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Posted 7/5/2012 6:08 PM (GMT 0)
Since my panic seems to have kicked into high gear lately, I have been having issues with panic attacks while I drive. Usually it doesn't bother me if I am just driving around town locally, but rather when I am going to another city or farther away. A couple of months ago I was driving to a town about an hour away to go to their bird sanctuary (kind of like a zoo for birds) with my kids. On the drive there I got so tense, I could feel every muscle in my body clenching. Once I got there and parked the car, I was ok and the anxiety went away.....but because of the muscle tension for such a long period of time (about 45 minutes to an hour), my muscles were sore for 3 to 4 days following this incident. Has anyone else had this type of issue?
Posted 7/6/2012 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry to hear of your panic attack while driving. Yucko.

Unfortunately, I can relate VERY well to anxiety about driving. The last time I made the 3 hour trip home from my parent's house I had full-on panic attack. Palpitations, nausea, etc. Thought it was my heart, but no

I wish I had advice for you, but I don't. I can just tell you I am a fellow sufferer!

Posted 7/6/2012 4:31 PM (GMT 0)
I, too, can relate to panic while driving.  However mine may start before I even get out the door - the old anticipatory anxiety that nearly freezes me in place.  Just the thought of driving out of town on the freeway and all of the traffic is anxiety provoking.

I hate this feeling as I used to just get in the car and go.  However what helps me is to keep on repeating a positive mantra to myself when I am driving to push the anxiety down.  I use a very simple one and when driving alone say this out loud in the car - " I am OK "  I also practice deep breathing keeping my mind on breathing nice and easy.  Sometimes singing with the radio works as nobody can hear me and I have to concentrate on the words. 

So try " I am ok, I am ok, I am ok"  or whatever words you choose.  Be sure to repeat your mantra slowly.

Happy Trails.

Posted 7/6/2012 10:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your replies. I really wish I could just get rid of this anxiety and go back to being "normal". The deep breathing exercises really do help. Though the anxiety doesn't go completely away, it helps me to focus and allows me to calm myself.
Posted 7/8/2012 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Christi,

I totally feel your pain. I recently started having severe panic attacks while driving. For some weird reason Im okay until i decide i want to go somewhere. But i do also get them at home. I too have what i think is anticipatory panic attacks. I convince myself im going to have one before i get in my truck. The further away from home i get, the worse they get. I feel like home is a "safeplace" and if i turn my truck around and head home i start to feel them go away. The worst part is, if someone on the road cuts me off or does anything to stress me, i go into a panic attack so bad i cant calm down. My vision gets weird, almost like a double vision, i get bad palpitations, cant breath, and yes i feel the muscle tension.
I feel like if i get out of the car and walk around i will feel better *eye roll*
Also another time i get them is "that time of the month". I get dizzy spells, really bad panic attacks, even in my sleep! Hmmm makes me think hormone imbalance.
My doctor gave me ativan a few years ago, i never took one and now they are expired and he quit practicing. So i dont know if that will help :( But im not a medication person, i don't like to feel loopy.
I may have to start taking a med though because i cant function like this. The further i go away from home the worse i get. And now going only 5 miles from home brings on a bad one.
I feel embarrasingly pathetic to my kids who are 23 and 20. I had to stop by my daughters work and make her come outside one day due to a bad attack close to where she was working. But the funny thing is, they will go away when im with someone i know, almost like "safe places,safe people".
Sorry for the long post, it is nice to talk to people about this.
By the way when i was 17 i had this along with agoraphobia. It feels exactly the same. I dont want to become housebound again. I was put on xanax and it all went away, but i do remember feeling loopy from the meds so im trying to avoid them.
I do believe that stress and hormones could play a huge role in all this.

Thanks for listening, would like to know what anyone else does to help this.

Angel
Posted 7/8/2012 2:05 AM (GMT 0)
this is happening to me so badly I won't go anywhere but in town and never on the freeway. I am sorry you are feeling this too and am ashamed to say I am glad I am not alone with this happening to me. I have been making millions of excuses to friends and family why I cannot drive over the mountains in traffic to visit. I have agoraphobia to add to my list of problems. God bless you all thank you for not making me feel alone I have been very ashamed of this in front of my husband and child I make excuses instead of telling the truth about the panic. all I can say is thank you and I hope it gets better.
Posted 7/8/2012 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
Dear E12,

Hope you dont mind me shortening your username, as i would probably mispell it otherwise *wink!

