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Posted 1/10/2014 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
Am I the only one or does anyone else suffer from terrible anxiety attacks when driving? I have deal with anxiety for many years and it goes away for awhile and then comes with avengence what I would do to be normal:(
Posted 1/10/2014 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mo3g and welcome!

You are definitely not alone! Many members here deal with anxiety and/or attacks while driving. This is common time/activity for some reason for anxiety sufferers to have a difficult time.

What have you done in the past to help to manage your anxiety? I am assuming that you have anxiety issues outside of a driving experience as well? Lowering your overall stress levels is usually a good way to treat this issue. This can be done with the help of medication and/or therapy.

However, if you only have anxiety while you are in the car...then it may be more effective to treat this as more of an isolated phobia. In this case, exposure type therapies might be a more direct approach to help you.

Talking with your doctor about your concerns will help you to find a good starting point for treatment.

Keep posting here with us anytime. We understand and are here to listen and support.;)

Scaredy Cat
Posted 1/10/2014 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
AS I posted in your identical thread it was being deleted - so I will leave you with SC' great advice and the belief that you can get past this fear of driving phobia.

Just keep on breathing, nice and easy.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 1/10/2014 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
I had one panic attack while driving last October. Since then, I started getting dizzy while driving. My doctor said that it is likely because I'm hyperventilating in the car and so my CO2 levels are off in my brain. This has caused subsequent panic and anxiety attacks while driving. It helps me to concentrate on other things.. Maybe the radio or talking on the phone. It also helped me to have someone else drive for a while because it helped me realize that it was just anxiety and not anything actually wrong with me
Posted 1/10/2014 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
Oh man...sorry Kitt!! I did not know that you were replying to the duplicate post...just saw and went about 'cleaning up' :(

S.C.

Edit - oops wrong post.

Posted 1/10/2014 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
SC,  no problem and I have a bit of driving anxiety but don't worry I won't go over 85mph on the freeway by the airport.  tongue turn wink
Posted 1/10/2014 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
I have driving anxiety too. I get lightheaded and have trouble concentrating on the road. It helps to have someone in the front seat talking to me or singing along with the radio. I also try to think of other things like a television show I've recently seen or a book I've read. When my husband is with us, he drives. I drive OK during the day, but I've never been really comfortable driving at night, especially when it's raining.
Posted 1/10/2014 10:02 PM (GMT 0)
My gosh.. U know I have felt so alone with these issues until I found this site!! I'm currently on lexapro and I take clonopin at night and it does seem my anxiety flares up more at night but in the car I'm experiencing same thing as some of u lightheaded dizzy and of course then that anxiety jumps up a notch and it's worse if I drive at night!! Thank u all glad to know I'm not alone.. I need to find a good doctor the only thing I have really been diagnosed with is post traumatic stress and anxiety and I've been dealing with this now for almost 9 years
Posted 1/10/2014 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Mom of 3 Girls

I too have anxiety when driving. Have you noticed specific triggers? I had a psychologist tell me once to handle triggers/symptoms with the amount of energy I have to handle it. For example if a white dump truck upsets me if I can see the truck and breathe throughout the interaction or I can see the truck and think about why it's upsetting me, how I feel about it, what I think about it, etc.

Glad others on her have helped!
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