Stress Center Peer Support

Hi everyone, I am new to the program and this forum. I recently started Session 2, regarding panic attacks. I read through the thread about anxiety while driving with interest. Most of the comments were from a few years back; I wanted to see if there were others who are also new to the program dealing with this currently. I would love to get your thoughts, experiences, advice and general take on things.

Some background on me and why I started this program: Earlier this month, I was on a weekend road trip by myself. I was looking forward to a lovely drive and catching up with old friends. To my surprise, it was NOT enjoyable. People were driving crazy all around me, and my stress level was climbing (I do not have a history of anxiety disorders or panic attacks, but I do sometimes get stressed out in traffic with I perceive that other people are driving stupid.) I was on a high, narrow winding road, and a car was tailing me, honking, flashing their lights and trying to bully me (I was ONLY going the speed limit, after all!) I got really flustered and began to have a panic attack. I had to pull over as soon as I could. I lost my confidence, and had to pull over many more times on the way to my destination. Every time a car came up behind me or I felt "trapped" (as in, no where to pull over) the panic attack started up again.

That night in my hotel room, I couldn't sleep at all. My heart was pounding, it was like an 8-hour, low-level panic attack. I kept worrying how on earth I was going to manage the 3-hour drive back home the next day. (On no sleep, no less.) Eventually I turned on the TV, and saw the informercial. I wondered if perhaps God had let me to this right place at the right time? I wrote down the number, but wasn't ready to call. The next morning, after no sleep, I began inching my way back home, taking the backroads because I had apparently developed an intense fear of the freeway. At one point, the road forced me on to the freeway, and I actually had to pull over and drive on the shoulder at about 5 mph while semi trucks passed me and honked. I believe this was probably the low point of my life. I had to cross a high narrow scary toll bridge after that, and my heart pounded so hard and I felt like I was going to faint. After making it safely across, I pulled over at my next opportunity and called the 800 number to order this program. It took me about 8 hours to get home, but I eventually made it.

I can see how the Six Steps can help stop an anxiety attack in process, but my concern (which I took a long time getting to, sorry!) is that having panic attacks while driving is a particularly unsafe situation. I understand intellectually that a panic attack never killed anyone, these feelings shall pass. But adding the variable of heavy machinery hurtling down the freeway at 70 mph into the mix makes it, in my mind, a completely different animal.

This is on my mind today because I have to drive an hour and a half to my son's pediatrician this afternoon - and back, of course! The program stresses the importance of exposing yourself to situations that cause anxiety so you can experience it and learn how to deal with it, but it also cautions you to limit your exposure until you have the skills to deal with it. Well, I don't have that luxury. When I set this appointment last month, I did not anticipate that I was going to have to schedule my life around incipient driving-related panic attacks! I can take backroads for much of the way, but eventually I am going to have to face my fear and get on the freeway. With my son in the car, no less. It's one thing if I hyperventilate and crash my car when it's only myself I'm affecting, but involving my little boy in my mental breakdown is not something I am looking forward to....

Any thoughts? I would love to hear from those who have been through similar experiences, and what you have done in response.

Thanks!

Hi, boy can I feel your pain! I just finished a road trip with the assurance from my Psychologist and Psychiatrist that it would be a good idea to return to what I enjoyed doing before my first and second panic attack. First was that I wasn't going on a winding road. I wasn't going to be in traffic hour type traffic either. But it was a 4 hour or more drive to another state to visit a relative.

But before this trip, I had been on a 10 day trip to California after being weaned off of Xanax and Wellbutrin for two months. I felt great, but had a little bit of anxiety, but not what I felt while on my trip visiting with friends I hadn't seen for 8 years and visiting no less, S.F. after the same amount of time in my van. The area wasn't the same as when I was younger and happier and hadn't experienced all of life's distressing experiences as I have since then. Involving several deaths in my family and financial upheavals different then when I was first married and raising children.

The only time things were great was when I was on a familiar busy winding highway to the beach that had no traffic, and when I was with family for a wedding and then later with a dear friend I hadn't seen for over 30 years. She was more the welcoming friend and it felt like no time had gone by.

I felt anxiety by the way people were on the road and their reaction to my larger vehicle. But the closer I was to the beach and more space, the people were different. I guess they were more relaxed and enjoying life and not stressed by overcrowding, etc.

Anyway, after that experience and the surprise I met when I arrived home definitely set me up for my first panic attack. The second came at the mere thought of traveling with a family member who was my stressor at the time was going to be driving some more on a mountainous windy road. Just the thought of him driving and realizing the ride was going to be even longer than the drive at the beginning of this trip started me to panic and hyperventilate. Just everything you are not suppose to do, but I didn't know this at the time. This started my second panic attack ever.

This time I wasn't prepared with Xanax either because I was put on Beta Blockers and I hadn't taken my morning dose, nor had I taken a temazepam that night, which is a ritual I've been doing for quite some time. Someone snores in the house that keeps me awake. Otherwise, I use to be able to sleep without it.

Anyway, I did take the second trip out of state by myself and felt anxious as I was leaving my hometown and familiar area. But I prayed and talked to myself kindly, telling myself I'll be okay. I put the cruise control on and relaxed and made sure to allow myself space and the right speed for me. I didn't try to make a time record on this trip. I did end up with a terrible neck ache that woke me up during the night after being so tense before the trip and on it.

I finally took Advil, and noticed it helped with the pain and felt the change in my "gut" or "system" and it wasn't a bad feeling. My one Dr had talked me through to experience the feelings and see what happens, knowing that I did have my Xanax handy just in case or I could turn around and go home or just pull over and stay at a hotel.

I did wait a few days though to take the Advil, because of my fear of what I would "feel" when I took it. So some of my visits with friends and relatives could have been a bit more comfortable if I had taken it sooner. But I was so anxious and worried about how taking an Advil would make me feel that it wasn't worth it just yet.

Finally, I did see a family Dr while on my last day of my trip for my neck since I worried about it all week long. I wasn't in too much pain anymore, but was concerned about the long trip back home that I wanted to be sure I went before I left for home. That Dr prescribed me Xanax and a muscle relaxant! I just have to laugh because that is what I had been on or off of before my first panic attack! LOL

I still have not taken the Xanax or Muscle Relaxant and I didn't leave any with my relative. I'm not that well! LOL

Anyway, I could sure use a good neck massage though! So here I am after receiving Lucinda's start out CD mailed to me at the state I was in visiting and didn't watch until I arrived home safe and sound. Voila'!

Hi Vegan, I read your post and I can relate completely except I have not been able to drive on a highway in over a year. Actually, I avoided highways and now I can't drive down the street. Its so hard to face but from all experience with the program it seems to overcome this constant fear, we have to learn to face it but its soooo hard to do that in the car. I have two young children and am so afraid to drive with them that I have family and friends driving them and me around. Its a very scary situation when you have a panic attack and your responsible for others. Let me know how you are doing..and if you need to talk, I am here.

Nervous Mom

I'm sorry I can't relate to this particular issue, but I was going to suggest that you contact Carolyn, the moderator on this forum and ask her. Or maybe you could use your free coaching session. I understand your concern. You don't want to avoid it because the whole object is to face your fears, but safety is a real issue. I can tell you though, that the odds of you hyperventilating and having an accident are low, even though it feels like a REAL possibility. That sounds like fear talking. Most people fear all sorts of things that never happen. Good luck with this!