Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Riker]

So, I've decided to skip the narcotics ( Valium, Xanax) for the plane ride as I don't want any problems on the drug test.

How do you deal with extreme flight anxiety? Suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[OculisOrbis]

Hard liquor or take the slow boat.

[Italy37612]

Sleeping pills? Flight anxiety always baffles me. If the plane is gonna explode mid-air or slam into the ground at 1000kph it is gonna happen regardless of how much you stress out before hand.

Guess I'm not helping much now am I

[Ramen]

bend over as far as you can and kiss your ass good-bye.

[Riker]

[Italy37612]

He means literally take a boat across the ocean to get here. Although I'm not sure I would trade the heaving of a large freighter on the Pacific for a much shorter flight.

[thegadfly]

Over the counter allergy meds (Benadryl) shouldn't trip the drug screening (at least, Benadryl has never caused me a moment's worry), and taking Benadryl used to knock me out for the flight...as I am older now, I seem to be able to fall asleep without it, but I carry it just in case....

I dunno about the effectiveness of OTC sleep aids, nor about their effect on the drug screening, if any...but Benadryl is cheap and effective, and the tiny pink tablets or capsules are pretty easy to swallow even without water, if need be....

[ajuma]

I too fear flying and Valium is my "drug of choice", but since you don't want to take it, I guess alcohol or sleeping pills might help. You might want to google some other ideas. There are classes you can take and hypnotherapy, but these take time and money.

Also, bring things to keep you occupied: MP3 player, a really good book, a deck of cards...anything that will pass the time.

Good luck!

[Italy37612]

[anjinsan]

I totally understand.

--Try to get as much sleep prior to your flight. Anxiety/Panic always appear more when fatigued.

--Stay very hydrated before and during the flight (researchers have found that even mild dehydration can make one more susceptible to
A/P)

--avoid caffeine before and during the flight

--plan on having A/P attacks (just knowing that you will have an attack will actually ease a great deal of the anxiety and fear of having an attack)

--try to determine when you might be most likely to have A/P (take-off? mid-flight? landing?)

--make a plan before you leave as to what you will do when you do have
A/P

--know that flight attendants are very accustomed to having passengers
with A/P attacks. Understand that you are in a safe environment, and it is okay to have A/P

--bring your own meals (the suggestion that works best for me and which I enjoy) Airplane food really is terrible; so, plan your own meals with stuff you love. Treat yourself! (The food the airline provides can supplement your own snack/meal pack). Trust me, this works great!

--DON'T GET STUCK IN A MIDDLE SEAT. Try your hardest to get that aisle, so you can get up and move around and not feel trapped.
Need be, inform the airline of your A/P and insist on an aisle seat.
Having the freedom to get up reduces a lot of stress.

--bring warm, comfy clothes. Those airplanes get freezing cold, which also puts your body on edge and more susceptible to A/P (ever notice that your body is similarly tense when you are cold and when you feel A/P?)

--I don't recommend any type of medicines. These will make you drowsy, but may make you sleep for only a short time, leaving you feeling more fatigued. It really is best to keep your wits about you. (I've had very bad experiences with such medications and A/P, where they made it far worse.)

In my experience, it works best to eliminate as many of the minor stressors in order to reduce your A/P. All that stuff adds up.
I do all of these things--something I've learned to do over the years--and I have almost no A/P when I fly across the Pacific. I've made that flight
about 20 times; so, my experience with this should help you out.

Have fun and watch lots of movies too! It'll be fun

[Slowmotion]

A) Man up

B) Fly Korean air and look at the stewardesses

[goniff]

grab hold of the person next to you and hang on tight!

look what it did for jake gyllenhaal in "the day after tomorrow"!

[jrwhite82]

How does wine affect you? Unlimited drinks on international flights usually. A couple of glasses of red wine and I'm out like a light.

[Lost500]

Enjoy take off, it is by far the best part of a flight. The power & acceptance that your life is in someone elses hands are pure joy.

Actual flydom tends to be tedious.

Fear landing, this is when malfunctions can happen. Landing gear that is stuck is not nice - I experienced it flying in to India.

Takes a lot more skill to land a plane than to take off. You'd be amazed by the amount of pilot errors that lead to horrific crashes on landing.

Enjoy the take off & IF, a big IF, you land safel then enjoy queue for immigration.

Oh I also like to watch 'Aircrash Investigators' but thats just me. An engineer at heart & I love to know how the numerous plane crashes have in fact made flying safer.

Hope I helped. Good luck pal.

[Riker]

Thanks. I will probably be leaving in about 2 weeks. Did you guys have internet on the plane? That would probably keep me pretty distracted.