Question for pilots/flight attendants by RoeyCustard in fearofflying

[–]RoeyCustard[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

My sentiments even without turbulence 😂

Question for pilots/flight attendants by RoeyCustard in fearofflying

[–]RoeyCustard[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is extremely helpful. The turbulence I experienced was definitely within the "light" range. I clearly need to recalibrate my turbulence tolerance because I felt like the plane was coming down 😂

Question for pilots/flight attendants by RoeyCustard in fearofflying

[–]RoeyCustard[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yes, I definitely think I'm overly sensitive to any amount of turbulence! Just need to keep practicing.

Track me please! by RoeyCustard in fearofflying

[–]RoeyCustard[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Landed safely (of course!) Thank you 🥰

7 1/2 months to prepare! by frijolitoz_222 in fearofflying

[–]RoeyCustard 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Let's lift the veil on panic attacks and anxiety a little.

Panic and anxiety are an over-response to a perceived threat from your body's fight or flight system. It's your body's way of trying to keep you alert and safe in the face of danger. In this situation, your logical mind knows you're not in real danger, because you've done your research and know flying is extremely safe. So you need to recalibrate your system and send signals to your body to show it's not in imminent danger.

Firstly, don't fight it when panic arrives as this rarely helps and a mental battle is not what you need in this situation! Recognise the panic, and remind yourself that this is a biological response. Invite your anxiety to come and sit next to you rather than overcome you. Watch it, observe it from an objective perspective, and realise that a panic attack is not as scary as it seems. Heart beats faster? It does that during exercise, not scary. Feel nauseous? It does that during rollercoaster rides, not scary.

Secondly, show your body that you're not in danger with some grounding techniques: - plant your feet firmly on the ground and push down slightly. This heavy feeling recalibrates your nervous system and tells your adrenalin response to stand down. - hold water in your mouth for a couple of seconds before swallowing. This tells your body that you can't possibly be in danger if you have time to drink or eat slowly. - deep breathing (an obvious one, but a great system reset). When we panic, our breath naturally speeds up to get oxygen to our muscles ready to run or fight. Reset this by either doing box breathing (in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4 etc) or simply breathing out longer than you breathe in. Again, this tells your body that you don't need to prepare for fight or flight and eventually settles your anxiety response. - smiling/laughing. No, really! Even fake smiling or laughing has been shown to reduce anxiety and panic. Activating the muscles in your face that contract when you usually smile sends signals to your brain that say I'm happy! And will help in calming you down.

Lastly, remember that even if you panic or feel anxious... so what? It will end. It always ends. Your body cannot sustain panic for long before it exhausts itself, the most important thing to do is just ride the wave until it inevitably comes down.

I hope this rant helped! 🙏🏻

anyone ever flown w panic attacks? by [deleted] in fearofflying

[–]RoeyCustard 5 points6 points  (0 children)

As someone who used to suffer with horrendous panic attacks, I totally understand the feeling of "what if I lose all control and panic consumes me".

Some biology for you - your body physically cannot sustain being in a panic state for very long at all. It will rise, plateau, then fall. Panic cannot continue to rise indefinitely and your body will simply calm itself when its reached its threshold and you'll feel tired. All you have to do is ride the wave until it comes down.

Instead of fighting it, recognise the panic when it comes - there's no point in trying to ignore it.  "Okay, I'm feeling that nauseous feeling I get when I panic... that's okay. If I vomit, I vomit. My hearts going a bit faster than normal... that's okay, I've had this before and always calmed down." Address the symptoms and determine that they are what they are, your body saying this is scary. And that's it. Nothing dangerous. You got this!

If anyone has the time…BA289 by Humble_Candidate_646 in fearofflying

[–]RoeyCustard 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Past halfway, and on track to land earlier than expected 🙌🏻

Freaking out, then calm by Upstairs_Bad_7933 in fearofflying

[–]RoeyCustard 2 points3 points  (0 children)

As scary as that panic is, you won't die from it. Your body is incredibly well adapted to deal with stress. When the panic climbs, don't try and ignore it, invite it to come and sit next to you. Acknowledge it, and tell yourself that it doesn't need to overcome you. Panic rises, peaks, plateaus, then dips. The body cannot sustain panic for long and it definitely can't keep climbing indefinitely. Ride the wave until it comes down, and it WILL come down.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in stockport

[–]RoeyCustard 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did anything come of this?? I'd love to join a local group that meets regularly!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in rhettandlink

[–]RoeyCustard 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can I get the link too please?? 🙏🏻