Panic disorder and driving on the interstate?
Friday, April 30th, 2010 at
12:33 am
I suffer from a panic disorder and I absolutely cannot drive on or near the interstate without having the worst panic attack ever. Just curious if anyone else has suffered or is suffering from this and how are you or did you deal with it?
Tagged with: Disorder • driving • interstate • Panic
Filed under: Panic Disorder
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Yes and no
I have a panic disorder but only if I am driving long distances
I guess I deal with it the worst way….avoidance
I used to have a problem with driving by semis but I just made myself do it>
I had that problem. Just put on your favourite ‘feel good’ music,go with a positive friend or family member,open the window and drive!!! Believe in yourself! If you expect a panic attack,it will happen,if you tell yourself that you can do it you can!!!! I over came it and so can you,think positive!! Good Luck!!
It’s a stimuli disorder, CNS detectors are telling your btain that certain stimuli are bad and send you into a reaction that you have had to something that really did scare you and has left you with Post Traumatic Event Syndrome
I have experienced this and I still try to avoid driving sometimes. I went through talk therapy and it seemed to help plus i have the will to overcome my fears because I think back to when stuff like driving and being in crowded, unfamiliar places didn’t bother me and i want to get back to that again. My therapist told me I have the choice of living with limitations or facing and overcoming my fears. I would choose the latter.Go get help and keep trying because you have to put yourself in uncomfortable , vulnerable situations or you will never get over this. Lastly remember that you are in control and you won’t die from a panic attack even though you might feel like you will it is all in your mind. Good Luck
P.S. also don’t be afraid to seek help , many people share your problem , myself included.
I get panic attacks all the time…well not all the time, but you know what I mean…but actually, driving is not one of the things that triggers one. I think it’s because I feel more in control while driving. If I tell my car to turn right, we go right, no questions asked. I do worry about other vehicles, but I like freeway driving because there’s usually no one coming at me from a cross street or any place I can’t see. I feel like maybe if you try to think of driving as a positive thing where you are in control, it might be easier.
I used to think it was only me – that everyone else was so confident driving (and everything else, even leaving the house). Then I told a couple of close people how scared I was and was amazed that they said they felt the same. They always appeared so relaxed and assured.
I’ve since realised that we all panic sometimes. Even the most confident looking people get scared. And driving on those big roads is scary! Too many people, and yourself having to stay in control.
Best thing to do is remind yourself is you’ve done it before and that time it was alright. When you feel scared say , yep i’m scared, then remember – really remember – the feeling won’t last.
It’ll pass. Feelings always do. We’re wired that way.
This, too, will pass. You’ll be OK.