I know how you feel. I too make excuses to not go places. What hurts the most is my son lives in Florida and wants me to come visit. I'm in Ohio, and the thought of going there terrifies me, so ive never went. I want so bad to go but i cant :( I also can no longer get on the freeway *sigh! I know what agoraphobia is like, when i was 17 i had anorexia which i think caused the chemical imbalance. I was put in the hospital and after coming home, i was terrified to be home alone. I had to be babysat. My boyfriend thought i was weird. I would go to work with him and sit in his car all day while he worked because i couldnt be left alone. (Makes me cry when i tell this story, cuz im so embarrassed). His co-workers also thought i was weird. But if he left me at home (i lived with my mom) and my mom was at work, i would have such a bad panic attack that someone had to come get me. Then one day they left me home and i some how panicked and ran outside and passed out in the middle of a busy road (ughh do i feel stupid)!
Back to hospital, this time psych ward, can you imagine they actually thought i was crazy???

I truly feel that once a panic attack hits you, your brain never forgets it, and no matter how hard we try our brain says somethings wrong even though there really isnt. Its like a fight or flight feeling 24/7.

I can tell you its easier said then done when people tell you to relax. I dont know about anyone else but my brain cant block these attacks. When i got out of hospital the 2nd time they put me on xanax. Im not trying to advocate medication, but my panic attacks stopped cold turkey. Thank god....I felt like i could be a teenager again.

Years went by, i never got them, i forgot what they were like, then BOOM, 2 years ago i got one while on the freeway an hour from home. I was like, ARE YOU KIDDING ME!! So they are progressively getting worse. I was able to drive further but now i cant go a few miles away and i feel a panic attack start. That sick feeling in my stomache like here we go again...NOW WHAT.

If i dont figure out how to fix this without meds then i am going to have to go back on them again, because i know how you feel. We are missing out on life, i have no life anymore. I work and go home.

I will tell you that when i feel one coming on, if you breath in through your nose and hold it to the count of 4 then breathe out slowly through your mouth, then do it again, and again if you have to, it helps you not to panic so bad. It makes you concentrate on breathing.
I have another little trick that might help, works for me but i never told anyone else so i dont know if it works for anyone else.
"I take my right hand and squeeze as hard as i can that skin between your left hand thumb and first finger" That pressure or pain as i sometimes call it lol, takes your attention to that area and can actually stop a panic attack (at least for me it does). Ive also pinched my earlobe even slightly with my nail and stopped an attack.
Im not sure why, this works for me, but you could try it.

Sorry for the long reply....i know it helps to talk to other people.

Just remember its a panic attack, it wont kill us, we just have a hard time controlling it. As long as you ruled out any medical condition then its a matter of "Mind over Matter. You will get through this, it took 30 years for mine to return, and i have been under alot of stress, so i do believe that has a part in it, and hormones im guessing, since mine get bad around that time of month.

Anytime you want to chat let me know.
Take care...Be strong...I know you can beat this :-)
Posted 7/8/2012 4:43 AM (GMT 0)
To Deangel and E12,

I agree! Although I am sorry that you both are also going through this....it is really nice to talk to others who understand the way i feel and what I'm experiencing.

Deangel,

I just recently have noticed that I am having more anxiety during "that time of the month" as well. I'm glad that you brought it up because I was wondering if it was just me or if this happened to others.

Keep posting and know that I am always here to chat if you need it :-)
Posted 7/8/2012 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
deangel

Words from your post were right out of my life. 

ChristiB

I am thrilled to see what great response your thread has generated.  When I feel a panic attack coming I tell myself I know how to deal with this, it is only a nervous reaction, and focus on my breathing until I calm down. I wish I could say this works everytime but I take the good times when I can.  :-)

Kindly,

Kitt

 


 

Posted 7/8/2012 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
stkitt,

wow im sorry to hear that you have struggled with this also. Sad thing is, we know its not dangerous, we just cant shake that terrifying fear. I want to install a on and off switch on the side of my head :P Of course it would always be in the off position lol. Why is it we cant live by the saying "We have nothing to fear but fear itself" This is a true statement with panic attacks.

