Stress Center Peer Support

I AM JUST FINISHING UP MY SECOND TAPE- MY ONLY TIME ON ANY ANXIETY IS WHILE I'M DRIVING. TO THE POINT I AM AVOIDING DRIVING BEYOND 1 MILE OF MY HOUSE. WONDERING AT WHAT POINT IN THE PROGRAM DO THEY TALK ABOUT ANTICIPATION ANXIETY... THAT IS MY WORST ENEMY. I AM AFAID TO DRIVE MY 3 YR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR UNTIL I GET PAST THIS. I KEEP DRIVING SLOW AND NEEDING TO PULL OFF FREQUENTLY- ITS GETTING WORSE.

I also have had a hard time driving. When I had my first panic attack, I was driving so I associated my car as being the cause of my anxiety/panic attacks (which I now know that driving had nothing to do with it). I didn't drive for six months. One thing that I do is get a bag of ice and place it under my leg when I am driving..it helps keep your heartrate down and then I breath in for two seconds and out for four and just keep reminding myself that its just anxiety and I will be okay..I know it sounds weird but it works. I have had so much luck with this. I am now able to drive without my icepack although I still bring it with me...it's a comfort thing..

Hi, I am on tape # 4. I think tape # 8 talks about anticipatory anxiety. I have had problems with driving a lot in my life. It was so bad, at one point that I wouldn't leave the house at all. And there were several times when I would try to go somewhere and end up pulling over ever few minutes and laying in the back seat trying to breath. I'm trying to say that I know how you feel. It's hard! I know how hard it is and even though there are things that help me, it's certainly not a "cure-all". The things that help me are listening to the Attacking Anxiety Program while I drive. Tape #3 has been very helpful to me with negative thinking. It also helps me to talk on my cell phone to distract myself. And I use a little different breathing, so whatever works for you. The breathing I use is, 4 counts in then hold my breath for 4 counts, then breathe out for 4 counts. I make sure that I am breathing correctly from my diaphragm. I also use a lot of positive dialog when I am going to drive. Sometimes if I'm not too anxious yet, music will help me to be distracted. I also try to notice the little things going on around me or the scenery and think positive thoughts about it. If a scary thought comes into my head I will try to stop it as soon as possible. A lot of times I will not have any thoughts that are negative, but I still have the body symptoms. I know there's hope for this problem. Just hang in there! I think this is a really good program, and I know it can be helpful. Don't give up, even if it seems so hard that you don't feel like you can go on. Try not to fear driving, try to feel like you are in control of driving and you can make choices about where to go and when to go. All of the things I have mentioned have helped me, but sometimes I still have trouble. I think it's a process of successes. Once you have had a few successes then it will be easier. I hope something in this will help you, but if not then just know that someone else has the same problem.

I want to clarify something. When I talked about breathing correctly, I meant that I breath correctly, by making sure my abdomen moves and not my chest. Sometimes I even make my abdomen move in an exaggerated fashion, because it helps me some. Anyway, sorry if I was confusing.