anxiety in traffic and having yo stop in traffic

hi all :)
i have been managing okay over the holiday period but one aspect of anxiety that i cant seem to shake is the anxiety i get when im stuck in traffic or have to stop at lights. I have tried various distraction methods such as focusing on tree outside, using my brauer calm spray to moisturising my hands. These all only work temporaily and i keep getting the same feeling everytime i'm stuck in traffic or have to stop. Does anyone else get like this and would have some longer lasting methods? it's just getting annoying now! lol TIA xxx

Hi SL.,

I can relate! I have some anxiety that gets kicked up in static sitations...lines, red lights, ect...

For me, it is the struggle of feeling my time is being wasted, and I am bored, so occupying my mind is key.

Obviously the car is not really the place to meditate, so conversely, I like to keep my brain stimulated.

I like listening to comedy, as it keeps me more engaged than music while driving. I don't even mind the stop lights or traffic much when I am cracking up. I don't know if you have Serius or not, but they have great comedy channels.

If not, you can stream some off of Pandora as well. If comedy is not your thing...how about something more along the lines of Ted Talks...or another educational or maybe political talk show?

Another idea would be to use your phone as a dictation journal. Journaling is a great coping skill, but a lot of times finding the time is a challenge. You could use your time in the car to do this with your voice to text function on your phone. (there's probably even an app for this!)

These are just a few ideas that are maybe worth a try?

With support!

S.C.