Freeway panic attacks

Nrose · Post by **Nrose** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 8:45 pm

I've completed this program, it was very helpful for the most part but I still have a major panic attack when I drive the freeway to the point where I have to exit before I crash. Has anyone been in the this same situation? What worked for you please help I really need it. After I got pregnant my panic attacks went through the roof

Corinna Lee · Post by **Corinna Lee** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 11:49 am

Nrose, I get the same thing too. Where I live, I'm surrounded by highways and to get anywhere I have to take one of them. This one in particular really bothers me every time I drive on it to the point where I have to exit off of it several times and calm myself down and the sad part of it is, it's only like 10 miles. One thing that helps me is to call someone and just randomly talk to them about anything haha. This takes my mind off the whole driving thing.

Nrose · Post by **Nrose** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 1:19 pm

Yeah, I tried to distract myself my putting the music on, singing, talking on the phone but nothing really seems to help. I have no problem driving during traffic time its when things really speed up. In the tapes it talks about taking time to realize that your not in any real danger and that your obsessive thoughts are unrealistic. But what if your thoughts are not unrealistic.
In my case i have this phobia that I will get in to a crash and die on the freeway. There is a real danger everytime anyone enters the freeway, with the high speed anything can happen. How do you overcome a fear like this? This is comming from someone who's always dorve the freeway and gone long distances too. I don't know what happen to me all of a sudden. I feel like I've completly lost all my independence and I avoid going to places where I have to take the freeway. Anyones input in this matter would really help me.

l[z · Post by **l[z** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 1:34 pm

I dread driving on the highway.But once a week I have to drive my grandkids home which means I take the highway.

A million and 1 scary thoughts go through my mind of which I won,t share. I,m sure you have enough of your own.

I stay in the right lane.I feel more in control there.If I begin to feel myself getting panicky I know I can pull over with ease.I watch closley for oncomming traffic and begin to slow down for them(if necessary)ahead of time.

When I,m feeling brave I,ll drive in the center lane.because I,M TRYING TO OVERCOME THE FEAR.

I keep a close eye on all thats going on around me.Don,t like surprises such as being sandwhiched between 18 wheelers.Everything goes numb at that point.

Distractions work sometimes.

Hope this helps a little anyway. Liz

David925 · Post by **David925** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 1:04 pm

You are not alone guys I have the same problem as well after these panic attacks started happening I really freak when I get on the highway. I don't why before all of this started I use to love to drive everywhere but it seems like such an obstacle it is like facing a giant with no weapon. Some days what helps me is to think about all of the things that I need to do or just talking to myself about positive things like what I saw in the department, "Oh that computer looked real nice I wonder how it would operate for me?" Or I try to think about my dreams or my desires when I am driving so that helps as well. I don't want to get into details because I don't want to scare anyone but if anybody else have any ideas that will help me let me know please.

Nrose · Post by **Nrose** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:22 pm

David, something that kind of helps me cope with the scary panicy feeling when i get on the freeway and start having symptoms of fast heart beats, and feeling unable to bread like i'm going to faith is telling myself that all this time nothing has happened to me even though I thought I might die any minute now, or pass out. I keep telling myself if something is going to happen it would have happened all this time. That kinda impowers me and helps me get to where i need to go. But, driving at night is what really freaks me out and I get intense panicy feelings when I can't exit right away like when going from one highway to another or when the exit lane is kinda far away and I have no where to pull. This ones has been really tuff for me to overcome.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:52 pm

Nrose...I suggest you get a portable CD player, some blank tapes, and a microphone, and record your own voice saying every positive confirmation you can come up with about driving on the freeway...Listen to this until you actually become bored with it. It is also a good idea to put something soothing over your ears, and imagine yourself driving the freeway, feeling free, safe, content, and enjoying yourself...Actually, picture yourself driving and having a great time...maybe, just jamming out to music...etc...I also found it helpful to use a mantra to overcome my driving fears...I love sunsets, so, I would say...I could just drive off into the sunset...I am not implying that this is the mantra for you, since, you may have one which works much better...I can tell you that I really enjoy driving now, and I used to be afraid to drive 5 miles to town....Hope this helps...God Bless

magno77 · Post by **magno77** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 3:20 pm

I have the same problem,i work as truck driver imagine having a panic attack with 18 wheels truck..
i am, on my 2nd week of the program and i started to feel much better,what i do is,when i feel anxious and start having panick attacks.i do the exercise breathing 2-4...
and self positive talking,and than i say wtf,sooner o later am gonna dye so wtf,and i hit the gas pedal and laught my self..
since i know panick attacks,don't kill anyone who cares about it..
so, try to relax and dont ever try to avoid highways, because it will get even worse,like lucinda says dont figth o run from panick attacks acept them,they will go away...
good luck..

not · Post by **not** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:29 pm

magno77
Your post is truly hillarious.

not · Post by **not** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 4:00 pm

Nrose,

This is a classic case of what if thinking.

Could it be that you are anticipating the panic attack on the freeway way before you ever even set foot out the door?

Self talk I believe is truly the only way to calm yourself down and get through an otherwise unforseen panic attack. It is your negative thinking I believe that is still causing the issue here. If you were not thinking negatively you would not be panicing on the freeway.

I would also like to say that a distraction while you are driving is just that, a distraction and a temporary fix at best and relearning the skills in the program is in my opinion the only permanent way to get a handle on this.

How about going through the program and refocusing on getting really, really good at session #3 Self Talk the Key to a Healthy Self Esteem, and also session #8 Put an End to What if Thinking? Take these tapes with you when you travel and listen to them while driving on the freeway.

I still believe you are anticipating a panic attack and falling back into the what if thinking pattern here. You may very well not be doing this consiously (and who would do that to themselves purposely anyway?

) But it is happening just the same and until you get really good at talking to yourself in a more positive way and stop the what if thinking this will most likely continue to happen.

It is possible that this is the only area left that needs extra attention and by revisiting the tapes you are doing just that. I would say good luck to you but luck really has nothing to do with it, you can do this and from your post you are almost home free

So happy trails to you!