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| PHOBIAS AND FLYING |
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DEAR DIANA I enjoyed reading your articles on the Internet regarding air quality. I am not a regular airline passenger but must fly occasionally because my relatives are in Sweden and Denmark, while my immediate family is in California, and I married a German and am living in Frankfurt. I am 33 years old and have been trying aggressively for quite some time to determine the root of my problems with flying, but am not yet certain I have found it. As a child, I used to fly to Sweden and Denmark quite regularly and did not have any problems. Later in life ( in my 20's ), I experienced my first problems.... fast heart rate, sweaty palms, and the worst of all is the extreme lowered state of consciousness. The unanswered question: Is it simply a phobia or is there more behind it? Granted, it probably sounds like a panic disorder, but I personally do not feel it is only limited to that. This is because I have no problems during takeoff or decent... in fact, I enjoy that part, and I don't have any irrational thoughts that the plane will crash because I do not feel this is statistically logical... rather the problem always seems to occur in the later stages of the climbing of the aircraft (after about 20-25 minutes). The scenario is usually the same... I get feelings in my stomach and lower chest similar to indigestion and begin to lose concentration and cannot effectively read, watch the movies, or even hold a regular conversation. The most ridiculous effect is that I THEN do become nervous (sometimes even panicky), all of which makes my flights most miserable! On one occasion, I asked for oxygen, and this did help my symptoms significantly. The rather strange thing to me is that I have had GOOD flights (without the mentioned symptoms) as well as BAD flights... without a logical explanation why one was better than the other! My wife suggested that I take a flight-fear seminar... and I did so. I was quite satisfied with the course and the instructor... we learned some good evasive stress-relief mind and physical exercises. We then had a flight from Frankfurt to Berlin. The first flight was not good, however... I had quite notable problems with my concentration level (although I deemed this is not possible due to the short-distance flight). The second flight (which occurred immediately thereafter) I experienced without ANY of the usual effects. The planes were both the same type (an Airbus 310). I do not know if air-quality is the cause of my symptoms but I believe it could be the factor which aggrevates my symptoms to the point where they are extreme. I have consulted several pilot's opinions regarding my flying problems and have found that "high-altitude sensitivity" could also be a factor, but I haven't encountered others with this problem, so I don't know if this is realistic. What is your experience with "high altitude hyper-sensitivity"... have you experienced others who fit this classification? Thanks for
your time,
>I enjoyed reading your articles on the Internet regarding air quality. Thank you. >I am 33 years old and have been trying aggressively for quite some time to determine the root of my problems with flying, but am not yet certain I have found it. I believe you have found the answer. It is the same conclusion that I have come to myself. >fast heart rate, sweaty palms, and the worst of all is the extreme lowered state of consciousness. Is it simply a phobia or is there more behind it? I believe it is the toxic environment that causes us to experience these symptoms. >Granted, it probably sounds like a panic disorder I once experienced myself becomig violent in a very toxic situation. >I have no problems during take-off or decent Exactly. I agree with your thinking. >in fact, I enjoy that part, and I don't have any irrational thoughts that the plane will crash because I do not feel this is statistically logical... rather the problem always seems to occur in the later stages of the climbing of the aircraft (after about 20-25 minutes). That's when the passengers' air is reduced. I know exactly what you mean. The air quality in the passenger cabins on commercial jets is poor. This affects our well-being physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually -- also in the short term and in the long-term... >The scenario is usually the same... I get feelings in my stomach and lower chest similar to indigestion and begin to lose concentration and cannot effectively read, watch the movies, or even hold a regular conversation. You are very sensitive, and I believe that your sensitivity is accurate. >The most ridiculous effect is that I THEN do become nervous (sometimes even panicy), all of which makes my flights most miserable! Yes. I understand. One thing which helps me in this situation is to drink alot of water. >On one occasion I asked for oxygen, following your advice in Jet Smart, and this did help my symptoms significantly. Good. This is proof that the oxygen deprivation is causing nervous system symptoms. Not only that, there are toxins in the cabin that are known neuro-toxins. Fuel exhaust is one. Pesticides is another. >The rather strange thing to me is that I have had GOOD flights (without the mentioned symptoms) as well as BAD flights... without a logical explanation why one was better than the other! This is not strange. Bad flights can be tracked back to worse air quality. On other flights, the plane may not have been as "sick," as in "sick buildings." >My wife suggested that I take a flight-fear seminar... and I did so. I was quite satisfied with the course and the instructor... we learned some good evasive stress-relief mind and physical exercises. We then had a flight from Frankfurt to Berlin. The first flight was not good, however... I had quite notable problems with my concentration level (although I deemed this is not possible due to the short-distance flight). The second flight (which occurred immediately thereafter) I experienced without ANY of the usual effects. The planes were both the same type (an Airbus 310). It is not only a matter of the type of aircraft. Some planes have been recently sprayed with pesticides. Others not. In some planes, there is more fuel vapor leaking into the passenger cabins. Sometimes there is obvious smell/exhaust from the engines. On some flights, the toxic vapors from the chemicals in the toilets permeate the cabins. >I do not know if air-quality is the cause of my symptoms but I believe it could be the factor which aggrevates my symptoms to the point where they are extreme. I have consulted several pilot's opinions regarding my flying problems and have found that "high-altitude sensitivity" could also be a factor, Yes, high-altitude sensitivity is a factor that affects many people. The interior altitude onboard is 8,000 feet. That's the height of ski resorts where many people experience altitude sickness, and volumes have been written about it. One of the symptoms is poorer concentration, and this is directly related to less oxygen in the "thinner" high-altitude air. |
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