My problem with airplanes is claustrophobia. After years of fairly-regular flying the claustrophobia suddenly grew intense --- and it has stayed at that level -

My problem with airplanes is claustrophobia. After years of fairly-regular flying the claustrophobia suddenly grew intense --- and it has stayed at that level --- after being jammed into a non-reclining back-row middle seat on a flight from Istanbul. Fortunately, I discovered the person seated next to me just happened to be a therapist. She kindly volunteered to get me through the flight by talking to me and distracting me from my surroundings. (What a sweetheart she was!) Of course, I can't travel with my own therapist so now I take a half gram of Lorazepam at the start of each flight, a drug that magically removes my fears. I also always get an aisle seat.