Bad panick attacks while driving

Jamieo · Post by **Jamieo** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 3:13 pm

I went through this program a few years ago when I had my first major attack. It was so bad i thought I was having a hart attack and my fingers and legs crimped up on me. This week I hit a wall and while driving to work I had a major one hit me while driving to work, my fingers and hands crimped up and an ambulance took me to the ER. I've had a devastating event take place in my life recently that I'm dealing with. Has anyone else had problems with panick attacks while driving and how do you get over that fear while driving? I'm not even sure why the worst ones I've ever had have always been while I'm driving. Any suggestions? I have been lucky so far that I have not wrecked.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 3:32 pm

I have had them to. But mostly I put in a self help tape or put a movie in the DVD player and take my mind off of driving. Tell yourself you are capable and able. I have learned to drive 2 hours away on the freeway to see my daughter. It scares me but I really think it is excitment. I will NOT let this get control of my life. Remember what Luncinda says, what is REALLY bothering you? It is not what is happening while you are driving, that is just taking your mind off of what is REALLY bothering you. YOU ARE CAPABLE AND ABLE. Keep saying that.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 4:37 pm

Wwowow!! driving wow this is my topic, once i had my bf follow me to work and pick me up and follow me home, that day i thought how dum is this i will never be able to be normal again, but no!!! i drive ok, i still get anxious everyday!! but you know what now i know that a panic attack is nothing is just your mind of playing with!! you will be ok you are in control just think of happy thoughts!! you will do it, best of luck!!! you can do it god bless you!!! i did it and i do it everyday!!!!!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 5:30 pm

Originally posted by Jamieo:
I went through this program a few years ago when I had my first major attack. It was so bad i thought I was having a hart attack and my fingers and legs crimped up on me. This week I hit a wall and while driving to work I had a major one hit me while driving to work, my fingers and hands crimped up and an ambulance took me to the ER. I've had a devastating event take place in my life recently that I'm dealing with. Has anyone else had problems with panick attacks while driving and how do you get over that fear while driving? I'm not even sure why the worst ones I've ever had have always been while I'm driving. Any suggestions? I have been lucky so far that I have not wrecked.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 5:33 pm

That is actually my main problem panic while driving. I am in my second week of the program and I am totally determined to face this unjustified fears; I know that pretty soon things will be back to normal while driving...do not give up!!!!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 6:30 pm

I am new at this...but I have had several panic attacks while driving. I even blew up my own car trying to get home as fast as I could. it took me months to drive with out anyone with me.
(it just feels safer with someone else there "just in case"...right??). I hardly listen to the radio when driving..always thinking, and sometimes the frequency of the radio or the sound of truck tires beside me start the anxiety.
So driving is hard to do, and keep from having an anxiety "panic" attacks...but..I have found that if you have a cell phone, it helps to talk to some one while driving...I think its against the law, but a blue tooth is definintly worth it if you can get one, I live in Houston TX, and the traffic here makes you want to kill...lol, but talking to someone always helps me, I also recomend a stress ball or just clinching your fist for about 10 seconds and release, focus on the energy from the clinching, release and feel the energy leaving your body from your hand, sometimes that helps. but if you feel the attack is to much...pull over and do every muscle in your body that way and listen to some classical music(low volume)..but remember to focus on the tension and pay speacial attention to the release of energey. you will relaxe and train yourself to relaxe ...even in Houston traffic.
I use those hand strengtheners (I really dont know what they are called...lol, but they look like 2 handles on a spring and they fit in one hand) but I use them all the time wether I am feeling anxiety or not. I can drive about 20 miles now by myself with no music or worry about the traffic, but in Houston I think thats about all anyone can do with out venting some way or another....I hope this helps.

bsg321 · Post by **bsg321** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 6:33 pm

Originally posted by Jamieo:
I went through this program a few years ago when I had my first major attack. It was so bad i thought I was having a hart attack and my fingers and legs crimped up on me. This week I hit a wall and while driving to work I had a major one hit me while driving to work, my fingers and hands crimped up and an ambulance took me to the ER. I've had a devastating event take place in my life recently that I'm dealing with. Has anyone else had problems with panick attacks while driving and how do you get over that fear while driving? I'm not even sure why the worst ones I've ever had have always been while I'm driving. Any suggestions? I have been lucky so far that I have not wrecked.

try my post...tension and release..thdavemac

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 6:33 pm

Wow, can I relate!! I know this is probably bad but when it happens to me, I get on the phone to either my very good friend or my sister. They both know the severity of my panic and can talk me through it enough to calm me down to get to where I need to be. I think it's just having someone tell me I'm ok, that I am causing my own fear is comforting to me. Dont' let the panic get ahold of you. I like what the poster said about not letting it control your life. So true. Good luck to you, we all can conquer this!!

Mom of 6 · Post by **Mom of 6** » Wed Feb 27, 2008 6:38 pm

In the beginning, the Dr. told me I was hyperventilating so I should keep a paper bag in the car – pulling over to the side of the road of course – to take deep breaths in and exhale slowly into this paper bag. The air I exhaled into the bag, I had to inhale again and exhale slowly by pursing my lips together. They told me there was not enough carbon dioxide in my bloodstream so I had to re-breathe the air I exhaled. Didn’t seem logical to me and I just knew at that point my Dr. must have been a quack… But I tried it, and it worked, but the symptoms kept coming back. So later I found myself imposing on a new acquaintance (now my husband), by calling from some gas station phone booth, to drive to where I was stranded to either lead the way or follow me home, so that I could feel reasonably sure that I’d make it safely; I always made it home and I always made it to work, and I never, ever wrecked; but the symptoms always came back, later, and always when I never expected.

So my medical coverage changed and I had a new Dr., who referred me to a Psychiatrist, who gave me a prescription for Norpraimin. When I started this medication, I used to get heart palpitations particularly at night while trying to go to sleep – of course this frightened me as well. The next day I called my Dr. who told me to give the medication a chance to get into my system and that the palpitations would go away – they did. I started on the minimum dosage, then doubled it at one point in time, then reduced it again to a level now that usually keeps me stable. Now that I think about it, I still get symptoms once or twice a year, but I’m usually in a place that I feel I can deal with it. Again, it happens when I’m driving, so I’ll call my husband or my daughter on the cell, tell them I’m "not feeling well" and we’ll talk for about 10 minutes or so (thanks to the bluetooth) and I reach my destination just fine. Sometimes I can tell when an attack is eminent, so I’ll grab something to munch on in the car, grab a juice or bottled water, a comedy CD (hey, laughter is the best medicine) or something to serve as a thought diversion. I guess what I’ve never realized until just now, is that I was creating a distraction, from actually having an all out full blown attack. (And I still haven’t wrecked!)

Well I can truly say the medication has definitely lessened the frequency and severity of the attacks, but I can also say, they have not completely gone away. I remember hearing the late night infomercials for this program so many years ago, but being the skeptic that I am, I guess I just had to wait long enough (since 1984???), to be assured it’s not a fly-by-night fad. If this program has successfully helped so many, many people, why can’t it work for me as well!

Here’s to our road to recovery!

Gman5256 · Post by **Gman5256** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 1:58 am

Ive blacked out while driving, i was able to pull over and put the car in park, my daughters said it was flooring the accelorator and they had to yank my foot off the pedal, then they tapped me on the cheek and shook my sholders, i then came to. boy was that a freak out. ive been having almost black outs and pure black outs for 8 years or more and its nothing anyone can find or put their hand on, Drs ruled all diseas or illness out.