To everyone:

Dont let this control your life....Take control of it right now! No matter what you have to do, which means going to your doctor and being honest. Tell them the extent of how debilitating they really are. And if they dont listen, go to another doctor that will. DONT let them make you feel like your "not normal".

I became agoraphobic from mine, which meant it finally beat me, it confined me to my home, and its doing it again. There are doctors who understand and will do their best to help you. Yes that may mean medication. You dont have to be a guinea pig and try new meds. Tell them you know people who have tried a med that has been around for centuries and you would like to try that first. Be adamant about how you feel.
I did take xanax when i was younger, yes it helped, and no you dont read about it or hear on the tv how it has caused severe side effects. I have ativan this time, but was given this RX a while back and now its expired. I was too afraid to try a new med. Even though i know people who tell me it works just as well.

My doctor is on vacation, the one who wrote the ativan RX quit practicing and moved away, so i was given this new DR in his place. I have to make an appt with him asap this month. I do know that Dr's hesitate to write certain scripts, and since xanax is a narcotic, they dont like to write it. Thats what is frustrating. When something has helped someone in the past then why change to something else Grrrrrr, this aggravates me.
Hence my Dr gave me Ativan instead, and see, i never took it. If this Dr writes a new RX for it and wont write for the xanax then i will be forced to try it.

I must say Im more of a natural healing person. I would rather try herbs or teas to cure this. I did read peppermint tea helps, but i tried it and i dont notice any difference.

Im so sorry everyone for my long posts. I just feel there is so much to talk about when it comes to this condition. And unfortunately i have way too much experience with it, ughhh :-0

Just keep in mind, the saying is so true " we dont have anything to fear but fear itself" and right now i wanna kick fears butt lol.

Take care everyone....Be strong...be tough!
Posted 7/22/2012 2:29 AM (GMT 0)
you all have no idea how much I needed those kind words and your stories and encouragement. brought tears to my eyes thank you so very much
Posted 7/22/2012 9:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Christi,
I completely understand what you are going through and I really feel for you. I have two children ages 9 and 11 and when I am driving out of my "comfort zone", I sometimes experience panic or anxiety. Sometimes, I will even get a full blown, 100% nail biting, panic attack. When this happens, unbeknownst to me I usually grip the steering wheel so hard that when I get out of the car my hands are all cramped up and ache terribly. All my muscles in my body then become tight and rigid. Later on or by the next day they ache. On some occasions I end up with excruciating pains in my neck or back from straining my muscles so hard.

Since it is the summer, it is even harder to deal with this because the kids want to go to cool, fun places not found in our local area. I needed to give myself some feelings of empowerment and being allowed to be anxious without feeling worried that they would notice me acting a little nervous sometimes.

I have finally decided that it was time to explain to my kids about my "anxiety" and I explained it in a manner that would not frighten them. I explained that sometimes mommy has a "little uneasy feeling" that is not life threatening or something that is going to hurt me or them. I explained that everyone gets anxious at some time in their life and that anxiety is normal. I told them that some people experience more anxiety than others because everyone has feelings and deal with these feelings in their own way. I told them that sometimes mommy feels a little "jittery" when driving and that once in a while I might need to pull over for a minute or two to relax.

They actually help me and are not scared at all. To distract me, we sing songs together, recite poems and nursery rhymes together or recite 99 bottles of bear on the wall. They help me so much just by being there and not worrying about me. They do not get alarmed at all and they know nothing bad is going to happen. I feel much more confident behind the wheel knowing that my children will know how to react if I do end up having a 10 on the Richter Scale, full blown, nail biting, panic attack. They are great kids who are very smart! I am very lucky.

Once in a while, when I am on a highway or expressway, I end up getting a particularly bad attack. I hate highways far away from home. This makes me feel like I cannot go any further or I will pass out (deep down I know I won't, but the fear is still there). The lines on the highway even seem to start hypnotizing me giving me tunnel vision and then road seems to go on forever which panics me even more. However, I push myself to keep going and eventually it passes. It is not fun dealing with these attacks and feelings though.

