Coping Strategies for Driving with Anxiety and Visual Symptoms?

Hello all you wonderful lymies!

I'm hoping for some input on managing symptoms while driving. I've been feeling a bit better lately and have been pushing things a bit to test my abilities. I haven't been able to drive since August 2017 due mostly to anxiety, and blurry and distorted vision. I haven't been at risk of accident when I was driving, just really, really uncomfortable in doing so.

I drove last week for about 30 minutes on back roads to run a few errands with my family. I was a bit nervous, but my vision was great! No problems whatsoever.

I pushed it yesterday and tried highway driving. I was nervous, but good for about 10 minutes. Then all of a sudden the panic came. I fought it off by thinking positive thoughts. This alleviated the anxiety for about 30 seconds. Then it suddenly felt as if my eyes were going to close or go out of focus. So I practiced my breathing. The breathing helped just long enough for me to pull over and let my husband take the wheel. Immediately after switching drivers, the anxiety eased and my vision was as crisp and clear as ever.

I will be starting Energy Medicine next week and am hoping to learn some tricks for dealing with this.

In the meantime, does anyone have any advice to help me be a successful driver as I once was?

Thank you WalkingbyFaith.

Good to hear. I will just keep at it

Chew gum

Play meditative music over the radio (or Spa 68 on Sirius XM)

With one hand tap your thumb to each individual finger successively while repeating a mantra “I am going to be okay”

Use a stress ball or something tactile in your hand (my therapist gave me a small baggy with different plastic shapes/textures to feel)

Pursed lip breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, breathe in 5 seconds/hold 5 seconds/exhale 5 seconds

Solaris719,

Thank you for those ideas. I will give them all a try!

I drove for 10 minutes yesterday, had a 90 second panic attack, felt like an eternity. I was instantly sweaty, but I pushed through. I think I will try gum chewing next time.

Thanks!