PANIC ATTACKS/ ANXIETY WHILE DRIVING
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Guest
I also have driving anxiety. Really bad. It started 1 1/2 yrs agao when I had a very long coughing fit while driving, got dizzy and almost passed out. That set it off. Now panic has take over my life. I drive 40 miles to work and then back home again every day. The worst is on the highway. A lot of times it happens at traffic lights and going down big hills ( I live in what is called the hilltowns - great huh!) While I am on the freeway or in the city I have to be on the phone with soemone to distract me. I HATE IT. I always loved driving. That was my alone time, down time, quiet time. Now I feel like a freak. On realy bad days I avoid the highway and take all side streets. My painic has now spread into almost all aspects of my life. Work, meetings, doctors (but I always passed out with needles unless I was/am laying down), dentist. Now the thought of any type of physical harm rght down to a paper cut freaks me out. I hope this program helps.
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Guest
tooth fairy-
i am starting week two as well- i so know what you are going through! i won't drive at all as a matter of fact Ihate even being in a car-- Everyday I have my mother drive me to work and I only work a mile away from home. Anxiety at work is happening as well hell anxiety is happening everywhere I go! The guilt that I have of being this way is unbelievable my panic attacks is impacting everyone around me my children my husband even my poor mother who just lost her husban (my dad) less than two months ago. I'm sitting here crying now just writing this- but I no we have to believe its goig to get better I remind myself everyday to forget the past guilt and move forward becausr when we get better we can make it up to first and formost ourselves (yes time to be selfish) for the time lost and then to those we love and cherish- thank you for sharing cause I know I'm not alone- we will get through this
i am starting week two as well- i so know what you are going through! i won't drive at all as a matter of fact Ihate even being in a car-- Everyday I have my mother drive me to work and I only work a mile away from home. Anxiety at work is happening as well hell anxiety is happening everywhere I go! The guilt that I have of being this way is unbelievable my panic attacks is impacting everyone around me my children my husband even my poor mother who just lost her husban (my dad) less than two months ago. I'm sitting here crying now just writing this- but I no we have to believe its goig to get better I remind myself everyday to forget the past guilt and move forward becausr when we get better we can make it up to first and formost ourselves (yes time to be selfish) for the time lost and then to those we love and cherish- thank you for sharing cause I know I'm not alone- we will get through this
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Guest
T.F.-
this has actually been one of my biggest concerns. I'm 26, and just learning how to drive (in boston no less!). what helps for me is a lot of positive self talk, and when you're on straight aways or a moment of going in a single direction, just take a deep breath and know you're gonna get through it. keep repeating that youre gonna be fine, everything is under control and you'll get home safely if you drive safely and stay aware. we can do it!
this has actually been one of my biggest concerns. I'm 26, and just learning how to drive (in boston no less!). what helps for me is a lot of positive self talk, and when you're on straight aways or a moment of going in a single direction, just take a deep breath and know you're gonna get through it. keep repeating that youre gonna be fine, everything is under control and you'll get home safely if you drive safely and stay aware. we can do it!
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Guest
Hi Everyone,
I learned a long time ago, the only way to overcome driving with those horrible panic attacks, was to do it anyway!!!
Try and figure out what is really bothering you!!! Realize that the driving has absolutely nothing to do with the panic attacks!!! Drive in the state of panic, and use your "self talk" to calm yourselves down!!! Accept that feeling of panic with all of your being!!! Know that it is just a feeling of fears, which only stands for "false evidence appearing real"....
It doesn't really matter how many body symptoms you experience, although they feel really dangerous, they are not dangerous at all, and you will be fine!!!
You will not faint or die from a panic attacks...If you will notice, you can feel a deep sense of fear inside your chest, and all types of emotions bubbling up on the inside of you when you have these panic attacks!!!
Your emotions have become all bottled up, and you need a way to vent them...I suggest you get a journal, and write down what is going on in your life, and how you feel about it...I, also, suggest that you find solutions for those problems which are terrifying you!!!
Just keep driving...Know that you are safe...Trust yourself...Know that you are strong and courageous...Know that you are not trapped in any way....Remember, you can always pull off the road, if you think you can't handle these feelings!!!
Don't ever give into those fears...Watch how you talk to yourself while driving!!! Become very stubborn with these panic attacks...Say...I am going to drive, no matter what, and there is absolutely nothing any type of body symptom can do to stop me!!!
Allow those feeling of panic to wash over you, as ocean waves...They will not last very long, if, you choose not to allow them to control you!!!
I pray this helped in some odd way!!! God Bless
BTW...Accepting that panic attack and embracing it with all of your being is the "key" to overcoming them!!!
I learned a long time ago, the only way to overcome driving with those horrible panic attacks, was to do it anyway!!!
Try and figure out what is really bothering you!!! Realize that the driving has absolutely nothing to do with the panic attacks!!! Drive in the state of panic, and use your "self talk" to calm yourselves down!!! Accept that feeling of panic with all of your being!!! Know that it is just a feeling of fears, which only stands for "false evidence appearing real"....
It doesn't really matter how many body symptoms you experience, although they feel really dangerous, they are not dangerous at all, and you will be fine!!!
You will not faint or die from a panic attacks...If you will notice, you can feel a deep sense of fear inside your chest, and all types of emotions bubbling up on the inside of you when you have these panic attacks!!!
