I am certain this has been asked before but I couldn't find what exactly I was asking in the forums. This past week I've overcome some anxiety with elevators - specifically ones in very tall buildings in NYC. We were on the 35th floor and waited ages to go down, we ended up going all the way up to the 52nd floor and I panicked and burst out of the elevator. Now I would have gone down the steps (yes all 52 flights of them) but my son and husband were with me. My husband often pushes me to face my anxiety and 99.9% of the time he is absolutely right with what he says - facing it is best. Anticipatory is the worse. You're making it worse than it is. Naturally I am and I can't say he's right because well I can't make him be right, right? 
So my question is this - the reason I freaked out with the elevator is because I felt the speed was too fast, climbing too fast for my liking and then at the worst point the "light-headedness," that I expected and felt was the hardest. Not knowing when this was coming was extremely helpful (we figured out what worked for me, I was to push the button to go down, and not look at the numbers but find something on my smart phone to distract me). Is there anyway to lessen this light-headed feeling upon ascending and maybe even descending? I've heard of tightening abdominal muscles and also leaning forward instead of backward in your seat. I do have medication, if necessary but I do not want to take it. I plan to take the videos for my phone as our flight is in about 2.5 months and it's very short 1hr 45 min. It will be my 2 year old's first ride and my first flight in nearly 8 years. I had no issues with my previous flight except just a little bit nervous - nothing to keep me from getting on the aircraft. Last year I had a bit of a breakdown and have been working hard to overcome things that seem to just pop up from my GAD which I am also on medication for, as well as a steady exercise regime and regularly scheduled therapy. I think this is one thing I just have to "do" to see how it is. Which of course is a nightmare for those of us with GAD!
Our flight would probably be Knoxville to St. Petersburg.
Thanks,
Jessica
So my question is this - the reason I freaked out with the elevator is because I felt the speed was too fast, climbing too fast for my liking and then at the worst point the "light-headedness," that I expected and felt was the hardest. Not knowing when this was coming was extremely helpful (we figured out what worked for me, I was to push the button to go down, and not look at the numbers but find something on my smart phone to distract me). Is there anyway to lessen this light-headed feeling upon ascending and maybe even descending? I've heard of tightening abdominal muscles and also leaning forward instead of backward in your seat. I do have medication, if necessary but I do not want to take it. I plan to take the videos for my phone as our flight is in about 2.5 months and it's very short 1hr 45 min. It will be my 2 year old's first ride and my first flight in nearly 8 years. I had no issues with my previous flight except just a little bit nervous - nothing to keep me from getting on the aircraft. Last year I had a bit of a breakdown and have been working hard to overcome things that seem to just pop up from my GAD which I am also on medication for, as well as a steady exercise regime and regularly scheduled therapy. I think this is one thing I just have to "do" to see how it is. Which of course is a nightmare for those of us with GAD!
Our flight would probably be Knoxville to St. Petersburg.
Thanks,
Jessica



