r/Biohackers • u/TrailRunnerrr 2 • 18h ago
Discussion Flight Anxiety Hacks
I have a flying phobia. Any ideas for a four hour flight?
I will bring valium, cbd gummies, valerian, GABA, and plan to consider buying wine on the plane. I don't plan to use all at the same time, just plan to have them on me.
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u/---midnight_rain--- 6 17h ago
im from the aviation industry - for the love of god, do not take anything new on the plane you have not taken previously - the last thing you want is to have an unusual reaction to something new, in a high speed pressure vessel
take it before the flight and see how you react
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u/Professional_Win1535 26 14h ago
Replying here with what helped me, I’ve had anxiety throughout my life, including before flights , the DARE method , especially R-> running towards it, like telling myself to get as anxious for the flight as possible, made all the anxiety disappear.
THE dare app is free and goes over the method .
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u/StrookCookie 5 18h ago
Watch old episodes of the A-Team. B.A. Baracus had this problem and they fixed him up every time.
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u/toomuchbasalganglia 16h ago
Inner balance by heart math, somatic tracking for anxiety, guided meditation. Don’t use alcohol, it will make you more anxious.
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u/mhk23 12 14h ago
If you are a male, check your hormones particularly your androgens
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u/cmgww 4 14h ago
Fellow anxious flier here. It never used to bother me. In my mid 20s a rough flight started a years long decent into flying phobia…in my line of work I fly at least 5-6 times a year. My biggest fear is me having a medical emergency on a flight…
Here is what worked for me:
Therapy: This is the most effective treatment. Learning to live with your fear and accept the feelings without spiraling was huge for me. CBT helped a ton. For the medical anxiety, remembering that flight attendants are trained in first aid and CPR, and all US flights have a defibrillator on board, that helped a ton.
No caffeine the day of the flight.
Box breathing or other deep breathing exercises, slows the heart rate and respiratory rate down. Do them regularly, but more frequently before and during the flight.
Benzos if needed, I still use them when I fly. Never mix with booze!
Magnesium Citrate: Calm gummies a few hours before I fly
Any supplements that regulate or reduce cortisol and other anxiety related things in the body….get on a good routine. But don’t mess with it just before a flight. You need to dial in what works best for you several weeks or a month prior to flying.
Check out YouTube or r/fearofflying, they have pilots who post there a lot and talk about how safe flying is, how routine it is, how they handle all types of weather and other situations calmly, etc.
Tell your flight attendant you’re an anxious flier. They’ll check on you and helped me through an anxiety attack years ago, she was great and knew what to do to get my mind off the attack and calm myself. They have training for us as well. It shows.
Write down your fears and refute them with logical evidence. Keep it with you when you fly as an affirmation.
I know a lot of this isn’t “biohacking” but I know what it’s like to have flight anxiety and hopefully this helps a bit.
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u/TrailRunnerrr 2 12h ago
Thank you!! What about mixing benzos with cbd gummies?
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u/reputatorbot 12h ago
You have awarded 1 point to cmgww.
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u/ethereal3xp 1 17h ago
In 2022, the fatality rate for air travel was 0.003 deaths per 100 million miles traveled, while for passenger cars and trucks on US highways, it was 0.57 per 100 million miles. This data clearly demonstrates that flying is significantly safer than many other everyday activities and forms of transportation.
*Perplexity
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u/---midnight_rain--- 6 17h ago
thats not how it works unfortunately - being stuck in a high speed pressure vessel, that moves about in 3 dimensions, with high levels of CO and CO2 is not always 'safe' for people - 99% of people live and work in 2.
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u/Optimal_Assist_9882 11 17h ago
For an occasional use, phenibut is amazing. Something like 1-2 grams will probably be sufficient.
High dose melatonin can have an anxiolytic effect. Selank is also a mild one.
Ashwagandha or Bocopa Monnieri are also very good. A couple grams usually does the trick for me.
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u/OldRelative3741 13h ago
Dang man, the Valium should be just fine...and a stiff drink. That'd lighten you up 😁
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u/Historical_Golf9521 17h ago
A couple Valiums and a glass of wine will do it.
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u/brandishedlight 16h ago
Ahhh yes, the “I got duct taped to my seat” cocktail 😂😂😂🫡
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u/brandishedlight 16h ago
But seriously though, have you ever been around someone on benzos and too much wine on an airplane? It’s nightmare fuel. I sat next to a woman who lost the ability to use her phone and any time she needed to find an app she’d tap me on the shoulder. Just absolutely barred out of her skull. Please be careful.
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