Every mile that I successfully pass, I think to myself "we're almost there" and that "the panic will pass soon". If that doesn't help, I think to myself "we can always pull over at the next shoulder". When I successfully pass that shoulder, I think to myself that if needed, I can pull over at the next one. That calms me down and so far, I have never had to do that thank goodness.

I even play some upbeat, cheerful songs on my mp3 player that help relieve my fears or relax me so I usually have them on as soon as I get into the car and start driving.

I wish you all the luck in the world.

Take care,
Dee
Posted 7/22/2012 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
Great sharing and support in this thread. I will share that I had no problems driving until our son was killed in a car crash on one of our major freeways here in the cities and only 20 miles from home.  His best friend died with him.  I still cannot drive on that freeway past the location where the crash took place.  He died 22 years ago at the age of 21.

However I was able to drive without fear until the past 6 years when my anxiety and depression took a downward slide and I became afraid of too many things - driving being one as well as leaving my safe zone.

I do intend to beat this fear and will keep practicing being in the moment. 

I hope each of you keep on sharing your fears and successes here in the forum.

Kindly,

Kitt 

Posted 7/22/2012 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
stkitt, I am so sorry to hear about the tragedy of losing your son and his best friend. You are very brave and I feel your tenacious spirit will one day help you conquer your fear of driving. I feel people with anxiety disorders are much braver than we all give ourselves credit for. Most people couldn't walk a day in our shoes, let alone suffer like us for years. We are true fighters even when we feel our weakest.

At times, when my anxiety reigns it's ugly head, driving away from my "safe zone" can feel impossible. Years ago, through therapy I learned that I needed to face my fears and to try to get myself back on the road and desensitize myself. It got so bad at one point, I even let my license expire! Even looking at my car would conjure up severe dread and make me feel sick to my stomach. I even had trouble going for rides in other people's cars when we had to travel past my "safe zone".

Little by little I pushed myself and gave myself permission to feel afraid without beating myself up by feeling like a fraidy cat. I also gave myself permission to pull over on the side of the road if need be. That helped me feel empowered by allowing myself permission to take little breaks if I got overwhelmed. I would travel a few blocks at a time while still feeling extreme anxiety. Every time I went into my car, I drove a little further until eventually my "safe zone" expanded. I am now at the 25-30 mile radius away from my home mark which is really an accomplishment for me. I am nervous, but look forward to working on expanding that travel radius soon.

What also helped me is my GPS. Before GPS was invented, my driving phobias were 100 times worse because I always feared that I would get lost and not be able to find my way home. Since getting my GPS a few years ago, I feel so safe because at anytime, all I have to do is hit the "GO HOME" button.

Good luck with all your future endeavors. I am rooting for you!
Take care,
Dee
Posted 7/29/2012 4:19 AM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry as well, for your loss. I have pulled over on highways driving out of state, 3 times and been taken to the hospital. One time, I was boating and also had to be rushed in. I think what helped me most, after Zoloft, was my friend told me it was "fright or flight"?!! So, every time I have to take a long trip, I think about that. I focus on the "flight" part. It isn't easy but I've been able to drive!! And fly!
Posted 7/30/2012 9:53 PM (GMT 0)
Stkitt......I'm also so sorry to hear about losing your son. You may have anxiety but you come across as a strong person to me. Your on here doing great things by helping other people and i admire that :) I truly hope all of you can beat this.
For all of us that have this, its a daily struggle. Just the thought of getting in my truck and driving into town gives me such panic attacks lately that i have to make excuses to people as to why i cant go. I say I'm not feeling well or I have something else planned. Then when my friends or kids take off to go somewhere without me i sit on the couch and cry, and cry, and cry. The only thing that helps me right now is i watch Joel Osteen on TV :) He gives inspiration, makes me feel somewhat at ease, and i love to listen to him. But that doesnt stop my panic attacks...I wish it did!
I'm getting to the point where i cant ride with anyone in their car because then im not in control, and i cant just pull over, so therefor i get claustrophobic feelings, and how do you tell someone, omg please pull over I'm having a panic attack, they will prolly pull over and push me out the door and call me crazy lol, thats my biggest fear.
I havent made an appt yet with the Dr., but I realize i have to now because mine is getting worse. I dont like medications but at this point i have no choice, anything has to be better than this shell ive crawled into :(

Anyway.....BIG HUGS to you Stkitt and again sorry to hear you lost your son. I do admire you for helping people on here!
Posted 8/3/2012 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
For me its driving over bridges. Especially ones without a shoulder lane. Those are the worst. I actually had to drive out to meet a cousin and took a longer way(about 10 mins extra, not much I know.) Just so I could be on a bridge that had shoulder lanes.

