Panic attacks, especially when driving

Hi! Found this site after looking up 'anxiety at night' (even though I titled my thread 'panic attacks, especially when driving). Seems like a great place. Hoping for some insight...

Some background info: I'm 31, female... Started having anxiety and panic attacks at around 25. Not sure what the trigger was. Only suffered from the attacks for about a month or so because I'm very blessed to have a best friend who knows a lot about panic and anxiety, and she recognized my symptoms.

My symptoms: feeling like im going to pass out, brain feeling unattached to my body, csuper moody, crying more than usual.

Anyway, I Sought help, started effexor xr 75mg. That worked for about 5 years. Panic started again...upped to 150mg...worked about 2 years, which brings us to this past January. Went to the doctor who did one moremdosage increase to 225mg, but basically said if this doesn't work, we need a new approach. It didn't work.

Here's the new approach...
Started seeing a therapist about 6 weeks ago, because one of the biggest symptoms of my anxiety and panic is driving, especially highway. Highway driving is completely unavoidable for me because of the location of my job compared to where I live (hour commute, I live off of a highway, etc.). I also have recently gotten married, moved, and had a position change at work. Figured seeing a therapist couldn't hurt. While it's helped, it hasn't cured (which I was prepared for).

I've also started seeing a psych (my GP was the one prescribing the effexor), because I've gotten so desperate to help this problem. I'm happy with him so far. He said he agreed that the effexor probably isn't the best option anymore, due to the fact that it not only wasn't helping, but I had also developed depression symptoms as well (forgot to mention that before...that started I. Jan. too, right before my 225mg effexor increase). He's titrated me off of the effexor and put me on zoloft. Currently i'm on 50mg, done with effexor as of yesterday.

The problem I'm having right now is that I feel AWFUL. It seems lately, no matter which meds I've taken, my emotions get the best of me at night. I cry uncontrollably and feel like I want to run away. I feel thankful that I don't have suicidal thoughts...but I guess the 'running away' thing is that I won't have to face my normal life (waking up early, hour long drive that often gives me anxiety, work, hour drive home, not seeing my husband because we have conflicting schedules, trying to sleep around 9 because I get up early, hoping the Ambien works so I CAN sleep...then the cycle continues).

Anyway, does anyone have any of these symptoms? Anyone take zoloft? Driving panic attacks? Just looking for some support. Thanks!!

Thank you! Your friend, and my therapist, are right...the problems will just follow! It's hard to see it, though! I can't wait for the relief to come.

May I ask why you switched to zoloft? The Pdoc thought, formwhat I described, zoloft (or one of the other meds I'm the same category: he mentioned paxil and lexapro) seemed like a better fit than effexor. I was surprised that the effexor stopped working for me, as I had had such a great run on it, with little to no side effects. What started to add to my anxiety, I think with the last up in dosage, was that I didn't feel the almost immediate relief I had felt with previous dosage changes.

Thank you, also, for reminding me that I DID have 7 years of relief, and that is something to celebrate. I'm also reminded that, most of the time, I live a 'normal' life, with minimal anxiety. Glad I found a good place to be reminded. It's frustrating to feel anxious and have panic attacks...but in general, I know this will be ok :)

Thanks again, and I wish you success on your newest med change!

Thanks! I'll look up the book. Definitely one thing that's helped is what you said--just face the fear, and if I need to, pull over. I used to think that, if I pulled over, I'd be giving in to the fear. I started therapy and one of the things she said is give myself a break and pull over! Thanks again for the encouragement!!

Do you drive often? I ask because I get anxiety about driving mostly when I haven't done it for awhile. When I was driving long distances every day, my anxiety was much lower. Then--due to other health conditions--I stopped driving for, well, months really. Since then, I have had much more anxiety when it comes to driving. Basically, what I am saying is that--for me--my anxiety lessens the more I am exposed to something that is causing it. So the more I drive, the less anxious I am.

Also, you mentioned some other mental health concerns that you're facing. The mood swinging can be a sign of several different conditions, and you may want to stress those mood changes to your doctor/therapist if you haven't yet. Some people have mood swings where they go into a 'manic' state. While mania sometimes feels good, it can also manifest itself in anxious energy that can feed into your other problems. It's just something to think about, I guess.

I take Xanax for my anxiety attacks, but my anxiety is social oriented and I have people who drive me to appointments and stuff now, so I can take my Xanax and not have to worry about needing to drive. I also take Prozac, which I believe helps me with my overall anxiety, though I'm not sure how much it helps with acute attacks.

Aaaanyhow, it is great that you're seeing people for help. And it's not 'giving in' at all to have to pull over. Giving in to anxiety is more like when you simply avoid the anxious activity altogether. So if you started staying at home every day because you're anxious about driving--then that would be a potential problem. But simply pulling off the road is nothing to be ashamed of--you're facing your anxiety, you're just being safe about it, so good for you. I hope you get some good results soon. :)

Thanks, guys! Patrick--to answer your question, yes--I drive to me, what feels like all the time. I drive an hour each way to work, and my friends and family all live at least a 20-40 min drive away. Even where I live is right off of a highway, and prolonged highway driving is my issue right now.

I've been working with my therapist and basically we've come up with that, right now, my issue is just wanting the drive to be over. I'm always ok for about the first 30 minutes of any drive...but once I hit that mark of feeling like I've had enough, then forget it. Anxiety and panic take over!

Allowing myself to take breaks has definitely been a helpful strategy. I need to allow myself the time to do it (and getting up early is hard enough for me, but hey, I gotta do what I've gotta do!).

When you mentioned manic, that struck an interest in me. I think I should do some research into bipolar. I'm not sure if there's a family history of it, but I've wondered as of late of maybe I have something like that. I've always been very trusting of doctors, and still am--hey, they're the professionals--and since no one has ever thought that before about me, I never considered it. But who knows. I have a follow up with my Pdoc In 3 weeks, so we can talk about it then.

I'm returning to work tomorrow after a 6 day hiatus due to strep. Not too thrilled about The idea of driving, but I've gotta get back on the horse, so to speak LOL. Thanks again, all!!

Oh my goodness yes...anxiety, BCpills, meds,, stressful schedules, sleep problems will be more than enough to cause your mood swings and fragile emotions...no need to look for other reasons!:)

Between the leveling out of your meds, getting some sleep, and working on anxiety management though...you will surely start to feel better soon.

Keep up the good work, hang in there, and keep posting with us...we are cheering you on.:)

S.C.

Great job on getting through your commute today!...and if you did it today, you can do it again tomorrow, and the next...

Little victories such as this one, ensure us that we can get through the tough things that we need to. Some days will be better, some will be tough...but the point is, you can get through it!

Celebrate with something chocolate! :)

S.C.

HI,

Driving is my most fearful time, I recently bought a CD called Passing through Panic by Dr. Claire Weeks, I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH IT HELPS WHILE DRIVING..........It was the best 13 dollars i've even spent.

I only drive 13.1 miles but man when panic hits it seems like forever.

I wish you well