I usually have Ativan when flying but I've ran out and haven't bothered to get a refill because I haven't had a panic attack in so long. Well my flight was late and I had a tight connection so I had to run to my next gate. At some point, the racing heart rate from running combined with some underlying claustrophobia (all of the windows around me were shut tight) and I started panicking out of nowhere and my heart anxiety and BOOM panic attack. Pretty much full blown. 140 bpm. Feeling cold from adrenaline. Shivering. Thinking I'm having a heart attack. Considering asking a flight attendant for help.. 

I've never drank on a plane before but I was like fuck I need something I'm 20 minutes into a 2.5 hour flight. Luckily I was already sitting in a section with free alcohol so I got some bourbon and ginger-ale and downed it.

Apparently this stuff goes straight to your brain at altitude because within minutes it felt like someone had wrapped a warm blanket around me and all I wanted to do was sleep. My heart rate dropped down to the 80's and I no longer thought I was (at least immediately) dying. Basically felt like when I would take a benzo in the midst of a panic attack.

AGAIN. Not promoting self medication. But when your options are:  


1. Suffer tremendously for 2+ hours and risk creating a massive scene because of an unexpected panic attack (a medical emergency while flying means they are going to try and immediately land the plane at the nearest airport)
2. Have a drink

It might be useful to know that the second option even exists.

Also, disclaimer, I basically never drink so my incredibly low tolerance for alcohol might also have something to do with how effective it was.