[tsaprailis]

Funny how this thread surfaced now. I'm in a similar place.

I didn't use to fear flying until I got my first (and only) panic attack (not in a plane).

The trick I used to fight anxiety was walking around and it always worked for calming me down. But guess what, you cannot get for a walk on a plane so I started fear flights for a fear I might get a panic attack. Long story short after lots of workarounds and googling I found that there's a company called psious[1] (not affiliated with them other than using their product).

You cannot use their system on your own (I asked) you only use it with a psychologist/psychotherapist. Basically it works by exposing you to a simulated flight through VR and the psychotherapist helps you with tools like diaphragmatic breathing [2] and cognitive behavioral therapy [3] to ease your anxiety levels.

To be 100% open/clear I haven't flown yet since I started the therapy but I can tell my mindset has changed from trying to avoid flights at any cost to having booked flights and waiting (a bit anxiously :) but nowhere near at the paralyzing level) to actually fly.

[1]https://www.psious.com

[2] https://www.cmhc.utexas.edu/stressrecess/Level_Two/breathing...

[3]https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_behavioral_therapy

Edit: formatting