What irritates me about it, is not too long ago I saw driving as an escape from the anxiety and panic. Just cruise with some tunes and enjoy the California landscape.
Posted 8/4/2012 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
T.I.M...

No wonder you are leery of bridges being in California!!! We have the worst, and I mean worst drivers here...everyone is angry and in a hurry...at least in my area!

I think that some anxiety while driving is natural, and may actually bring about more careful habits. It would be a good goal to find a happy medium between really fearful...and recklessly unafraid, like so many seem to be, right?

Your fellow Californian,

S.C.
Posted 8/20/2013 1:57 PM (GMT 0)
I'm new to this forum. I know no one has responded to this thread in a while. This is my panic. This is how it all started for me 7 years ago. I was driving on the freeway to work. I had my first panic attack and thought I was dying. Pulled over and carefully drove myself to the ER. I tried seeing a psychologist, but it only drained my bank account. I was against trying mind altering meds, for fear of them. Finally, I tried lexapro, and it made me feel terrible. Then I got pregnant with #1, so being on meds was not an option. Shortly after, I had him, I found myself pregnant with #2. While pregnant, I never felt better. Soon after I had my kids, the panic and anxiety all came rushing back. I'm scared to drive them around, for fear that something is going to happen to me while I'm driving and I end up injuring them or worse. This fear has become so much a daily thing that it has caused me to have stomach issues, constant diarrhea, weight loss, nausea, to the point of stomach meds to slow my digestion. The meds I was put on are nortryptiline, and naltrexone. I started having more panic attacks a few months into the meds. Then, I find out from the same dr that provided them that this medication is terrible for anxiety disorder. I get a sour stomach before I have to get in the car and drive somewhere. I never drive out of my little town. We live close to a major city, and I never go there alone. I'm scared of driving, scared of public places, scared of embarrassment. My dr recently prescribed celexa and I'm scared to start it. I'm a sahm, and fear that I won't be able to care for my kids. So scared of everything, and don't know how to pull myself out of it. When I drive, I'm terrified of bridges. I get cold sweats, panicky feeling, just seeing one in the distance. I feel like in going to pass out. Once I'm ove it, I'm better, but not great. I make my husband drive everywhere. I just have no control over my mind. I read the previous posts on this thread and can relate with almost all of them. Does anything work for you? I just want to live a normal life again and take my kids somewhere fun. I feel I'm doing my kids a real disservice by keeping them at home all the time, because of my fears.
Posted 8/20/2013 9:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lindsay and welcome.

I am sorry to hear of the difficult issues that you are dealing with. It is great however that you are reaching out, and are willing to seek help so that you can enjoying going out, and being the mom that you want and need to be for your family!

There is hope for recovery...it is just a matter of finding what works well for you. Can I ask how long you were in therapy...and was it with one psychologist only? I ask this because treatment of this kind can take time, and you may even need to try different methods such as CBT, for example before you see the results that you seek.

I do recommend considering the idea of revisting treatment. You may get something else out of it at this stage...or with a new therapist/method.

There is also the self-help route! We have great book recommendations, informative articles, stress reducing video links and more in our Resources here (main page, 1st page) Check it out and see if anything looks of interest to you. I can also make recommendations on specific material if you would like...say for driving phobias.

Whether of not you decide to try your new Rx is a completely personal choice, and one that we support you in either way. Giving a lot of thought to it, and doing your research will help you to make and informed decison.

Keep posting here with us as well. It is really important to have a sense of being understood and cared for by others who know what you are going through.

We are listening, and look forward to getting to know you better, so stick around.:)

Scaerdy Cat
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