Stress Center Peer Support

Hi, I got the program last November, I believe, and I have since finised it. I've got Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, and Agoraphobia. I used to be so bad to the point that I would hold up in my room for days and hardly come out. Anyways, I've gotten much better since I finished the program, moved out of my parents house and got a job. I'm still not at 100% yet. The only thing I really have a problem with is driving with someone or riding in the car with someone. I've read many posts of people being fine with other people in the car, but not by themselves. I am the complete opposite. I tend to 'freak', so to speak, if anyone even brings up riding in the same car with me. I am completely fine if I'm by myself, like little to no anxiety when I'm driving around. I was just wondering if anyone else can't drive with someone, but can by themselves. Or if anyone has gotten over this. I've tried to go driving with my boyfriend around the block, but it just isn't happening. Anyways, I would greatly appreciate any advice on how to go about working on this. Thanks!

-Hannah

There is a site called <A HREF="http://www.flyinganxiety.com" TARGET=_blank>http://www.flyinganxiety.com</A> that have a one-on-one seminar for people who have phobias on fear of flying. They use virtual reality.

Hi HannahCrawford, I also have this problem. Sometimes I get surges of adrenaline and almost have panic attacks due to seeing in my mind's eye the terrible accident, the crazy person who kills us in road rage, etc. The best advice for me is found in the program in the session on obsessive thinking and scary thoughts (#10 I think) and session one, where anxiety and control are discussed. If you follow the steps in the program and employ the breathing techniques of counting and doing the belly breathing Lucinda describes I belive you will experience relief. It has worked for me! Let us know how you are doing with this.