Your emotions have become all bottled up, and you need a way to vent them...I suggest you get a journal, and write down what is going on in your life, and how you feel about it...I, also, suggest that you find solutions for those problems which are terrifying you!!!
Just keep driving...Know that you are safe...Trust yourself...Know that you are strong and courageous...Know that you are not trapped in any way....Remember, you can always pull off the road, if you think you can't handle these feelings!!!
Don't ever give into those fears...Watch how you talk to yourself while driving!!! Become very stubborn with these panic attacks...Say...I am going to drive, no matter what, and there is absolutely nothing any type of body symptom can do to stop me!!!
Allow those feeling of panic to wash over you, as ocean waves...They will not last very long, if, you choose not to allow them to control you!!!
I pray this helped in some odd way!!! God Bless
BTW...Accepting that panic attack and embracing it with all of your being is the "key" to overcoming them!!!
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Guest
I agree with T.
When we fight these feelings, they get worse!
When we accept them and observe them and let them happen, they go along their merry way!
Last week this started happening in church, I started feeling a panicking and that I needed to get up and use the bathroom. I had just used it during the worship, and here I was having to use it again. At first I was annoyed and irritated with myself "why do I do this?" "why is this happening?" "what is wrong with me?"
But then I remembered the techniques. Breathing through the stomach slowly, and telling myself I'm having a panic attack and it's okay to be feeling this way and you know what - within minutes I felt normal. I sat there and listened to the sermon and no longer felt like I had to run out of their screaming with my hands in the air. As a matter of fact I even thought about doing that because it sounded SO funny. I remembered someone else posting about that a long time ago, and about Lucinda talking about running out of church with your hands in the air freaking out, and it just made me laugh to myself. HOW SILLY!
So when we embrace the panic and talk to ourselves like mothers or good friends "it's okay, you are just having a panic attack, it's going to pass soon" - guess what - it does!
<IMG SRC="http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/rjo0871l.jpg">
When we fight these feelings, they get worse!
When we accept them and observe them and let them happen, they go along their merry way!
Last week this started happening in church, I started feeling a panicking and that I needed to get up and use the bathroom. I had just used it during the worship, and here I was having to use it again. At first I was annoyed and irritated with myself "why do I do this?" "why is this happening?" "what is wrong with me?"
But then I remembered the techniques. Breathing through the stomach slowly, and telling myself I'm having a panic attack and it's okay to be feeling this way and you know what - within minutes I felt normal. I sat there and listened to the sermon and no longer felt like I had to run out of their screaming with my hands in the air. As a matter of fact I even thought about doing that because it sounded SO funny. I remembered someone else posting about that a long time ago, and about Lucinda talking about running out of church with your hands in the air freaking out, and it just made me laugh to myself. HOW SILLY!
So when we embrace the panic and talk to ourselves like mothers or good friends "it's okay, you are just having a panic attack, it's going to pass soon" - guess what - it does!
<IMG SRC="http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/rjo0871l.jpg">
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Guest
Good for you Shifrah...You have it down-pact!!!
I bet this throwing your hands up in church and running out thing did strike you as funny...I know it does me...
Imagine...Oh no..here it comes again...What am I going to do...Oh...I must be trapped...How can I get out of here without anyone noticing...I can't handle this feeling much longer...I need to get to the bathroom, as fast as I can...Whew..I wish this feeling would just leave...Gosh..how many times do I really need to use the bathroom in one day...Wow...I really am feeling terribly...Okay, now, I need to calm myself down...but, how...What is going on with me...Why can't I be normal...This is just too hard...I should have known to stay home...I knew this would happen...Okay...I will practice my breathing and positive self talk...I try breathing in and out, doing the counting...Now...I feel like I can't even breathe right...Oh no...I feel faint and disoriented...I wander if I am going crazy or worse, dying...I just can't handle this anymore....
So, I just throw my hands up screaming loudly and run out of the church, just as fast as I possibly can!!!!
I bet these things sound very familiar to a lot of you on this forum!!!
Just look at the thinking pattern...That should tell you plainly how fear feeds on fear, and that you are the one scaring your own self...
Shifrah...You found the humor in this situation...I am sooo proud of you...You get it!!! Love Ya Bunches...God Bless
I bet this throwing your hands up in church and running out thing did strike you as funny...I know it does me...
Imagine...Oh no..here it comes again...What am I going to do...Oh...I must be trapped...How can I get out of here without anyone noticing...I can't handle this feeling much longer...I need to get to the bathroom, as fast as I can...Whew..I wish this feeling would just leave...Gosh..how many times do I really need to use the bathroom in one day...Wow...I really am feeling terribly...Okay, now, I need to calm myself down...but, how...What is going on with me...Why can't I be normal...This is just too hard...I should have known to stay home...I knew this would happen...Okay...I will practice my breathing and positive self talk...I try breathing in and out, doing the counting...Now...I feel like I can't even breathe right...Oh no...I feel faint and disoriented...I wander if I am going crazy or worse, dying...I just can't handle this anymore....
So, I just throw my hands up screaming loudly and run out of the church, just as fast as I possibly can!!!!
I bet these things sound very familiar to a lot of you on this forum!!!
Just look at the thinking pattern...That should tell you plainly how fear feeds on fear, and that you are the one scaring your own self...
Shifrah...You found the humor in this situation...I am sooo proud of you...You get it!!! Love Ya Bunches...God Bless
Last edited by Guest on Thu May 28, 2009 5:23 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Guest