I had a Panic Attack Yesterday while Driving!

I had a panic attack while driving home from work yesterday. Thank God my husband was with me. We were just talking like normal and all of a sudden I got hot all over, had the pains in my sides, and my heart starting pounding. I had to pull over into the gas station near our home. It lasted about 1 minute and was gone. I took a xanax and laid down for the rest of the evening.

I guess the stress from the whole Holter monitor thing manifested itself this way. This is the fist bad one I've had in many months. It could also have something to do with me reducing my klonopin over the last 2 weeks. I usually take it at 7pm and this happened about 5:30pm.

I've got so many things to do today and I hope this doesn't happen again. I have to finalize my brothers estate this morning and then go to a baseball game with my family tonight.

Good Morning Dee,

I hope today is a better day for you.  I agree with Percy, let yesterday go, it is over with and just try to stay  in the moment. 

You do have a lot going on and just keep on believing in yourself.

Sending prayers your way,

Kitt

I am glad you are doing better now Dee, and I agree about just letting it go. Panic attacks while driving is really scary, I've done it myself, but after awhile you just have to chalk it up to anxiety and move on. It really does get better one day at a time if you work hard on recovery, and I wish you the best of luck!

Your Bro Sam :)

Panic attacks while driving are the worst - I used to have them ALL the time. I would try to breathe deeply, call my mom or husband, play music loudly - whatever distracted me until I got to my destination. When I didn't make it, I would take a klonopin and pull over on the side of the highway or into a parking lot until it subsided a bit (try explaining that one to the 3 little kids in the backseats - thank you, mr. dvd player!!!)

It sounds like you have a lot on your plate, in addition to the darn holter monitor, so that is probably why the attack cropped up - perhaps you are more anxious about everything going on (monitor, brother's estate, kids' commitments) than you are aware of...at times, I think that I can handle everything and then an attack will pop up and remind me that I'm not so in control or comfortable with my current situation! I force myself to pause and try to figure out what I'm not dealing with or what could have caused it.

Anyway, glad you are feeling better!!!

You are probably right. I'm so used to juggling 1,000 things, but that is what help to bring my issues along. I went to the Dr today and she thinks my jaw/ear pain is sinus related and told me to take Mucinex. She also ordered a special CRP heart blood test to determine my rish of heart disease along w/a fasting cholesterol. All this was normal last yr but given the extensive family history she wants to check it all out. She also asked me to take a baby aspirn daily. The Holter results wont be back until probably Friday.

mom2three said...
Panic attacks while driving are the worst - I used to have them ALL the time. I would try to breathe deeply, call my mom or husband, play music loudly - whatever distracted me until I got to my destination. When I didn't make it, I would take a klonopin and pull over on the side of the highway or into a parking lot until it subsided a bit (try explaining that one to the 3 little kids in the backseats - thank you, mr. dvd player!!!)

It sounds like you have a lot on your plate, in addition to the darn holter monitor, so that is probably why the attack cropped up - perhaps you are more anxious about everything going on (monitor, brother's estate, kids' commitments) than you are aware of...at times, I think that I can handle everything and then an attack will pop up and remind me that I'm not so in control or comfortable with my current situation! I force myself to pause and try to figure out what I'm not dealing with or what could have caused it.

Anyway, glad you are feeling better!!!