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14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 57

Davit: THANKS! I do feel better 95% of the time. I do still have some weird random moments, but between the book & this website, I've been feeling MUCH MUCH better.

ChristineL: Turning the negative into a positive will help. Like Davit said, make it a game or find some way to distract your brain from the panic of driving. Add up the #s on license plates, count the red cars, read the street exits aloud, ANYTHING.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 6252

ChristineL

I have a question for you. Since you can obviously drive and have no trouble passing, are you sure it is the driving that is the problem? You seem more bothered by being farther from home and how it is forcing you to do something you would rather not. Think about this you do have a choice. You chose to work so you could be supportive. You sound proud of your job. And you sound proud of your ability to cope. If you can some how use these good points to put a happy spin on your driving, you should soon have it not bother you. Especially if you make a game of it. You could try driving in the fast lane for a little longer after passing. And think about how this is helping you to pay for your house or anything but how uncomfortable you are and I am sure you will soon find it easier. Remember as long as the slow lane is there you have a safe out. And yes God works in mysterious ways. By the way, this pushing yourself a bit at a time is called exposure and it does work.

Just a thought

Davit

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3

^{The hardest part for me was the fact that I don't have a choice. I have to drive, its now part of my job (which I didn't realize they would put me so far from home when I took the job as I am a traveling auditor for the state of NY). I need the job to pay bills and keep my house, my husband is counting on that. That is when the anxiety started. But then I realized, maybe this job is God's way of helping me get through the anxiety and not being confined to the close quarters of home that I have been so use to....Its bitter sweet.}

Little by little I drive in the slow lane and now and then go in the middle lane when I need to pass a car. The other day I passed the car but could not get over, the anxiety came flowing through me and by knowing I am not going to die, or faint, or have a heart attack I had no choice but to let it flow through me... It was amazing and scary but I was ok after. I think battling the demons is the only way to get through it. Although I wish I was closer to home, I know that I am training my brain to be fine with the driving. Yesterday was one of my best days since I started. I hope one day, it wont even be a factor when I try and decide which highway to take!

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 6252

Hi Texan.

My God can you hear yourself! You are so much better than you were even just a short while ago. Just listening to you gives me the confidence to think that maybe just maybe this isn't an accident, maybe I can be and stay panic free. I too get attacks start but just fade away before they amount to any thing. By the way My therapist is going to photocopy some of the stuff in my Anxiety & Phobia Workbook for her other clients. Says a lot for the book.

Davit.

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 57

I get thru the beginnings of anxiety attacks by remembering that I've felt this way before and I survived. There was no death, no heart attack, no frequent trips to the bathroom (which only happened once the attacks were full blown)... Jus annoyance & feeling uncomfortable. It DOES pass & it does get better. Am I completely cured? No. But I have learned to acknowledge what is going on in my body & mind and just breathe thru it. I can, 9 times out of 10, keep the attacks from getting out of control. It is a nuisance for maybe about an hour, if that long. No meds either. I have positive mantras that I repeat, breathing techniques that I do, meditations (that I found on YouTube! lol), and sometimes progressive muscle relaxation. I have a book that I read (The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook, which has been a GODSEND!). And I frequent this website. These forums help tremendously because it helps to know that there are other people dealing with the exact same things. You are not alone. And it does get better

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 39

Christine,

Very interesting! You are the second post that I've read in the last couple of days that has said that acknowledging the anxiety for being just that anxiety is what caused it to go away. The times that anxiety starts to creep up on me is when I start to feel things and I start convincing myself that something is wrong. Even though I try to tell myself that it is just anxiety it is not so effective because I am not completely convinced about that statement. But I have definitely had times where I could confidently tell myself that it was just anxiety and it went away. So, I guess the next question would be: how can more confidently tell ourselves that it is just anxiety so that we actually believe it and feel relief???

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11213

Thanks for sharing Christine!

How were you able to just acknowledge it and let it go away naturally this time?

Please keep us updated!

Ashley, Health Educator

Here to help :)

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3

have had panic disorder for about 13 years. I have been on effexor for that amount of time as well and it was manageable. I have been through some major life changes the past few years. I recently got married, started a new career, purchased a home and dealing with fertility problems. I found my panic disorder has come back, especially with driving which is required with my new job. I am a well educated person when it comes to this issue and I am even trying EMDR (haven't tried it yet but in the next few weeks my therapist will try it when she feels I am ready). I found this website and was really happy when I realized that I wasn't being charged anything for help, unlike other websites. I feel motivated reading the weekly sessions and other peoples problems. I know that life shouldn't be this way but unfortunately my brain is fighting a battle between good and fear. I drove for 3 hours yesterday and when I felt the anxiety flow through me I just acknowledged it and it left. I actually cried because I didn't try to make it go away but it just did naturally. I am actually excited to see what will happen today. For the first time in awhile I am feeling motivated and are ready to tackle this panic disorder! thank you!

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