I honestly think you should take an out and back flight alone beforehand.
If you do dca-Clt out and back in a day you’ll build evidence you’ll be fine.
It will just take practice
The more you do it the easier it will be

Go to a hypnotist!

Pick a different way to get back. Be realistic

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly about flying causes you anxiety?

Uncertainty. The plane could crash.

Trains and cars crash too; do you have problem with those?

Obviously I do not! I understand this is completely illogical/irrational...isn't that the point of anxiety? It's not really rooted in logic?

Some people never overcome the fear of flying. My dc is like that. She just pops a xanax once on board, and good night world. She has been in therapy for 10 years, and her psychiatrist is fully onboard with xanax. Do not feel bad, OP, and do not let people put you down for this. It is ok.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Stay home and forget the weekend trip.

It would be easy to do that but I don't want to. I'm sick of letting the fear control me. I suspect if I fly alone for once I will get over the crippling fear and it'll be like flying with a buddy...I don't love it, but if I have a friend or my sister or a boyfriend next to me, I can do it. But when I'm flying alone, even getting on the plane is the struggle.

Good for you! It’s good you have the desire to take this on rather than let it control you.

One little suggestion I have, to add to others, is make yourself a playlist of your favorite high energy dance music. Blast that into your headphones even before you get on the plane but certainly before take off. I find it helps take my brain off the fear and on to the desire to get up and dance. (But don’t actually do that!)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only thing that cured my plane anxiety/panic is lexapro.

does it make you sleepy afterwards? what is the timing to take it? is that different than Xanax? used to fly all of the time but hate it now.

This is PP. I take the lexapro everyday (I started it when my dog was dying of cancer during a stressful time in my life).

One very positive effect of the lexapro is that I no longer get panic attacks on airplanes. I used to have horrible panic attacks while flying but they have now stopped! I’m very grateful because I love to travel.

Anonymous wrote:The only thing that cured my plane anxiety/panic is lexapro.

does it make you sleepy afterwards? what is the timing to take it? is that different than Xanax? used to fly all of the time but hate it now.

The only way I got over my fear of flying was by flying more. It took me getting a job where I had to fly often for it go away. Once I started to see how repetitive and routine everything was, the fear just melted away. Now I find it pretty boring. I actually kind of like when there's a little bit of turbulence - helps spice things up a bit

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Few tips.

Get some Xanax

Get an iPad or something comparable and good headphones over the ear kind. Download shows you know you will love to watch. As soon as you sit down seatbelt and headphones and turn on that machine to focus on that.

Bring snacks and a bottle of water (water you will have to buy in airport can not go through security). Start eating when you start watching your shows.

How does eating prevent fear?

It doesn't and I'm sick of people suggesting stuff like that. I too used to have flight anxiety and I remember mentioning it to an ex-boyfriend's friend's wife who was like, "Omg I'm soooo anxious on planes too. Just take a nap!"

Girl. If you can nap on a plane, you don't have anxiety.

You definitely need to get over your fear and PPs have great suggestions. BUT, this doesn't seem like the trip to do it. Youre meeting them for the first time and you don't want to have this anxiety cloud hanging over you. Can you rent a car and drive back yourself?

Check out the fear of flying sub on Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/fearofflying/

Lots of people with similar fears and there are several pilots and aviation professionals there who can answer questions you have.

The plane is not going to crash and you will be fine. Turbulence is normal and not a danger to the airplane; they are built to handle it. Your pilots are well trained professionals who are required to be proficient in handling all different types of weather and various emergencies scenarios.

Anonymous wrote:Few tips.

Get some Xanax

Get an iPad or something comparable and good headphones over the ear kind. Download shows you know you will love to watch. As soon as you sit down seatbelt and headphones and turn on that machine to focus on that.

Bring snacks and a bottle of water (water you will have to buy in airport can not go through security). Start eating when you start watching your shows.

How does eating prevent fear?