How Do I Deal With Plane Triggers?

[Katja]

Hi there...

I have a question.....does anybody get triggered by going on a airplane (it takes me back to feeling very trapped and it feels like I am 5 and my dad is driving the plane and I spin back into trauma darkness and panic attacks and of course I worry about what the person next to me thinks.....) Do any of you have any suggestions how to handle it without drinking 3 bottles of wine beforehand....Thanks!

 

[trapped]

I get SUPER triggered on planes as well... it's funny, because I can fly them myself just fine (I find that really relaxing actually), but flying as a passenger on a comercial flight, I'm a complete wreck!

I unfortunately don't really have any tips... I'm always given triazolam to take before the flights, because it blocks the anxiety, it's got a shorter half life than xanax or valium so I'm not all out of it when I get off the plane, and it has the wonderful side effect of causing you to not remember anything that took place while the drug is in your system- not normally desireable, but with the extent of my flashbacks and panic attacks on planes it's pretty ideal, especially given that I'd probably either a) dissociate or b) rack up a huge tab at the airport bar before hand, and not remember much anyway without the medication anyway.

But, I still always travel with a safe object... it can be something like a stuffed animal, a picture, a smooth stone... anything that's easy to take with you and that will calm you down. I also have a recording from an old therapist I had that has been really helpful, where she made an audio recording to walk me through some grounding techniques, that combined with hearing a familiar voice can be extremely helpful.

 

[Katja]

Thank u trapped. That is really interesting because I have been thinking I would feel a lot better flying a plane myself.... as you are able to do! It must mean that when it feels like we loose control it goes right back to the trauma of when we actually lost control and someone else took over and harmed us. I will bring relaxation tapes and I like that you have one with a familiar voice that know u. Also thanks for the med tip...a lot better than drinking a bottle of vodka :)