First time anxiety attack
 

I fly quite a bit, enough to maintain anywhere from Diamond to Gold with Delta for the past 7-8 years.

I experienced something on my trip this week that's never happened before. I was sitting in window of the exit row on a CRJ 200. Short flight (90 miles) from Columbus, GA to Atlanta, GA. We landed in Atlanta and while taxiing to the gate I guess the pilot turned the air off and it's starting getting a bit warm on the plane and I all of a sudden just got hit with a bit of an anxiety attack. To the point where I had this urge that I needed to get out of the seat immediately, I felt extraordinarily confined...and almost did. My follow on was on a CRJ 900 from Atlanta to Killeen, TX and I had no issues.

My return today, I had the same thing happen while taxiing to the runway in Atlanta. I started reading to try to keep my mind off of it but it was always still in the back of my mind and I was never really comfortable.

I've have never had this happen before and I can't count the times I take this short hop from CSG to ATL. I can be a bit claustrophobic sometimes if I'm in a situation in confined spaces and I have no control on being able to get out on my own.

I've got another trip leaving out Sunday and I'm in a aisle seat. Hopefully having that bit less confinement well help me settle a bit.

In the Army I was a tanker on an Abrams for 20 years which is a quite confined space and never felt like this before.

This ever happen to anyone else? I'm sure it's just all in my mind, but I felt like a frikken wimp!!

Once when I flew from Vientiane to Xieng Khouang, Laos, in 1998 on a Chinese-made Y7 the pilot turned on the "air conditioning" midflight and it was like dry ice melting, with the cabin so filled with smoke (condensate?) that you could barely see in front of you. I took my cue from other passengers and didn't get concerned even though it was unsettling. Xieng Khouang then was a 3-day roadtrip from Vientiane on terrible roads, and had electricity only 5 hours a day (you ate at the hotel and ordered a meal in advance).

Sometimes a little knowledge about how everything works and why planes get into trouble can be dangerous, even though statistically you're far better off than driving.

If you suspect that there may be something underlying that gets brought to the surface with certain triggers, try St. John's Wort. If that doesn't help, see a doctor.

First time anxiety attack
 

Yes
I always have a bottle of water( preferably) cold
To splash on my face when this happens

It's also better to sit on an Aisle seat for me

It's entirely possible to have one anxiety attack (or two) and never have another:
Mayo Clinic on panic attacks

I actually had one almost 20 years ago--without really knowing what it was--but haven't had another. My body, instead, found other ways to respond poorly to stress. Probably worth a talk with your doctor--something like a mindfulness meditation class can be quite helpful. (Cheaper than drugs, no side effects!)

Might not be in your mind, anxiety attacks can be caused by inner ear problems which can be triggered by sudden changes in temperature and pressure.

OP: I know exactly what you are talking about. Aisle seats are much better. I had a this anxiety problem for many years and it just went away. I travel a lot, and it was a major problem for me (I travel even more now). Thank god I no longer have it. I know it was all in my head, but it was a problem.

It would happen to me when I was not in control of a situation.

Example 1: I am on a flt boarding and the AC is very hot. I start to sweat, the door closes, we sit. Sit, sit, sit. Than the plane pushes from the gate. We are number 30 for take off. Sit, sit, sit. The walls of the plane seem to close in (I am not in control and have no way out).

Example #2: I am driving through the "tunnel" in LAS and I am in the middle of the tunnel and in the middle lane and cars on every side of my car and all traffic is stopped because the President is visiting for a fundraiser. For one hour I sit in my car, again it is hot and exhaust fumes are pouring into my car from other cars exhausts. I have a anxiety attack. I was stuck and I could not control the situation. I lost it, and l got through it talking with my wife on the phone. She got me though it.

These are just two examples. I had more anxiety attacks, but I no longer have them. I understand the OP 100%. I have been there. Good luck!

