Anxiety while driving

In the last couple of months I have developed driving anxiety. I am still willing to drive but I find myself sweating and very nervous. I visualize people turning left in front of me and my car crashing. I try to drive carefully and somewhat slowly. I've always been a safe driver and have never had any accidents or even been pulled over. (I'm 49).

I'm a substitute teacher so mainly I drive to and from neighboring schools. I also have to drive to the grocery and doctor on occasion.

I really dislike the freeway but don't have to drive on there too much.

It's getting to where I start thinking about driving as I am eating breakfast and I start to panic a bit. And then in the afternoon as I am getting ready to leave school, I get upset. I know this is all silly--I do need to drive and I am perfectly as safe as anyone is on these crazy roads. This thing with driving has come out of nowhere. I've never had this trouble before.

Does anyone have any ideas for me? My husband says this is normal...he says he hates to drive too as people on nuts on the road. But panic is different from just hating to be driving in general.

Thanks:)

I also have anxiety/panic when driving.  My first panic attack ocurred when I was driving and I have been fearfull ever since.  The problem I have is that my job requires driving.  I had the most difficult time getting behind the wheel at first.  What I did is since my job required driving, I required myself to drive.  I went out along into a desolate area and faced it, the fear crept up and I began having an attack.  I worked myself out of it with deep breathing and telling the panic to keep coming and to give me all it had.  If it was going to kill me then do it now and get it over with.  Guess what I am here writing on this forum.  Now it didn't completely disolve my anxiety, but has lessened it.  I do put things in the CD player that requires me to think, that way on my three, four hour drive I will think of other things and keep my mind working rather than thinking of the negative. Even though I have still cancelled many of my work obligations that take me hours and thousands of miles away from home.  My next goal is to overcome this issue.  

Hope this helps.  I am here with you.  It is terrible and we here in this forum understand that what your going through is more than worried about the actual driving.  Anxiety is a tough thing, but we call all live with it.

CC

I really believe this is a some temporary phase. I probably am anxious in general about something and this is the way it is popping out. My life overall is going really well, but it seems like things always crop up. This driving thing is just one of many obstacles I'll have to get through. I hate to fly, but I do it...and I don't much like heights. But this driving thing is all new.

So many people on this forum go through so much and are so brave. I appreciate all of your kindness and concerns.

hugs, Caren

_Almost forgot music. Certain bands and songs make me feel less anxious. Among my favorite anxiety relievers are Pink Floyd and Bob Marley. I like mellow music with words. When I'm really anxious classical and jazz just doesn't distract me enough.

Good luck. Hope this helps.

Post Edited (paniccu) : 10/21/2008 10:49:22 AM (GMT-6)

Hi Marthamae,

Sounds like you did really well today. Kudos to you! Even though we know our fears are a bit irrational, it doesn't make them go away, but recognising them is the first step in getting over them. You are on your way.

I'm not a big fan of intersections either, especially the ones where you make the decision whether to turn across traffic or not. I like the the light or be green or red. None of this "turn with caution" business.

Yes, I'm a bit of a wally for having an attack in the bath.    I usually have my attacks in bed, or while I'm watching telly, when I'm out and about I'm too busy and distracted to have an attack. Strange but true!

Meg

I, too, am struggling with driving anxiety. It started out about 5 years ago, without warning, as I was driving on the interstate at night. It was so bad it was all I could do to make it to an exit and call someone to come get me. My hands started to sweat and go numb, I shook, I had heart palpitations and I felt like I couldn't control my limbs or my car. I just wanted to drive into the cement wall and get it over with. The next day I was fine. I went for a few years without one, and had another one on the same stretch of highway. I just started avoiding that highway whenever I could. A year ago, I started experiencing them on other highways. I seem to do better if I don't have the cruise control on. opening the windows and finding music to sing to helps to distract me. So does calling someone on the cell phone. Of course staying in the right lane and keeping a comfortable, yet safe speed works. I kept thinking the attacks would go away, but they just seem to happen more frequently. What used to happen only at night on certain roads has expanded to daytime as well. I am still okay driving on a back road. I think it's because I know I can pull over if needed. One thing I will say, is that I think caffeine consumption may not be helping matters. I've cut back, but I may just have to stop drinking my beloved coffee, or try decaf, to see if there's any improvement. I'm really at wits end, and on a whim, decided to search for any information on driving anxiety. I thought I was crazy and alone. I had no idea others are experiencing the same events. I do not have any other professionally diagnosed mental disorders, although I count things and have sleep paralysis ( another story ). My life is good and I'm not really stressed out about much these days. A recent career change has helped in that department.

Good luck, marthamae. Keep us informed on how you're doing dealing with this.

hi elpea and welcome to healing well,

everyone here is so supportive! I hope you'll keep posting. Half of my anxiety is taken away when I realize others have it too and it's not a physical ailment. (Even though I consider anxiety to be physical in the brain disorder sense!).

I am still having some discomfort when driving. I'm just driving to various schools and the malls, etc and not too much on freeways. I'll try anything but my hands get sweaty. I still hate going through intersections where I have a green light and people are waiting to turn left. I'm afraid that light will turn yellow and I won't stop at the appropriate time or they'll turn in front of me.

Like you, I prefer the right lane. I also HATE changing lanes, so I know where I am going and I get into the correct lane early.

I drive around a lot of schools and school parking lots and this adds to my anxiety as the little kids are so unpredictable. So many bikes and crosswalks, etc.

It's funny you mention cruise control because I HATE cruise control. I have a fear it will "take over" the car and it won't stop. I hate it when my husband drives and uses it. It scares me. Crazy. I never use cruise control.

It's amazing how many similar fears we have. It's really interesting.

The good news is that I am willing to drive and still do it. I don't have anticipatory dread like I do if I have to get on an airplane.

I'm a little nervous because my best friend and her husband are coming for a week at Thanksgiving. There are a couple of days when I will be driving them around to and from the airport and to various attractions. (My husband isn't taking the whole week off.) I hope this will go well.

I agree with kitt's advice not to use the cell phone unless you are pulled over. I think that's dangerous, especially if you're already shaky.

love to all,

sophie