Stress Center Peer Support

HI,
I went through the program a few years back and it's helped me alot. I learned alot but my anxiety is back. I was asked to go on a business trip in April and should feel honored that I was asked but I am deathly afraid. For one thing, I have never been in a large plane before, so I have the plane crashing and I had a bad experience on a trip with my friends and has we stopped to eat, I got this weird feeling that came over me, I started to cry and just wanted to go home. I called my husband crying and for the rest of the weekend, I cried much of the time. I am afraid that it's going to happen again and I don't want them to think I'm a baby. I need to go on the trip to prove to myself that I can do it. My husband is so supportive, he says, put the negative feelings aside and go, think of it as an adventure. Easy for him to say. He is very outgoing and is not afraid of anything. He is the one that ordered the program for me because he didn't know whatelse to do for me. I have the tools, I am just feeling like I can't go on this trip. The minutes that I start having these feeling, I am going to freck. I need some advice.

Hi Jeepgl,
I'm sorry you are having anxiety again, with all the scary thoughts.
I would start the program again. Look at this as a growth spurt that Lucinda talks about in the program. Turn the negative thoughts around. As long as you tell yourself, you can't go on this trip, your mind and body feeds into it. Do your breathing, also do something to distract yourself, so your mind will not stay on the negative.
I have to make myself do things when the anxiety comes on me. I make myself go visit, go to the store, etc; once I do it, I enjoy myself. I have to counter my thoughts with something else, I do thinks with my hands, like knitting, cross stitching etc;.
I understand about the plane ride. I am not crazy over planes, hopefully someone here can help you with the ride on the plane. The last time I was in a plane was in 1993, we came back from Germany. When I went to Germany in 1989, I was afraid also, it was the first time I was in a plane. I did great on the trips, I just didn't think about the plane crashing. I did like the bigger plane's better than the smaller ones. Can you take you something on the plane to do, to keep your mind busy?
How long will you be on the plane for? Can you take your relaxation tape with you, if you decide to go on the trip? You could also take a book, do cross words, get a find a word book.
I would just start on the program, and come here a lot.
I know it is hard, when you are going through it.I wish you the best....
Sunshine1960

Thanks for your advice. I have been doing a lot of self talk and there are times when I am doing great and then the thoughts come back again. I have been reading Lucinda's book, Panic to Power and that has been helping too. I am going to Phoenix from Massachusetts, so it will be a little while on the plane. I am also going with someone who is also afraid to fly so we should be some pair. I still have 7 weeks before we leave and I am trying to say STOP when I start to think about the trip. I have all the tools and just need to use them. I also joined a gym so that helps. I guess I just don't want to lose control in front of all the people that I work with, I don't want to seem weak or a baby. Like I said before my husband is very supportive so that helps. I want to go and have fun and not think about all the anxiety that goes with it. I have been also saying "whatever" when the thoughts come and that also helps.

So sorry you have to deal with this again. I too hate to fly. I think most everyone does. Talk to your doctor about taking something to relax on the flight. Sometimes it is ok to take something. Go back to the program, especially the tape with the scary thoughts. And if you cannot go because it is too difficult, then don't. But do not beat yourself up about it. Perhaps another chance will come by again and you will be able to do it. Good luck...Leopolda