get on the flights (connecting in JFK) much with my persuasion that he could do it. I try to comfort him as much as possible and explain what the noises are. He grips my arm for the whole flight and hides his face against the seat and my shoulder...any slight bumps or noises he jumps out of his skin and rambles uncontrollably.

A few months ago his works wanted him to take a business trip which involved an hour or so flight. He didn't want them to know he was terrified, so went to the airport in the morning (following a night of no sleep) only to call them when he got there, telling them that he couldn't go. Luckily, they have been very understanding.

Anyway, he keeps telling me that he wishes he didn't have this problem and that he'd love to be able to fly all over the place. He doesn't think hypnotism will work and being explained how planes fly and the crash statistics just doesn't help him one bit.

I've told him that he should go to his doctor and tell him all about it and ask if Xanax would be a possible help. Has anyone ever been prescribed Xanax or similar for their flying fears? are doctors likely to prescribe if its just for once and a while usage?

I'd really like to hear about others experiences with Xanax i.e. does it work well?

Thanks for reading my post.

Abby

Hiya Abby and a very warm welcome to Ofear

I wont attempt to answer your question in regard to the xanax as I have no experience with this drug so will leave that open to anyone that has.

I can sympathise with you about your husband feeling this way and you having to comfort him as I posted somewhere already about my girlfriend being the same way. We flew to Turkey last year and I had the same thing with arm grabbing and fist clenching at any slight movement or strange sound and on times it actually made me feel nervous even though I'm a good passenger. On our return journey we had to fly an old Uzbekistan plane which is not known for it's good safety record which made my girlfriend almost hysterical and not able to board the plane. All I could do to help was be there to comfort, distract and reassure all the way but I do understand how tough it is.

Anyway welcome to the forum and I hope someone can give you some advice for the xanax. You can find information relating to it here

John

Hi Abby and welcome to Ofear

I have mustard on my keyboard. (Don't know why I shared that with you - but I did)

Basically, I read your hubby's issues as isolated events specific to flying and it's not at all unusual. Xanax is an anxiolytic better known generically as Alprazolam (Xanax is it's trade name given by whoever makes that version - it also goes by the trade name Niravam by another company). It's a sedative type medication that simply takes the edge off the nerves, induces physical relaxation of the muscles and so reduces the anxiety cycle (think of the tense muscles and clenched fists - hard to do when you're sedated); it also temporarily clogs the brain - slowing function down so thoughts don't form so fast or last as long (Yes it is possible for a man to think even slower :laugh: ).

It works great as a temporary treatment but it's not recommended for long term anxiety management due to addictive qualities. Take it as the anxiety begins to rise - at first notice. Hopefully this is only an hour or so before the plane and not a week! However, I would suggest a 'test dose' at home because it's good to know the effects of it before you're in a crisis situation as experiencing the unknown effects whilst anxious may increase anxiety - plus if it knocks him out cold he might want to take a half dose. Remember sitting at home relaxing is a different physical event to anxiety so the reactoin may be slightly different in real scenarios.

All up - it's a bit like drinking anywhere between 6 and 16 pints in one go - it may knock him out, it may just touch him. Don't drink alcohol and take this drug - it relaxes the body too much to have both.

I's also worth reviewing the other things that help reduce anxiety - to reduce the onset of anxiety and optimise the effect of the Alprazolam.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the replies, I really do appreciate it. And I don't mind you telling me that you've got mustard on your keyboard Mr Ian, I would however be really concerned if you'd told me that you'd got ketchup and a hotdog on there too :shock:

My hubby would only need the pills for air travel, so that's why I'm not so worried about him taking them for just that reason and not long term. I'm going to tell him to make an appointment at his Doctors for a chat.

Ooooooo I had a similar thing happen at the airport in Orlando John. The flight was delayed by quite a bit, the plane wasn't old and nearly falling to bits but my hubby was convinced there was something wrong. He kept saying that we could hire a car and drive back to Canada, it would only take us 24 hours!! Luckily I calmed him down and we went for a walk, by the time we'd got back the flight was ready to leave. The people at the desk were hurrying us to get on the plane, so I think that helped, it didn't give him much time to think as we ran for the flight.

Anyway, I'm sure we'll work something out that will help him be more comfortable.

Again, thanks alot =D

Abby

You're welcome Abby - and please do feel free to come back and let us know how things go.

Research by Frank Wilhelm and Walton Roth published in the journal "Anxiety Disorders" found that use of alprazolam during flight increased anxiety. Panic attacks also increased with the use of alprazolam. The bottom line, according to the researchers is, "Results indicate that alprazolam increases physiological activation under acute stress conditions and hinders therapeutic effects of exposure in flying phobia."

You can read the research at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob...17f857fb74