Anxiety And Driving.

[Eleanor]

HURRAH! Hurray hurray hurray! (Post photo of happy jumping people that I can't figure out how to cut and paste HERE!) WOO HOO! Go Gizmo!:tup::):tup:

 

[Deleted member 12723]

OH thank you so much, Eleanor. It was a good driving day. I will drive tomorrow and it will be a good driving day.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I had a good driving day today. I had anxiety but I did ok. I did'nt drive on the freeway, but I had to drive to a new place I do not usually go to. I do not park very good. I keep trying but I park crooked. I had to drive at 2 different times, and I did ok. I am glad I did ok.

I hate the anxiety that I get. I wish it would go away and leave me alone forever. I have had it for the past year. It was going away and all of a sudden it started affecting me every morning now for a couple of weeks.

I have to get more meds next wed. I will have to drive on the freeway. I have enough anxiety meds for that trip. I will have to get more gas. You would think I would'nt have anxiety for these little things that I have to do but I do. It is a freefloating anxiety. I do the best I can with the information that I have.

I was feeling better and then I got this anxiety. I am so sick and tired of it. I do not know why I have it. Things are going good in my life. I know it has to do with me quitting smoking. It was helping me with the anxiety. Now I am going without. I am glad that I quit smoking. But I thought that it would be better by now.

I have things that I am looking forwards to. I am taking care of myself. I got my hair cut yesterday. I treated myself to a shampoo and a haircut and a style. I ordered a washer and a dryer today. My washer leaks and the dryer is getting ready to go. My husband saved up money to get those things today. So we paid cash. What a good feeling that is. But the good feelings don't override the bad anxiety. I am having memories today. Painful feelings.

Things I would rather let go of. I don't want to hang onto the bad anymore. I want a good attutude. I want to be positive. This anxiety is a weight that wears me down. I am tired of the cloud of it hanging over me. It was just the anxiety of driving that I was having problems with.

I get my granddaughter this weekend. It will be fun having her here. But even with that good thing in my life I get anxiety. I have to go food shopping tommorow. That is something to do. I have had things to do this week. It usually helps out with the anxiety. But it has been hanging on.

I am venting and ranting. Thanks for listening if any one is. I'm weary of it. I go through the motions of living. I make an effort to be active, I talk to people on the phone. I had 2 good cnversations on the phone today. I talked to my sponser and my sister.

I always run out of anxiety med. I have enough to go to the pharmacy next week. Then I will have some more. i have been journaling. I do not get any exercise. I need to do that. I need to take my dog for a walk. We have to drive a street over to take my dog for a walk because we aren't allowed to walk our dogs in the mobile home park. People abused it and they don't let anyone do it now.

It is a hassle. I know I need to make more of an effort. I need it more when I have the anxiety. Well thanks for listening.

 

[Eleanor]

Gizmo, walking really does help. I made myself walk Mon to get L from school, and then we took a walk yesterday for H to help him calm down. It made things better (and the dogs, naturally, were THRILLED!!!) So your instincts are spot on. I hear you about the problems getting up and DOING it tho:whistling:. I wouldn't have if I didn't have to:(. Could you "make yourself" take the dog for a walk somehow? Maybe a doggie play date?

You probably know this but just in case: if you use something like nicotine to self medicate against anxiety it depresses your natural ability to metabolize and neutralize the anxiety producing hormonal response. The recovery slope generally parallels the decline slope - so if it took you a long time to become a steady smoker it may take you a while to rebuild your capacity. That's just the nature of the "addiction" beast. But recover you will so long as you stay off the drug.

Hurray for driving and giving yourself credit for doing it, and doing well!!

Enjoy your granddaughter this weekend!:)

 

[Lav]

Hello gizmo and others,

Thank you gizmo for your support in the Feels Like A Milestone thread. No more sweaty shirts after driving. Feel comforted I'm not the only one who has a problem with highways and driving in general. My anxiety over it makes me feel useless. Anything that poses a threat or if I feel unsafe my Ptsd goes nuts on me, so to speak.

I was taught a trick to help with the anxiety, it sort of worked. I had to first of all just sit in the drivers seat with the car not running, do that a couple of times on different occasions. Then turn the car on, and just sit there, same thing, do that a couple of times. Next step was to just drive the driveway, I know it sounds funny but it helped. When I was ready I ventured out into the big bad backstreets. Thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest. :laugh: Now it is not so bad, hooray!!

