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PANIC ATTACK WHILE DRIVING

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Posted Yesterday 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
After several good weeks with little to no anxiety, it hit me hard tongiht while driving.  While traveling an hour back to my home, I began to get the sensations, tightness in the rib cage, tightness in the throat, tingling in the neck and arms.  My long lost friend was and is back.  I tried my relaxation techniques, deep breathing, staying in the moment, and telling the anxiety to give me all it has, but I lost.  So I took an alprazalam which I have not had to take in several months.  It helped a bit, at least got me the half hour left of my trip back to my home.  As soon as I got home, which is now, I got on line and to this support group.  You are the only folks that understand what we go through. 

I still have the anxiety feelings but they seem to be subsiding or least I now feel the effects of the alprazalam and am feeling tired.  I thought I had turned the corner on this but obviously I have not.  Two steps forward one step back......

I believe that the driving was my trigger as has been in the past.  How can I get over my driving anxiety? 

CC

Posted Yesterday 5:03 AM (GMT 0)

CC,

Please don't blame yourself, anxiety attacks at whim and it is not our fault. My dear friend I am so sorry this happened. I was often paralysed to be point of not being able to drive so kudos to you. It may feel like a failure this time but if you look at all you have achieved you must admit you are one strong person. Don't let this set you back, accept and keep saying those strong things you say in your head.

We're here for you, keep posting

Hugs

Meg  

Posted Yesterday 8:19 PM (GMT 0)
Hi CC :) I have the same problem also, but I'm only a little over a month into my therapy, and it is a wild ride. You have come far and are doing great. Anxiety is just coming back to nip you and see how you are doing. I notice that whenever the therapy is going good, and I feel good, I tend to do way too much which sets it in again. Are you spending time relaxing and kicking back, or have you been like most of the rest of us, and placed yourself back to where you were before? I'm just curious. I sure hope you get to feeling better, and keep remembering how far you have come and that you will keep doing well, despite any setbacks :)
Posted Yesterday 8:30 PM (GMT 0)

Hey CC, it is ok.............you just hit a little bump in the road.  We are here for you. I have the driving phobia especially on the freeway uptown.  I just tell myself to Do IT.  Get in my car, take a big breath and know in 35 minutes I will be at my destination.

I talk to myself, repeating "I am OK"  I have done this many times over the 30 some years so just do it.

I do tune into the comedy channel as laughter helps me relax. I am in MN so I turn on my heated seats which helps loosen the tension in my back and then just go.

I also ask myself what is the worse that will happen, you miss your turns.............so I end up in Canada smhair

Yes on the trips into heavy traffic I take 2 mg of Valium just to take the edge off.

Take care and keep posting.

Kitt

Posted Today 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your responses. I have been living with this for a while now and know what I to do. But when I have a set back as I did last night it is nice to have the reasurance, which I know everyone on here will give me. When I was having my P/A last night, I thought "Okay when I get home I am getting on line, just to send a message and get support"

Thanks
CC
Posted Today 9:21 PM (GMT 0)

whenever i get anxious while driving, i immediately turn down the music (which is normally loud as a full blown rock concert) and i focus on breathing exercises. you are never to blame for your anxiety, it cant be helped, for whatever unknown reason, we have been lumped with this invisible illness and must make do as best we can.

peace, blessings, love Maz XX

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