car driving problems

harry4

Veteran Member

Joined : Mar 2005

Posts : 1449

Posted 1/29/2007 4:48 PM (GMT -7)

a car is usually very important for an anxiety sufferer, its a mobile fortress and they can sometimes drive along streets they are too anxious to walk along.
some can only go shopping if their car is visible outside thru the shop window.
some wont venture far from their car if in an unfamiliar area as its their castle or fortress
some make nervous passangers, feeling not in control and have to always drive
Panic attacks when driving can happen, park the car safely, get out and walk around, using your panic coping skills, eventually continue with the journey, never go back home
meds including valium help but some places are very strict about driving when on any valium type meds
sadly self medication with alcahol is common and some cant drive unless legally over the alcahol limit and drunk

rather than tensing up and fighting back against the anxiety and fears, its better to accept them and find ways of coping and reducing them
muscle tensing and relaxing helps, as does tightening and relaxing the grip in the wheel
adjusting the air cond to blow on your face may help.
always remember to breathe deep and slow and avoid rapid shallow panting

sing along with music, give speeches in a loud voice or perhaps hold a conversation with an imaginery passenger if alone.
a mobile phone may give reassurance, some find having a baby or a dog in the car relaxes them if they dislike driving alone

A long dreaded journey can be broken into 15 minute sections, commit yourself to drive 15 minutes then stop and rest. decide whether to drive the next section or return home, if later it gets all too much, then head towards home but only for 15 minutes, then stop and decide what to do next, get out of the car and walk around, stamp the feet, an excuse is to check the tyres

in this way, most dreaded and feared journeys are completed.

freeways or motorways are usually more difficult, the sufferer feeling trapped, but these can usually be avoided by taking the backroads, we dont have to be perfect all the time

a fear is that the driver will crash the car if a panic attack strikes, but over many years Ive never heard of this happening, in general the advice is, keep on driving VIEW IMAGE

teenage anxiety sufferers should be encouraged to drive, this gives them more confidence as on the road they neednt feel different or inferior to anyone else.
they generally make good safe drivers

if an anxiety sufferer has tio be a passenger, it helps to have an agreement with the driver that he will stop immediately when asked, this allows the passenger to get out, walk around a while, thus cooling off and relaxing. It also stops the passenger feeling not in control and trapped

recovered former longtime anxiety and panic attack sufferer and helper of other sufferers but no training or qualifications in medicine or psychology, any remarks that may be taken as advice must be confirmed with doctor or other health professional

emails are welcome but do mention healingwell to avoid risk of deletion as spam

Twiggygal

Veteran Member

Joined : Sep 2006

Posts : 934

Posted 1/29/2007 9:20 PM (GMT -7)

Thanks for posting this harry.

My sister and I are going to start taking small trips to eventually try and reach the cabin up north (an hour away).

We're going to start out by driving for 15 minutes... and then stopping and having lunch and see how we feel.

We both agreed that if one of us has to turn around, we have to LISTEN to each other because no one else listens to us if we drive with them, so my sister and I will not let anyone else drive our cars. Fortunately though, we are comfortable driving together, and I think it could be fun. I'll admit I'm having some fears about it as we're going to try to travel this weekend part of the way.

We're taking baby steps. Maybe this trip we'll only travel 10 minutes... maybe the next 15... maybe the next a 30 minutes... and maybe in a month we'll be able to make it there.

Twiggygal~

"Be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars."

DX: Panic Disorder, Depression, TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder), Chronic Migraines

RX: Lorazepam (1 MG a day), Lexapro (20 MG a day), Tylonel for the TMJ and Migraines

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