Stress Center Peer Support

I started having panick attacks while driving a year or so ago. Now, I'm afraid to drive at all. I'm having a problem with the "what if"..."I have a panick attack in the car". I can drive with someone in the car who can also drive and I'm fine with short distances. I just can't seem to push past the sweaty palms, tingling, heart racing. I self talk that I can drive, I'm a good driver, I know I'll get home. I just can't do it.

I'm new here...what a first post eh?

Hi Jane1980,

I too have had a few attacks while driving. Its pretty scary. You don't want to pass out while driving. The thing is I never pass out. I somehow get through it. I open windows to get air blowing across me or I move the A/C vents so they blow directly on my face. I have called a friend to distract me. I change the radio station. The main thing is that I try to change something.

Now that I am on my second week. I have started the breathing exercise and that seems to work too.

Hang in there. After two weeks I feel like I take two steps forward and then I take one step back. I look at it as I am net one step ahead. Its a process.

Ara

Jane you had positive talk going on there and than you ended in a negative. Stay on the Positive. Have patience with yourself, You can do it. You did it before and you can do it again!

I too had this problem, and it was HORRIBLE. Notice how I said '' had '' this problem ? The key is to press through those horrible, debilitating feelings and discover that they won't kill you ( sure does feel like they will though, huh ? )Once you discover that, keep pressing through ... it will take some time, but you will get there if you keep it up. I speak from experince. There was a time when I could not even drive around the block. Now, I am driving ALL OVER THE PLACE .... wherever I need to go and without ANY anxiety. Zero. This is 4 years into the future now ... since I completed the program.