Help with flying

I do deep breathing exercises. 3 minutes. Breath in deep. Breath out deep. Then I do a 10 minute meditation. This calms my anxiety. Fidgets from Target, kmart. A waited lap blanket.

Hey @petrichor so nice to see you again ❤️ I'm sorry you're feeling so stressed about this flight, I also feel overwhelmed by the process of flying. I think it's so awesome that you're thinking so far ahead to make sure you can reduce your stress. It's a great idea!

What are your usual activities to reduce stress? Can any of them be adapted to be on a plane?

For me, I like to

• Get to the airport early and if I'm especially anxious, I let the staff on the plane know. I know lots of people also talk to the airline beforehand to get support with check-in, getting to the gate and arrival
• I make a comforting playlist to listen to on the plane or download some tv shows on streaming apps like netflix
• I also write down breathing and mindfulness exercise for when I'm in the air. I write them in my phone because I often forget them

And I really like @pjc1965 idea of a lap weighted blanket! Such a great idea

Is there anything where which might be useful for you @petrichor?

Therapy emu. Assuming the emu likes to fly. Though I'm not sure how to find that out. Maybe with some sort of therapy-emu-friendly flight-simulator.

Hi @petrichor , I am flying interstate this weekend on my own .

I get to the airport early, always leave home 3 hours before my flight so I can check in etc if I haven’t done so already.

I like sitting at airports and watching all the interesting people, maybe even spot a celebrity.

Take earphones and music or a film to watch so you can move your mind away from intrusive thoughts.

I always get an aisle seat so I don’t look out the window (although Sydney Harbour is magnificent from the air as is Uluṟu).

Flight attendants are usually very kind to nervous travellers so tell them.

All the best 💙

Get in earlier than everyone else. Get a window seat. I had anxiety with a guest this owning. I looked out the window this helped.

@petrichor how about puzzles. I enjoy search a word, code breaker and fill ins. Not crossqoesa or suduko which was invented by an American but took off in Japan instead. They changed the name.

Hello again @petrichor, I'm not sure which airport you're flying our of, but I just discovered a "hidden disability" program at Melbourne, Hobart, Adelaide, Brisbane and Gold coast airports.

This program allows for a range of conditions to have more accessibility in terminals including going through security, check-in, waiting in the terminal.

I thought it might be useful to you ❤️

Hi everyone

thank you for the suggestions and the info.

I’m not going through with it. Decided it will be worse for my mental health to go to a city than bunkering down at home. I’ll manage somehow I think. I don’t know how people do it to be honest, leave their safe space 😞 I’ll just live with the consequences. Not my fault.