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Navigate: FAQ Home Page > Emotional Issues > Flight Anxiety
Posted on: 10/19/2004
Question
I am going on a flight this week and I get extreme anxiety before the flight and at the airport. Part is feeling claustrophobic and part is just the anxiety of flying all together. I am wondering if there are any medications that I can take prior so I can have a more enjoyable experience.
Answer
Yes, there are some medications for this type of anxiety. The best thing you can do is to call your doctor and inquire about what you could take that would be helpful. Beyond that there are ways of reducing flight anxiety that you can work at over time like learning relaxation techniques and ways of talking to yourself that can help you cope with claustrophobia. A good book summarizing these techniques is The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Dr. Edmund Bourne available at major bookstores.