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The FAA and Anxiety

Asked by: 1975 views , ,
Commercial Pilot, FAA Regulations

Hello, I am currently a Private Pilot currently obtaining my instrument rating.  The past year has not been great for most of us and for me personally I have developed some anxiety that has really changed me a bit.  Although it's been getting better I still want to try and get some help just to calm it down, but I have yet to reach out for help since I am scared the FAA will take me out of the sky.   A good friend of mine who was trying to obtain his private had his medical denied twice due to him being on an anxiety medication that he was prescribed well over two years ago but hasn't taken any in well over a year.  His story scares me to the point where I feel like I can't get help without the FAA taking away my medical.  One of the few places I don't feel this anxiety is up in the sky, I think most pilots can agree our negative thoughts, anxious and depressed thoughts are left on the ground when we take to the skies.  Flying is really my only form of therapy lol.  I just wanted to see if any of yall have tips on what to do in this scenario.  I want to get better mentally but I'm so scared of losing the right to one of the things I love the most.  

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1 Answers



  1. awair on Jan 30, 2021

    Not a Doctor, but have had some experience with similar situations:
    1) Well done for speaking up. It is the first step to this not (necessarily) being a problem.
    2) Don’t try to hide medical visits from the FAA, even if they are ‘not a Doctor’, and it’s an alternate therapy.
    3) If you need meds, the restriction can be, that you must keep taking them…

    Talk to friends, talk to family, talk to (anonymous) Forums and talk to your AME, rather than your family physician. If you’re going to visit a health professional, it’s much easier for them to assess whether it’s a clinical aviation risk.
    Try to work out the root cause for the anxiety:
    a) money
    b) uncertainty
    c) something else.
    I think a lot of us are closer to the ‘edge’ than we were previously. Some are more resilient than others.
    Most companies, not just airlines, have some sort of ‘peer support’ program. Use it, or volunteer to help in one? You may find that you are stronger and better placed than others, and have the empathy to deal with it…

    Good luck, stay safe, and keep us updated.

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