Asthma and Anxiety

Re: Asthma and Anxiety

feeds@kickapps.com (Capt Tom Bunn MSW LCSW) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:41:05 PST

Just so everyone knows I didn't ignore this post, Singerjttm11 and I were able to talk all this over today.

Re: Asthma and Anxiety

feeds@kickapps.com (Singerjttm11) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:06:46 PST

Gina,
YOU SOOOOOOO BLESSED ME!!!!!! THANK YOU!!!!!! For YEARS I have looked for someone to "break-it-down" to me they way that you just did and I cannot tell you thank you enough!!!! I have always felt like no one REALLY understood what it meant to have what I always feared as a deadly combination. But with the background that you gave it really helped me because I was always afraid of ok what happens if I DO get into distress.....for me anxiety and the beginning of an asthma attack FEEL the same and therefore I have panic just thinking about getting on a plane and being alone with no one there to understand that it's just not anxiety but possibly asthma. I've been intubated 2x's once that put me in a drug induced coma for almost 2 months and the 2nd time I was in college and after a night of pizza and wine (remember I was in college at the time) it landed me in a drug induced coma for about 2 weeks. Either way I still have flash backs of those traumatic...

Re: Asthma and Anxiety

feeds@kickapps.com (ginaLA) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 23:54:17 PST

Hi,

I don't have a clear answer to you, but I know this (I also have asthma): because the air gets thinner in a plane, your breathing will get heavier -not on a short trip, but on a transatlantic flight it will for sure. This can be quite scary of you don't know how to deal with it, and how to deal with your anxiety. The most important thing is to learn techniques to separate your anxiety attacks from your asthma attacks. Anxiety from your fear of flying will trigger your breathing which, when the air is thinner, can make you hyperventilate and eventually cause an asthma attack. This is not a problem for the air personnel, they know very well how to deal with asthma attacks. You have your medication, they have their bags of breathing into to avoid hyper ventilation, and they have extra oxygen. Please don't ever worry that they won't know what to do, they are trained. And if they are unsure, or you are really ill, they will put the plane on the ground and...

Re: Asthma and Anxiety

feeds@kickapps.com (esprit12) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:20:52 PST

Hi Singerjttm11,

It definitely is not a scam. SOAR is the only thing that has every helped me deal with my fear of flying and I have absolutely no connection to Capt. Tom and his program other than having purchased it and used it. I would recommend calling him and discussing how SOAR might help you. You also might try the Rapid Relief (short program), attend the chats and continue to post on the message board. All these things have helped me face my fears. Have you participated in a Wednesday night chat? It's really helpful and you can ask any question you would like.

Sorry, I can't comment on the asthma attack issue. I haven't experienced that although I can empathize. I'm sure Capt. Tom could address how airlines are prepared to deal with health emergencies. Friends of mine were coming home from Europe and the plane made an unscheduled stop in Iceland when a passenger experienced what they thought might be a heart attack. All worked...

Re: Asthma and Anxiety

feeds@kickapps.com (MeghansNerves) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:10:03 PST

I had the same reservations, Tara, but I do think it has helped. I hope it will help you too.

It's not magic. You won't be fixed. But I can fly with SO much less anxiety now than I used to. That alone is worth every penny to me.

Meghan

Re: Asthma and Anxiety

feeds@kickapps.com (Singerjttm11) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 07:32:42 PST

Hey Meghan,
First "thank you" for even talking to me it really means alot. Second I think that I am going to start the program. I just am having issues because the cheap side of me says why am I spending this money to deal with this, while the scared, traumatized side of me is saying "uh, you NEED this!!!!! Tara, you can't go on living this way!!!" So, I'm betwix and between but I think that I am going to start today...... I hope that this is not a scam. But I don't think so because so many folks seem to have bought into it..... ne-way Thanks again. :~)

Re: Asthma and Anxiety

feeds@kickapps.com (MeghansNerves) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:45:32 PST

Hi Singerjttm11:

Although you name a fear of panic rather than a fear of "flying", the SOAR course, i think, would still help you. After all, we all came here for a variety of reasons worried about a variety of things happening on our flights. The techniques and info you learn through SOAR helps with this emotional side of things, and I find participating on the boards helps as sort of a back-up for the intellectual side of things.

You are in the right place. Consider doing the course!

Meghan

Asthma and Anxiety

feeds@kickapps.com (Singerjttm11) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:41:03 PST

Hello, I am a woman who suffers from anxiety attacks because of trauma that I had as a teenager from asthma. I suffered two sever asthma attacks which have lead me now to having severe anxiety attacks and has left me not able to fly by my self. I must fly with my husband at all times. I would like to learn techniques to "put the tiger in it's cage." I cannot fly because I am so fearful of what will happen if I get into an anxiety/asthma attack on the plane. I believe that if I had an idea of what could happen in that type of situation it could possibly help me to get over my anxiety.

Thank you for your help.
~Singerjttm11