OT - Claustrophobic & new job wants me to fly

So I recently got offered a dream job for me. It's in a field that I'm really interested in and it's with the government so the benefits would be awesome, but I just found out they want me to fly at least once or twice a year (including once soon for training) and I am severely claustrophobic. I've flown before and I didn't used to be this claustrophobic but now it is really bad.

I really don't think I can do it, and I think I'm going to turn the job down because of this. Just really bummed and wanted to vent. Please don't respond telling me I am stupid for passing up this opportunity...I've had enough people telling me that already.

I have a different job currently that I really hate so that makes it even worse.

Sarah, let me tell you this; last week I conquered one of my biggest fears -- speaking in front of people. When I took this job, I figured that at some point I'd have to do this, but I didn't want to. I almost turned down the job because of the fear of having to walk into a room full of people I don't know, or having to speak in front of them. I have terrible foot in the mouth syndrome. When I was asked to sit on a panel and answer questions at a conference, my whole body stiffened. I made several excuses to myself why I COULD NOT do it. I don't know why but something changed my mindset and I decided to conquer this fear. Oh, it gets better. After accepting, I arrived that morning to find out there were going to be 450 people attending conference and my panel has just....me and another person. The panel before us had six. Everything went fine.

So please, reconsider taking the job. My sister had terrible problems flying, but she overcame them by taking therapy classes -- her son had moved across the country and this was the only way she could see him.

YOU CAN DO IT! Don't let those fears get in the way of a dream job.

Flying once or twice a yr is not a whole lot-- especially if the job itself appeals to you. I agree with the advice above. A colleague of mine is afraid to fly so when she has to travel between NY & Miami for family reasons, she takes a tranquilizer to help get thru it. With the TSA rules it's no longer a pleasure to travel by air, anyway; you definitely have my empathy in this predicament. Could you go to Oregon by train? / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)

Congrats on the job offer Sara. Like others have said, considering how much this job means to you, I think you would regret turning it down. They serve alcohol on the plane (if your UC can tolerate that) or you could try taking sleeping tablets so you sleep through the entire flight.

A friend of mine has a severe fear of flying but she meditates whilst in flight to relieve the fear.

It would seem such a shame to pass up a great opportunity. So what if you were to see your doc for a low dose anti-anxiety medication just to help you for the flights?

Thanks for the feedback. No, they won't let me take a train either.

Congrats, Lonie! That is great.

subdued - That's horrible that you'd have to go to the ER every time. I haven't encountered anything that severe, but then again I avoid claustrophobic situations as much as I possibly can. I'm scared something like that would happen to me if I was trapped in a plane and couldn't leave. I tried to go on a cave tour with friends and my bf this summer and I left and burst into tears as soon as we went in even though I had paid already. A few days later I tried to take a van tour of the city and they wouldn't let me sit next to the door so I didn't go on the tour. I basically feel like I can't breath and am dying...not fun.

I have read a lot online that anxiety meds don't work for a lot of claustrophobic people and that it even made it worse on a plane so I am scared to try that. My last flying experience (in 2006) was not fun and I decided I would never fly again.

Sorry, just wanted to vent...

It's a job with the federal govt. and I guess they have to do everything by the book. I've spoken to two different supervisors and they both said I will have to fly...they won't allow any alternatives. I may try to ask one more person but I doubt they'll go for it. Oh well. I will just keep looking for something else.

Do you think you'd be better in first class? If you pay the difference in ticket price, I'm sure that would be OK. And what about sitting in the first row? I'm sure the airline would work with you to make sure you get that seat, if you call when you book your ticket and explain the situation.

Do you know what aspect of the enclosure frightens you? A lack of air? The impossibility of exiting immediately? I'm assuming this pre-dates your UC-- so that lack of access to a john is not part of the claustrophobia. I do believe the poor quality of "canned" air on flights can make a traveller feel trapped. I've always had to adjust the overseat air vent so that a moving stream of something-resembling-air (LOL) flows down to me even while the plane taxies. As Lonie wrote above, we continue to be here for you so vent as much as you need to feel better about the situation. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)

Old hat - Yeah, both lack of air and not being able to leave (being stuck there). I have flown before quite a few times but the last time was 2005 and it was a really crappy flight and we were stuck on the tarmac for 2-3 hours before takeoff. My ears and whole face also hurt really bad during the last hour of the flight...it hurt so bad I was crying. It always hurts me during landing but I had never experienced pain that awful that I was sobbing before.

yeah, I've considered anti-anxiety meds...just not sure they would work. I've been researching it online and a lot of people seem to say they make the claustrophobia worse since you can't think straight at all?

Well, I decided to take the job. Let's just hope I don't run out of that airplane on Jan. 24...

My boyfriend is going to fly with me so that makes me feel a little better but I'm still absolutely terrified that I'm going to panic once on the plane and want to leave.

I'm going to the doctor next week to ask about anxiety meds. I've never taken any before so if anyone has any suggestions, let me know. :) Thanks for the support.

Thanks, Lonie! Maybe the flight won't be as bad as I'm anticipating. Other than the flight, I am really, really excited for my new job. And I'm going to have excellent health insurance!!!

Excellent health insurance is a fantastic benefit to have, that's for sure! Have fun and enjoy that new job.