I really hope you can somehow reduce your anxiety gizmo, thinking of you.

 

[Eleanor]

I think they call this "progressive desensitization" or something like that. Brilliant lav! Can you continue to "chunk" the driving even past the driveway?

 

[Lav]

That's it desensitization, couldn't remember what it was called, ta. Yes I can and enjoying it, believe it or not. I'll only hit the main roads when I'll have to, like say for an example if my partner was sick and needed to go to the hospital. It's amazing what you can do when you have to.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

(((Eleanor))):)

I will ha ve to make myself go on walks. I used to do that. It's just a hassle because I have to get in the car and drive around the corner. of course the dog adores her walks. I go and could just keep on going if my husband was'nt so sick, we would go on bigger walks.He does'nt like being alone so I take him with me whereever I go. The anxiety was a low grade anxiety today. I drove today to get us mocha frappes.

I love driving each day. I used to love driving. I think I will love it again.

Thanks for the info on the nicotine and hormone levels. I guess it is one of those things that will take along time. I quit before for 5 years and I did'nt have problems with the anxiety. I can't believe I started back up again after quitting for 5 years.

I did this to myself. I can't believe I am having anxiety over quitting smoking. I saw a program on young teenage girls who have Tourettes Synrome. They are incredibly inspiring. The things they have to put up with and endure out of their control.

They went to public school and did'nt want to go. They did amazingly well. They had it so hard. But they had such good attitudes. How painful at the age they were at when peers are so important, the tics they have. they were so embarrased. They cried at times. It was all so heartbreaking. They had such good moms who refused to enable but empowered them. Eleanor You have empowered me and I am very grateful. Your support has meant so much to me.

Thank you, take care and be well.

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[Deleted member 12723]

(((Lav)))

Thank you for your words of support. I really appreciate that.I am glad you are having it easier when you drive. I can drive to the places I have to go to. It is amazing what a person can do with no choice.

I love driving in town. I do really well. It is the freeway driving that I struggle with. I do not always have anxiety, and sometimes it is not so bad. 2 times I have driven on the freeway and enjoyed the drive. But lately I have been having a low grade anxiety during the day at home.. it hasn't interfered with my driving in town. I am lucky.

But I still get anxiety and will keep on writing about it until I get it out and do not have anxiety anymore.

need some healthy acceptance for the anxiety. I think if I could just accept that I have it it would help.

 

[Lav]

Gizmo, I wish I didn't have anxiety, especially when I get anxiety about being anxious. You have got me thinking about just accepting that I do, haven't tried that angle of attack yet. I'll try it and let you know if it works.

 

[Jen93]

Heh. Let me tell you 'bout driving and anxiety.

I was diagnosed with PTSD when I was sixteen. In Canada, you can get your learner's permit at sixteen, then you have to wait a year to get your full license. I was too busy with school to think of driving at sixteen (of course my sixteenth birthday was in May around exam time- didn't have time to deal with the written beginning road tests and such.) I went to my cottage in another province for the summer, came back in September, felt so depressed; finally told my parents in November.

The point is, I was so suicidal- I was scared to learn how to drive and give myself another way to possibly kill myself. Now I'm scared to learn how to drive and get a flashback while driving (I get full-on ones, I cry, sob, shake, etc. etc.) and put others in danger because I'm likely to crash.

My parents are still on me about trying to get my license. The way I look at it though is this: I live in a city where I can get anywhere by bus, train, or walking. I don't need no stinkin' car! I'm saving lives (including possibly my own) and the environment! I'm also saving them a hell of a lot on insurance, gas, and license fees! So Mommy and Daddy, be happy being my chauffeur, and be GLAD I still want to be your little girl. :D

*Forrest Gump voice* "And that's all I have to say about that."

 

[Lav]

Gidday

Your fear is understandable Jen93, having flashbacks while driving is not good.

I didn't get my license till I was about 27, I too am worried about the safety factor because I just dissociate too much and at any time without warning. Where we live there is no public transport so I have to rely on my partner/carer. I'll only drive when I feel strong enough and only short distances. It can be humiliating at times. I feel like a prisoner in my own home.