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Panic Attack while driving on the freeway

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Panic Attack while driving on the freeway

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 6252

beautiful bird

If you dig enough you will find "negative core beliefs" and "what ifs". We all have them and they can trigger panic attacks when our guards are down. (literally, These are things attached to the synapses that control information absorsion. They are chemical and get sloppy when we are tired) It is ok to have negative core beliefs and what ifs as long as you don't believe them and let them control your life. Thought exposure cures this. Basically it is challenging negative thoughts and burying them with positive ones. Keep posting, we want to hear from you.

Here for you

Davit.

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3

Wow...everything you guys shared is sooo true. It is very comforting to know there are others who can relate to what I am going through. I believe the control issue is very relavent to my situation. I have always been somewhat a control freak and for some reason I feel as if I lack control when driving on the freeway. As I dig deeper I can recall a time about four years prior to my first panic attack, I had lost control of my vehicle while driving on the freeway because another car swerved into my lane and my car began to spin out of control into on coming traffic. Thankfully, no one hit me and I didn't hit anyone. But it scared the daylights out of me. I didn't stop driving on the freeway after that incident, but it may have caused some type of delayed reaction like PTSD??? I guess driving a car makes you vulnerable to other drivers and being on the freeway seems to magnify that vulnerability because of the high speeds that everyone is traveling. Its interesting to know that driving through an intersection is more dangerous than driving on the freeway, but I still feel more comfortable. I guess because I know if I have a panic attack its easier to pull over than waiting 2-3 miles for the next exit. lol

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 6252

beautiful bird,

Agoraphobia is the biggest cause of so many of our phobias. Including driving on the freeway.

Agoraphobia is more about not having control than a fear of open spaces. A lot of the time the fear of open spaces is really a fear of not having control. Divorce is not a one person thing, it is sharing control. Being hurried, or anxious are usually caused by things you have no control over, or little anyway. Driving on the freeway becomes shared control and takes it away from you. But a lot of this is perception. Yes you have to follow certain parameters on the freeway to keep from getting in an accident and yes some of them will be dictated by other peoples actions.

But you can put the control back in your hands by telling yourself that it is your decision. And focusing on your reaction and decision rather than the fact that some one else is forcing the decision. Rather complicated it seems but it really isn't. It takes practice. You also may have built negative core beliefs about driving on the freeway that you will have to overcome also.

It can be done and once it is it will have no power if it ever comes back and it may. You will have the tools in place to handle it so it will have no power over you.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have. Also since you don't know me I suffered from agoraphobia and had a lot of trouble with driving too. (had, past tense) I love freeways now and enjoy the challenge. The control is back in my hands. Besides they really are safer and quicker.

Here for you,

Davit.

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 286

Hi Beautiful Bird,

Welcome to the site. It sounds like you have some great coping mechanisms and tools already in place from your previous work on panic attacks, like how you keep an attack from coming on the grocery store. All of these tools will be really helpful as you learn to get better at freeway driving (which yes, you definitely can!).

You are right that panic attacks can be a strong signal that we need to slow down and figure out what is really going on in our minds and bodies. If they started for you during your divorce that makes sense, because intense periods of stress can bring them on. Sometimes, though, you just "learn" to be anxious in certain situations, like in your case driving on the freeway. It's hard to unlearn this fear reaction, but it CAN be done! Driving on the freeway long distances from home is one of the tough things for me to do, too, but I'm getting better at as I've worked through the program on this site.

I hope you will start the sessions here, and work your way up to session four which focuses on exposure work. The type of anxiety you describe is perfect for developing an exposure program to help you unlearn your fear of freeway driving. For example, you might start by driving with a safe person, then drive one exit by yourself, two exits, etc. over the course of several weeks or months. I won't go too far into it here but it's the part of the program that ended up helping me the most.

Keep us posted on how you're doing. This support group is an invaluable resource!

Teebs

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3

I went through therapy about 7 years ago after my divorce. That was around the same time the panic attacks began. I was under alot of stress during the divorce process and I knew I needed to talk to someone. Therapy helped alot. Most of the panic attacks subsided but I never overcame the fear of driving on the freeway. I noticed that I still get panic attacks when I feel stressed, hurried, or anxious. I onced spoke to my doctor about it and she prescibed paxil, but I never took it because I was afraid of the side effects and didn't want to put a band-aid on the problem. I believe panic attacks are a cue for me to slow down and listen to my body and my thoughts. So sometimes when I am in a long line at the grocery store and I start to feel the onset of a panic attack I take deep breaths and ride it out. I just need to learn how to incorportate that into my driving on the freeway.

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11212

Hi Beautiful Bird,

The program can help with different types of anxiety. Have you talked to a therapist or doctor about this at all?

Ashley, Health Educator

Here to help :)

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 659

Beautiful bird,

Welcome to the program and support group. The answer to your question is Yes you can get better...and this program and support group will help you. There have been many people come here with driving issues and they were able to overcome there fear associated with it.

Red

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 44

Hi Beautiful Bird:

Panic attacks can take you by surprise if you don't know what is happening to you. But the good news is that once you can identify what they are and know that it will not hurt you you will be better able to cope. Panic attacks make you feel as if you are going to die, but in reality that doesn't happen. I would suggest you start the program here and post as often as you like. And, don't be embarrassed, it has happend to all of us...

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3

Hello, I am new to this site. I had my first panic attack while driving on the freeway over 8 years ago. It really freaked me out because I was in the fast lane and I knew I had to get over to the exit. I thought I was going to pass out while attempting to get over and that I would crash into another car. (Look at all of the "what ifs") I made it safely to the exit but I never felt quite safe driving on the freeway after that. I attempted to drive on it a few times, but began to feel light headed and anxious. So now I just drive on the surface streets whenever I have somewhere local to go such as work and taking my kids to school. If I have somewhere to go that requires to travel on the freeway I go with a friend, relative, or my partner. Only a few people know about this because I find it soooo embarassing. I am successful in so many areas of my life and having this problem makes me feel handicapped and ashamed. I really want to overcome this, but I am afraid that while driving on the freeway with my kids I may have a panic attack and crash and kill everyone....Is it possible to cure this? I miss driving long distances on the freeway.

Beautiful Bird

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Panic Attack while driving on the freeway