Can I fly with anxiety disorder?

Seeking a prescription to sedative medication and having them available in-flight can help you relax, even if you don't end up taking it. You should not try to cope alone with a panic disorder and related fear of flying. Even a couple sessions with a therapist can give you tools to make flying more comfortable.



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8 Steps to Overcoming Your Fear of Flying
  1. Latch on to triggers that set you off. ...
  2. Step onto the airplane with knowledge. ...
  3. Anticipate your anxiety. ...
  4. Separate fear from danger. ...
  5. Recognize that common sense makes no sense. ...
  6. Smooth over things that go bump in the flight. ...
  7. Educate fellow fliers how to help you. ...
  8. Value each flight.


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Preparing for anxiety before your flight
  1. Don't drink coffee on the day of the flight.
  2. Wear compression socks.
  3. Get cosy.
  4. Get a good neck pillow.
  5. Bring earplugs and an eye mask.
  6. Do some research about your particular flight anxiety.
  7. Choose a good seat.
  8. Watch calm movies.


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Pharmacological treatment These drugs are usually taken shortly before a flight. They include: Anti-anxiety medication, such as diazepam (Valium) or alprazolam (Xanax). Motion sickness medication, such as dimenhydrinate (Dramamine).

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Flight attendants are trained in first aid – and this covers panic attacks and supporting people with anxiety on a flight. This training includes the questions they should ask someone having a panic attack and how to manage you out of one.

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So many travelers struggle with this fear, so the best way to cope is to find a seat with plenty of space. The least crowded section of the plane is first or business class. But if upgraded flying isn't in your budget there are still options. Try sitting in an aisle seat in an exit row towards the front of the plane.

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One in three people said that the most stressful part of travelling was during the flight, with a further 35% saying they found landing the most stressful. Boarding, finding your seat on the plane and the flight itself all came at the bottom of the list, making them the least stressful moments whilst travelling.

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For those who are already nervous fliers, there is perhaps some more bad news. “Anxiety levels can increase with hypoxia,” explains Valerie Martindale, president of the Aerospace Medical Association at King's College London. Anxiety is not the only aspect of mood that can be affected by flying.

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if you suffer from or have had:
  • angina or chest pain at rest.
  • an infectious disease (e.g. chickenpox, flu), including COVID-19.
  • decompression sickness after diving (sometimes called 'the bends')
  • increased pressure in the brain (due to bleeding, injury or infection)
  • infection of your ears or sinuses.
  • recent heart attack.


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Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Common reasons for panic attacks on a plane include a fear of flying, but they can also be caused by claustrophobia or the fear of enclosed spaces.

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Even taking off and landing in heavy rain, snow, and fog is possible for aircraft equipped with adequate instruments and automated control systems for the conditions. However, heavy winds and thunderstorms, which often accompany rain, can keep aircraft grounded and result in airline flight cancellations.

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A poll taken on A Fly Guy's Cabin Crew Lounge, the largest network of airline staff on social media, revealed that most airline crew not only like turbulence, but they also enjoy it! That's a comforting thought to think about the next time you're worried when your plane starts shaking. '

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While Xanax may be useful for flying on an airplane, it will not help you with your anxiety. It may help in the moment but you will not tackle your fear of flying if you are asleep the whole flight. If you ran out of your medication or left it at home, the anxiety will still exist if you go on an airplane again.

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Though there's no one cause for travel anxiety, some common ones are fear of flying, fear of crowds, fear of crashing, fear of social interactions, fear of guns, fear of disease (insert Covid here), and, perhaps biggest of all, fear of the unknown and being outside your comfort zone.

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Travel anxiety is the fear of visiting an unfamiliar place. It can also involve the stress that comes with planning your travels. Even if you have no history of anxiety, the idea of being outside familiar territory can throw you into panic mode.

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They may be triggered, but they can also be random. Anxiety disorders are the most common travel-induced mental health problems, according to research published in the Journal of Travel Medicine. “Anxiety thrives when we don't have control and when there is a lot of uncertainty,” says Julia Martin Burch, Ph.

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Solo travel and mental health You'll be put into situations where you have to trust yourself and where you won't be able to rely on anyone else. Solo travel can also improve your self-confidence by forcing you to interact with new people and overcome any shyness you may normally feel.

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Traveling is not generally bad if you have depression. It is considered the healthiest form of addiction and can actually be beneficial for most people. Traveling is good for your mental health because it reduces stress and anxiety. Traveling only becomes a problem if it is viewed as the only cure to your problems.

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There might be a time in your life where you want to ditch the suitcase and the travel guide, and that's OK. We all need a break sometimes. But make sure you also take the time to acknowledge what might be keeping you from it, and do what feels right for you.

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I definitely recommend pushing through your anxiety to try and do something like this for yourself. I think solo travel can be really empowering for those of us struggling with anxiety. Pushing past your anxious thoughts and proving to yourself that yes, I can is a great feeling.

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Venturing out on the open road solo can be scary and bring up all sorts of travel anxiety. Maybe you fear feeling lonely or bored, or you're worried about getting homesick or for your personal safety. Perhaps you think travelling as a single is too expensive and you need to wait for friends to join you…

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