Indeed, this I think is from not being in control and claustrophobia. IME the trick is to always have a bottle of water to hand and sit in aisle seats on the plane. It seems as though sipping on (preferably) cold water does a quick reset to the system and ''normalizes'' it...At that point you should be in a position where you can take over the bad feelings...you need to at this point. Also if at all possible you should take a mini fan with you or turn on to full power the air vents above the seat if they are there. remember you are on the plane as you want to get somewhere...always focus on that. I hope I make sense. And I hope it gets better for you.^

I started with anxiety attacks in my late thirties. Didn't understand what they were at the time. I had them onboard planes and inside my car. Then, one morning driving to work, I had my first 'panic' attack. Again, still didn't understand what was happening. I tried to drive long enough to get off the freeway, found a gas station to park and 'wait it out'. Didn't work for me. I ended up going by ambulance to the ER. Yes, it was that bad. Felt like a heart attack and I didn't know any better. I went to the doctor who gave me an anti-axiety med along with Ativan for quick relief when needed. In 2008, I boarded an AA 777 on a FC upgrade to LHR. I was seated in 3A and the moment I heard the door close, it started. No time for meds to kick-in (I learned quickly that I needed to take them a couple hours before flying). I rang the FA and told her, "I have to get off this plane." I explained what was happening. I held up a whole 777 for 10 or so minutes. Luckily, my baggage was 'priority' so it was easy to get out of the hold. Long story - sorry. But, my advice is to see a doctor now. Don't wait-n-see. Ten years later I no longer have attacks but do still sometimes feel a little anxious - but it's controllable now. amen.

See your doc. After 30 years in a high-stress, emergency response career with no problems, I thought I was immune to that sort of thing. After retirement, I found, much to my disgust, that I began having occasional attacks such as you mention. Turned out there were some subconscious things going on I didn't recognize. The doc gave me some low-dose Xanax for use in those cases and it did the trick. It only took 20 or 30 minutes to take effect. Now, I never need it but back then it saved a few trips. You just learn to do some breathing/relaxation exercises until the med kicks in.

There is probably something going on in your life that is causing some low-level anxiety. On occasion, that can flare up into a full-blown panic attack for no apparent reason. See your doc.

Short-Term Anxiety Attack
 

I never had such a problem until I was about 47 years-old, when I had similar events happen to me 3 or 4 times within 3 months (I remember it was only on the narrower planes.... once on a DC-9, the other times on RJ's.) It concerned me and I saw a doctor. We concluded that it was likely due to me drinking "Chinese Weight Loss Tea" that I had gotten through a mail order. I had been trying to loose a few pounds, but found it difficult with all of my business travel and professional dinners (I was Gold then, Platinum now). I saw an add for this stuff in a magazine...bought it, and was drinking it daily as instructed. It apparently had some amphetamines or something similar in the tea.

Have you recently started new medication or made major changes to your diet?

On amtrak
 

On California Zephyr in economy bedroom(in crew car which I dislike for various reasons)the following occurred:
-the interior locking mechanism malfunctioned(after already being brought to attendant's attention)and kept me locked in, and
-the temperature elevated about 10 degrees, I estimate to high 80's F.

Yes, anxiety and discomfort until knocking loudly in early AM hours brought someone to open from the outside. Mentioned to new conductor(they ususally work 6-8 hour runs): his response; "I know it didn't get that hot in there 'cause it didn't get that hot down here(ref to crew work area, below)." and "you just don't know how to work the lock."

I did not mention nor show him my past tickets(in bedrooms)for all Amtrak routes multiple times-he was hopelessly unhelpful and confrontational.
No referral to CR as it was "train from hell," with one sleeper completely contaminated by backed-up sewage system(and attendant smell), as well as rerouting out of SLC requiring the presence of freight conductor on-board.
Yep, confined space(no apparent escape)and discomfort due to heat=anxiety. Mod: feel free to share in Amtrak forum...

I'm with you. I actually find that specific aircraft types make me more prone to this than others and, as you've experienced, the CRJ-200 is the worst for me. Something about the window size and placement (too low on the fuselage), the air conditioning system...I don't know what it is. I can recall multiple experiences on CRJs that were combinations of motion sensitivity and anxiety.

