Driving in the early am gets my anxiety up as well, i had nearly conquered it after 2 years in a solid remission and then i flared up... now back to square one with all prior fears fully reinforced. I have a predominantly highway commute to work and as i approach and pass each exit my anxiety jumps (should i have stopped...). Stupid headgames i play on those drives. I haven't had an accident while driving during this particular flare (others i have) but I've certainly had my unfair amount of emergency stops to restrooms and even runs into the woods to poop. Curse you, uc and the mental things you do to us...
Going to have to start that mental battle again once I'm off of the pred and back in remission. Try to conquer that fear again once there's no chance of real urgency. I can try laughing who knows. Just don't mess with someone laughing, driving wayy too fast, and heading to the nearest bathroom opportunity : -)
I found cranking the music up and singing badly to it, helps distract me from my anxiety. Distraction is key, if the anxiety seed has fertile soil, sprouts and is given even a little time to grow then it's unstoppable downward spiral that becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. So do whatever works to distract you from anxiety with many possibilities there.
On a related note, found this funny:
m.imgur.com/0meP49M