Agoraphobia/Panic on road trip, had to turn around...help?

I recently attempted to take a road trip from Texas to New Mexico to see a friend (I'm scared to fly). I have no issues driving around town. It was to be 11 hours. Planned to split it up into 2 days. Got about 5 hours in and began to get anxious. Breathing too hard, bordering a panic attack. Hyperventilating.. I think the countless miles of nothingness got to me because you're in the middle of nowhere. Not near civilization or any help. I'm a bit agoraphobic though my daily anxiety is very minimal daily. Sometimes I think it's completely gone. I take xanax and zoloft. All is well usually. Anyhow, I freaked out and finally stopped, panicked and just sat there. Ended up turning around and going home. Feel so let down and weak. The anxiety went away as I neared home and hasn't returned since. I'm wondering if anyone has any advice on what I could do to make this trip. I will regret it and it will always be a failure. I must right the wrong and do it. Any tips or experiences..or anything in general..would be amazing. Thank you!

Hi B.L. and welcome to the forum!

I am sorry to hear that your trip did not turn out as you'd hoped. I know this must be a disappointment.

It does sound like you've come far in your recovery...so it's easy to see how it would seem feasible to make the journey to see your friend...

...but this may have just been a case of too much, too soon.

I've no doubt that you can and will be able to do this...but you'll probably need to work up to it in stages...increasing your time and distance gradually.

This is a form of exposure therapy and is very effective.

Having as many tools as possible as your disposal is import as well...so see our Resources at the top of the main page here for great self help material.

If you feel this is more than you can do on your own...getting help in the form of therapy is also an option.

However, by easing into it and taking along some key techniques, you should do very well next time.:)

Post with us anytime for anxiety support!

Scaredy Cat

Scaredy Cat said...
Hi B.L. and welcome to the forum!

I am sorry to hear that your trip did not turn out as you'd hoped. I know this must be a disappointment.

It does sound like you've come far in your recovery...so it's easy to see how it would seem feasible to make the journey to see your friend...

...but this may have just been a case of too much, too soon.

I've no doubt that you can and will be able to do this...but you'll probably need to work up to it in stages...increasing your time and distance gradually.

This is a form of exposure therapy and is very effective.

Having as many tools as possible as your disposal is import as well...so see our Resources at the top of the main page here for great self help material.

If you feel this is more than you can do on your own...getting help in the form of therapy is also an option.

However, by easing into it and taking along some key techniques, you should do very well next time.:)

Post with us anytime for anxiety support!

Scaredy Cat

Thank you so much. You're very nice and welcoming. 5 years ago I didn't TRULY know what anxiety was. Then one day it all started. Took me 3 years to finally become semi-functional and another 2 to be pretty much back to normal (minus having to take xanax and zoloft, which I don't mind..no side effects and ended my anxiety)..I read book after book and took therapy, etc. Finally found out that exposure and controlled breathing is all I needed. I'd go somewhere or do something and if I failed, I'd go back the next day and next until I did it. A mall or store, traffic jams, unfamiliar locations away from home. You start piling up those wins and everything becomes easy. Problem with this is, not really feasible to try to drive to New Mexico every day. Having put thought into it, I think I'm going to try going Dallas to Austin (3 hours) to see some friends, then maybe Dallas to Lubbock to see my hometown (5 hours) in the coming months..Just pile up those road hours and by this time next year, be confident and make this trip (I was going for the skiing and winter is about over). Or maybe I'll say screw it and jump in the car next week (I don't start law school till August so I have free time) and just see what happens. Decisions, decisions, Anyway, thank you again!