I don't know that this technique would work for everyone, and it's not something suggested to me by a doctor (so I cannot vouch for the medical aspect), but I have found taking a Sudafed before my flight helps me dramatically. It prevents congestion and the stuffy feeling that for me seems to predicate an anxiety reaction. I also avoid bubbly drinks, like sodas, as all that gas expanding puts pressure on my stomach which also seems to trigger anxiety. It's been explained as a vagal nerve reaction.

Again, I don't know if that's something helpful to others, but I have certainly found it remarkably useful. A Sudafed before a flight keeps me in good mental and physical shape!

Pseudofed will make a real anxiety attack worse due to the action of the pseudoephedrin.

Very interesting discussion here. Would also wonder if the problem might run in families or have a herditary component in some cases.

If a herbal supplement like St. John's Wort can do the trick, then advantages include easier availability without a prescription (at least in the U.S.; other countries may be a different story on availability), and not having risk of dependency as with benzodiazepines or potential difficulty getting them across borders and back.

Kava and valerian also are mentioned as relaxing agents, but with anxiety involved usually it's SJW pointed to first among the herbals.

You don't need to be in an exit row. Ever.

I had a panic attack one time in a plane, it was probably 15-20 years ago.

I stated hyperventilating, felt like I couldn't breathe. There was a nurse close enough to notice and asked the FA for oxygen and some ice in a towel for my head, and cold water. After a few minutes I settled down, was rather embarrassed, profusely thanked the nurse and the FA.

I went to the doctor when I got back home and described what happened, he told me it was a panic attack. It has never happened again.

I was on a flight from Cork to Edinburgh a month or two ago and someone had a full on, thought he was having a heart attack panic attack during an extremely rough landing (It was on an atr 72-600 that was just getting thrown around in the wind). I've been (and was at that time) dealing with panic attacks, but I was able to keep it under control.

A couple things that have helped me a lot, and helped me then.
-I had some attavan on me. I didn't need to take it, but knowing I have it is really helpful for me (though part of it has to do with my fear of the attack escalatin). You may want to see your doctor about getting some.
-As I've learned more about panic attacks, that knowledge has helped me in turning them down. Once you start having a panic attack, you immediately start scanning your body for more symptoms. The thing is, everything is weird under scrutiny.
-Breathe through your mouth, into your stomach. Inhale 4 seconds, hold, exhale 4 seconds, hold, repeat.
-Finally, an inspirational ted talk. Chris Hadfield goes blind in space.

Breathing into a paper bag can help, too. It counteracts the effects of hyperventilating.

rmeltz, thanks for sharing your story that had to be a frightening experience. How the did the flight crew and airport staff treat you. Were they understanding? Any issues from the airline like adding you to their internal no-fly list?

Of course you're a wimp: your office used to be an M1 when it should have been a real tank like a Challenger. ;) :)

More to the point, ain't psychology & irrational fears fun?! *Especially* when you know they're irrational. :D Apparently it's not unusual for it to happen as people age. I had it happen for a while in my mid-40's. Always during take off from wheels up until we got to ~10,000 feet. (Weirdly enough, if anything did happen then I calmed straight back down as if it was somehow reassuring) Nice wee chat with a shrink who taught me some tools to deal with it that have worked ever since.



St John's Wort won't do jack except as a placebo. :) If it's low grade mild panic and otherwise manageable, see a doctor if you just want something to take the edge off for flying overall. If it's something that is annoying or actually interfering in flying then see a shrink or counsellor for some Cog Behaviour techniques or whatever else they recommend for dealing.

I don't get an anxiety attack, but in the minutes from the gate to starting the apu/engines I'm ACUTELY aware that there's no air getting in, or the only air getting in is warm. Bothers the hell out of me.

I had a panic attack once in my life and now that I know what it was (or I think I do) I would probably deal with it better if it ever happened again, but I know exactly why it happened and I dealt with it...though I dealt with it in a manner you couldn't on a plane which is why I won't bother with details haha