Driving and anxiety

[Trav24]

Hi all,

I’m new to this but at this stage I’m getting kind of desperate and don’t know what to do.

I’ll try and keep it short - I’ve got epilepsy and anxiety that stems off that as symptoms for panic attacks feel like the coming on of a seizure (on a separate note if anyone has something similar and would like to share that would be amazing!) I struggle a lot with a phobia of not being able to ‘escape’ places so I don’t like going to a new shopping center that I don’t know the exits for, or somewhere that I can’t access fresh air/a drink of water etc. I also struggled a few years ago with being alone in case something happened to me and no one was around, and I went through a phase of not being able to leave Mum/dad/my sisters side and couldn’t do anything.

im a lot better than I was but as I’ve gotten older I’ve struggled a lot with driving. I can’t drive anywhere that I’ve never driven before because I’m not familiar with the roads and don’t have an ‘out’ in case I have a panic attack. I was doing really well for a while and felt almost normal but I had a panic attack recently while driving out of the blue and now feel like I’m back to square 1. I have to get someone to either drive me to work or to follow behind me ‘just incase’. Sometimes even with someone there I’ll panic, and it’s just the fear of being stuck on the side of the road with no one around who can ‘get me’ if my family are at work for example.

I’ve spoken to multiple counselors, changed medication three times and had hypnotherapy which didn’t work, and I just don’t know what to do because I can’t keep living like this, it’s having a massive impact on me and my family as well.

any suggestions would be appreciated so much

[Trav24]

Thanks Paul!

Traffic anxiety yes but also anxiety on freeways/highways or places where there isn’t somewhere I can pull into to talk to someone (a lot of my panic attacks can be diffused if I know I’ve got someone with me)

I’m the same with crowds I get very claustrophobic, and even if the weather is quite cloudy/glary for some reason sets me off ? Sounds weird haha.

Panic attacks can be frequent if I’m in an uncomfortable environment, driving is always worse but if I’m at home I’m usually fine if that makes sense?

[blondguy]

Hi Trav

Thanks for having the courage to post back (again) . There is nothing weird about the weather having an effect as sensitivity to light/glare is another indicator of underlying stress/anxiety issues...even minor ones

Can I ask if you have someone that you can call (for a chat) when you notice the freeway traffic coming to a standstill?

Great to have you posting with us Trav.....You have a great attitude 🙂 (thumbs up!)

Paul

[Trav24]

Hi Paul,

yes this is one of my strategies! I just struggle if my ‘safety people’ are all doing things and uncontactable it gives me this fear of ‘if something happens to me know one will know’ kind of thing that I think I’m scared of if that makes sense

[blondguy]

Hey Trav

I started getting this awful traffic anxiety when I was 23 in 1983.....and worked through it....Its is awful. No one on the forums will underestimate how bad these feelings are when we cant turn off a freeway or a traffic jam

I probably misread your post....So did you feel like I did when using the phone as a distraction when 'boxed' in traffic?

I also found it awfully claustrophobic without calling someone when 'stuck'.

You make perfect sense Trav! Having a back up plan in place is important and good on you. I had a GP that gave me a prescription for a low dose benzo.....and he only told me to take a half tablet if I was stuck in traffic....The point is not the meds...It was only having another way to rescue myself when I was stuck

My doc knew that I was anti-meds yet I put a couple into my wallet (just in case) I really never had to use them as they were only a back up if I couldnt get anyone on the phone 🙂 I may have taken half a tablet to reduce the anxiety in about 3 years..!

I really hope that made some sense Trav...and if you can please stick around the forums when its convenient.

you are not alone at all

Paul