driveing a car travel in general

[ladybug_101]

hi iam on lesson 3 so far i am loving program !! DOES ANYONE HAVE TROUBLE DRIVING A CAR OR TRAVEL IN GENERAL ! can you share your advice as to how you are handling the situation.

[raysfan]

Hi Ladybug: Yes, I'm in the same situation. I'm having such an awful time driving. I'm in session 3 also. I have to drive 20 miles one way to work and it is a new job. What I'm doing is allowing myself extra time. If I feel overly anxious, I don't push it. I pull over in a safe place and do my breathing and self talk. It only takes about 5 minutes then I proceed again. I've been doing this drive for a month and have pulled over 3 times. I'm proud of myself that I'm even driving. I'm not beating myself up about it. I hope this helps you. I"m not sure if it is the right thing but I feel that with time and learning more about attacking anxiety I won't need to pull over anymore.

[ladybug_101]

Raysfan, THANK YOU FOR THE POST !! IAM so glad there is someone who understands what iam going threw !!
Well i have to travel 80 miles round trip to work, i dont drive there i have to depended on my husband or my girls to get me there one of my goals is to one day be able to drive myself to work !! i tell myself baby steps it took you over 30 yrs to get this way so it just takes time ! and wow i envy you at least you are able to get to wk by yourself !! iam not a good passenger either, but i can say i have had lots of relief sense i started this program still have them moments once in awhile but so far i have done pretty good with keeping it in check.... i did drive on the highway about 10 miles with my daughter and i have not done that in 15 yrs... and i had a scary moment or two but i got threw it i was so excited i felt so free and on top of the world that day !! iam in session three i seem to be more anxious in this session but i think now iam starting to see the light its really hard to say is this a negative thought but of course you know we dont think we are negative i think now iam seeing how to decide what is a negative thought i just need to write it down once i master that then i fill like i can move on to the next chapter. was it hard for you to get threw lesson 3 ? if you have any advice it would be greatly appreciated !!!

[Suziecue]

I am about a month behind you on this, but I wanted to share that I also have trouble with the driving and traveling thing. I haven't driven a car on a highway in about 10 or so years. I am a terrible back seat driver (ask my husband) because of all the terrors I have while traveling (the what ifs get big then) and I have to pump myself up to run errands. And sometimes the errands just don't get done. Since starting the course, I am making myself go out and about and I do the breathing when I hit "tough" spots and I tell myself I am not afraid of driving I am afraid of having a panic attack when I am driving and that has helped a lot. Hoping to get on the highway again soon and start opening up my life again.

[mphd97]

Suzieque, thanks so much for your post! I too have trouble driving (although I force myself to do it). I love the idea of telling myself I'm not afraid of driving, but afraid of having a panic attack while driving. I'm going to try that tomorrow! Thanks so much!

[ladybug_101]

Thanks Susicue for the post it doesn't seem like there are very many of us out there that have issues with driving ! Its been 15yrs sense i have drove on the highway, and yess its time for us to take our lives back!! I too am a terrible back set driver, but i have been doing so good i don't even believe it myself !! The breathing and positive self talk helps alot, i have been caffeine free for 6 days now and it really does make a big difference. i know what you mean about the what IF'S !!! SOME TIMES THE STRESS LEVEL WOULD BE OFF THE CHARTS !! But knock on wood so far i have not gotten that out of control in sometime now..... I have had a few bumps along the way but now i have the tools to help me control those scary moments and iam sure there will be more along the way, YES i know all about running the errands i depended up on my husband and family .
I like what you said iam not afraid of driving iam afraid of having a panic attack i guess i should have thought about it that way thanx for the tip iam going to try that one. So far i have driven on the highway 2 times now it was a little scary in spots but it was a great filling like freedom finally ! I have been driving at least 3 times a week on the back roads to town and various areas on the highways. I have only got out of control once when i was trying to drive on the highway, for some reason it just got away from me but hey its ok at least iam out there trying to make a difference in my life !! I wish you lots of luck and i hope all of us can put our lives back into control !! Iam so grateful for this program .... IF YOU EVER WANT TO CHAT OR SEND MESSAGES SHEARING OUR EXPERIENCE AND GOALS THAT WOULD BE AWESOME I THINK IT REALLY HELPS WHEN SOMEONE KNOWS JUST WERE YOU ARE COMING FROM NO ONE UNDERSTANDS LIKE A PERSON WHO IS GOING THREW THE SAME ISSUES !

[Suziecue]

I am so glad to have others who understand! My mom has issues with driving on the highway so she is/was the only person who understood when I said "I can't". I have been thinking about the days years ago in which I would hop in the car and drive 100 miles to have lunch with a friend. I would like to know I could do that again if I wanted to. (with gas prices I am sure that won't be my choice, but it's still a good dream!)

Good job on the highway driving! I have not gone on the highway yet but I know it will come-I keep bringing back the memory of the freedom I enjoyed of going when I wanted to wherever I wanted.

This program is already changing my life and being able to "talk" about what I am going through is wonderful! Thanks! At first I started this to get driving again, but I am finding I have a lot more to work on than just driving. And that's okay. In for a penny, in for a pound!

[ladybug_101]

susiecue we all have a lot in common ... my mom has travel issues also !! all 3 of her sisters are just like all of us too its crazy to see how things can be in inherited threw our family. i never was a confident driver i drove for about 10 years, even at night time but something changed one day ... and now i do see i was alot more confident back then than i gave credit to my self ! so i know what ya mean it would be really awesome to just jump in the car and have the freedom to do what ever we wanted to at that moment! i think if we all really give this program our all even if we have to go over it more that one time we will gain the FREEDOM we all so desire ! I STILL HAVE LOTS OF ISSUES AS WELL MORE THAN I HAD REALIZED ! WHEN I FIRST LISTENED TO THE FIRST SESSION I THOUGH THATS ME... SO IT HAS REALLY BEEN A LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME You will get there on the highway driving just set a goal and just do it !! you can do it we all have it in us its just taking that first step and its not easy , but after its done you think wow i did it and it wasnt that bad !! its just being consistent which i need to work on !! thanx for posting have a great day !