Obsessive Thoughts and Anxiety + Fearful of Travel (flying)

[wiscomommy]

I know just how you feel, Little! My fear of flying is not because I will be sick, because that really doesn't happen. It's the dude NEXT to me that I fear. What I've found is that we should definitely not AVOID flying, travel. It's not worth it to miss life hermited in a house. Life is SO worth living, and it's all out there in front of us, regardless of what our phobia tricks us into believing. None of us are going to DIE if we vomit, and none of us are going to DIE if we see somebody else VOMIT. However, I happen to be at a good place right now - LOL! Talk to me during Norovirus season. Hahahaha!!!!

What I suggest for flight is very simple, and I travel fairly often. First and foremost, invest in a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones. If you are not constantly obsessed with listening for somebody who "might not be well" or somebody who "might sound like they might get sick," the travel will be miserable for you. Secondly, I saw my primary care provider, and I asked for something to help with travel sickness. He provided me with a prescription for Transcop Derm (it's a little circle you put behind your ear, and it prevents motion sickness -- boat, plane, car, etc. -- and it's good for several days). Amazing! If you don't want to go that route, buy some Dramamine. Does nicely as well. Third, bring along something that smells nice that you can sniff if you need to. I made a little sachet with peppermint oil and lavender. It wasn't too overpowering, and I kept it in a little baggie. That way if there was an unpleasant smell in the plane, I simply opened that baggie and took a few whiffs - comforting and really does the trick! Dude next to me had BAD B.O. on my last flight out to Myrtle Beach, PLUS he was all hungover and reeking like booze. Hahaha!!! That sachet was PRICELESS for me! Fourth, peppermint gum, for a few purposes! Fifth, EAT BEFORE YOU FLY! I never am able to eat well the evening before I fly because I'm all nerved up. I do force myself the day of my flight to have a very light meal, or at least crackers and PLENTY of hydration. No, I don't like to use bathrooms on a plane, but I make sure that I'm not feeling crappy from dehydration either. Order a Ginger Ale on the flight. Relax. Listen to music through those headphones if you like. Take your mind off being where you are, and your flight will be wonderful!

You deserve travel, and we all deserve a better life than the box this stupid phobia puts us in. Kudos to you! You've saved up, you've looked forward to it, you've earned it -- NOW GO ENJOY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!