Anxiety relief for return flight?

You could stop in a clinic and probably get a prescription.

When is your flight? At the moment there is one front you would have to cross and some weather over eastern Canada, but it doesn't look too bad.

http://www.turbulenceforecast.com/atlantic_westbound_tracks.php

Hello Anna. Drinking Chamomile tea (German Chamomile plant), steeped in hot water for 20 Minutes (or 15 Minutes) can eliminate a feeling of emotional stress. The people at Munich and Amsterdam drink beer, or an other beverage containing alchohol, to help eliminate their stress, and to prevent suffering from anxiety. But drinking alchohol and swallowing a medication (or Dramamine) at the same time is not recommended. When you will be in the airplane, flying across the Atlantic Ocean, talk to people in the airplane (people that are not extremely tense or hysterical). Look at their eyes when they are talking to you.

Jon, my flight is on the 23rd. I'm flying from Amsterdam to Seattle via Reykjavik. As I remember from the flight to here, we flew diagonally across Canada and over Greenland. It was really shaky, and my anxiety problems don't help at all. I just want to knock myself out :(

My brother used to fly as a hobby (small planes). He once told me a statistic that really helped me in turbulence. He said that turbulence is not a cause of crashes, period. He said that not only are crashes incredibly rare, the huge percentage of the few crashes that happen, happen within ten minutes of take off and landing. So the rest of the time I relax.

Visit an amsterdamm "coffee house" before you depart :)

"Visit an amsterdamm "coffee house" before you depart :)"

I realize you are kidding. 25 years ago when in college (and at that age not being completely unfamiliar with the product sold in coffeehouses), I purchased some of said product in Amsterdam. After not very much I went into an incredible panic attack (not something I am normally prone to either).

4 hours of walking around and a fair number if Heinekens later I began to feel normal again. I guess the potency was much stronger than anything I had before.

Being the young idiot (as opposed to my current state of mid life idiot), I indulged again the next day without any problem.

My point? I don't remember.....

Oh yeah, it might not be that great for anxiety relief.

Actually I wasnt kidding! It is the best sedative in the world!

There are actually different varieties of it available, I have recently found out- there are some that cause anxiety and some that reduce anxiety. This was good for me to know, because in the past, I had a panic attack after using some for a headache, once.

Anna, I have panic on flights, too. Who are you flying with and what type of airplane? That usually makes me feel better- I research both before going and am picky about my airline and model. Almost all flights are safe, but I figure I can reduce my risks even more by going with great carriers, who do good maintenance, and flying on extra safe airplane models.

I am only so-so with flying and pockets of turbulence do put me into an immediate panic. So, thank you Grace, for that statistic. I will remember that for my flights this December, and see if that helps....

"turbulence can't cause a crash....turbulence can't cause a crash" will be my new mantra.

At least with standard pharmacology, most sedatives in Western Europe are only legally available with a prescription from a physician. A pharmacist may make a recommendation, but they won't distribute it without a prescription.

I will try to check the weather for you on the 23rd if I remember and post it to this thread. Generally this time of year it is overall smooth over the oceans. During the winter you can get more storms and clear air turbulence as the jet streams move out of the polar regions and into the trans oceanic flight paths.

But by all means, don't be frightened of turbulence, as long as you are buckled in you are safe. I for years panicked over rough flights and actually backed out of a trip because of it. What a way to waste a life you know? Now I enjoy the occasional bump, but I know how you feel. :)

Thanks, Jon and everyone else - I hope your words calm me down a bit. I'll try to educate myself on turbulence and aircraft some more. And as for the coffee shops...I definitely have the propensity for getting paranoid as a result, so I don't know if it'll be a good idea...especially when going through airport security :) anyway, I think I'm developing a cold, so maybe I'll just use some Nyquil legitimately...

The same ingredient that didn't work for you with Tylenol PM is in Nyquil... and Nyquil also contains a mild stimulant for decongestion, which might conversely make your anxiety worse.

My husband finds it stressful to fly also, not to mention traveling with teenagers. Last summer we landed in Amsterdam & the next morning our hotel made an appointment with a physician for his seized-up shoulder and the stress & was given a prescription. See a doctor and tell him you have anxiety about your return flight.

or...Benadryl makes me fall asleep...