I go into a quiet panic attack when there is turbulence on my flight. It’s absolutely a stressor for me. Although I know airplane travel is one of the safest ways to get from one fabulous country to the other. I’m afraid to fly. Yep, and yet I’m continually trying to hop a flight to some fabulous destination. To help deter a full-on panic attack, I try to choose seats that are located on or very near the wing.
I initially began choosing seats over the wing of the airplane because I’ve read the wing is the most substantial part of the plane. Huh, What? LOL, but Indra Cidambi, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist, addiction medicine specialist, and medical director at the Center for Network Therapy says there are fewer bumps than those at the rear of the plane, so there is less turbulence. Win, win for me! Dr. Cidambi says, “If turbulence brings on a bout of nausea, bring some ginger candies and mints to suck on, or you may want to bring some Dramamine or motion sickness patches.”
I’ve realized that my reaction to turbulence is more emotional than anything. Because I don’t drink, alcohol is out of the question, and there are useful reports that state that self-medicating with alcohol may increase your anxiety.
I usually close my eyes and take some deep breaths. All the while I’m white-knuckling the hand-rest. Dr. Cidambi says you should, “Place one hand on your heart and close your eyes, then begin counting five for each inhale and five for each exhale.” The deep breaths usually get me thru the turbulence, but if you feel like you are going to have a full-on panic attack, Dr. Cidambi says, “ask for a small paper bag from a flight attendant. Put your head between your knees, and focus on deep breathing, using the bag if necessary. Following this procedure should help to calm you down quickly before returning to your seat.”
Turbulence will always be a concern for me, but I can’t allow myself to miss out on the world’s architectural wonders and cultures.
