QUESTION:
Dear Dr. Heller,
I have developed over time an extremely high anxiety when flying. It has gotten so bad I don’t think I can board another plane. My job requires that I travel 6 to 10 days a month(20k miles a mo.) I am going to lose my job over this. My doctor won’t prescribe a tranquilizer for me. I am at the end of my rope: Lose my job (and thus my family and home) or my life in a plane crash. What can I do?
ANSWER:
Medication is likely required, at least in the short term. I recommend you do the screening test I use for my patients, it will likely be of assistance to you. Making all the diagnoses and treating them is very important. There are many specialists in this field who can work with you to desensitize yourself towards this fear.