Originally Posted by violist
Hi back at you, Dogmom - missed you at the last little do on the
peninsula last week.
Having panic attacks is not anything to be ashamed of, even
though many (including sufferers) seem to think so. I once
considered starting an anxiety-sufferers' support society whose
members would wear some discreet sort of insignia (like an FT
lapel pin), so as to be able to access an identifiable support
system in extremis. But then I stopped drinking coffee ...
A) It's difficult not to feel ashamed when you've tried to build your reputation as a "frequent flyer"!
B) More seriously - I hate the idea of having a visible panic attack on an airplane, because I think of how I would react if someone else were to freak out near me. I'd hate to be the cause of someone
else's panic.
C) Part of the reason I've fought so hard to get over my fear is that I don't want to pass it down to my children. I'm really worried that if my daughter, for example, senses fear from me on an airplane, it might cripple her ability to travel anxiety free.