Anxiety And Driving.

[Pale Warrior]

You know what, Gizmo, of all the threads on this forum this is the one I think about most.

I know how important driving is - all the appointments and stuff - we must have spent over £5k in taxi fares before we got the car. So well done you for braving it out and not giving up.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

(((Pale Warrioe)))
Thank you so very much, this means so much to me. It is the help and the support that is helping to keep on trying. It sure makes such a big difference to do something with help, support and encouragement. I never had that before, but it is making a huge difference in my life now. Take care. I wish i could take a taxi, but I'm afraid if I do that I will be making such a setback for me. I have to do this. Cyber hug

 

[Smushroom]

Good luck for today gizmo :) Just about to start reading the rest of this thread, but I have anxiety driving too. But I get anxious when driving through the city, busy streets, small streets, anywhere but the freeway really. The freeway feels so open, so inviting and so calm. Even in peak hour traffic, i still feel ok.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

Oh Smushroom I wish I felt calm on the freeway. That is where I have the problems, but the last 3 times I have had no anxiety. I get to drive on it tommorow. Thanks for wishing me good luck. I'm getting ready to go to McDonalds to get us a treat for dinner. I do ok in town. I do not have problems except on high anxiety days, which I haven't had in a long while. Cyber hug.

 

[The Albatross]

Awesome way to plan a strategy, desensitize and focus on the anxiety reduction!! Very happy to catch up and read about your successes!

 

[Lav]

Gidday Gizmo,

It's been a while since I last replied and I have noticed your progress, good on you! :tup:

No I haven't had a drive yet to test out the acceptance of my anxiety trick yet, have been quite unwell. I still have a problem with my avoidance issues, need to work on that.

Hope your drive on the freeway tomorrow goes well, looking forward to hearing how it goes.

 

[Eleanor]

Gizmo - don't know if you like music - especially driving music - I am particularly fond of Bobby McFerrin's version of "Drive"

Gonna get in my car...
Drive away...
Drive so far....
No one's gonna catch me!
etc.

Very catchy might help put you back "onto" freeways! (As it has LA freeways in mind...)
Thinking of you!

 

[Deleted member 12723]

(((Eleanor))))
you are a treasure trove of encouragement. /thank you so much for all of your help and support. i keep telling myself it is getting better and better. Tommorow will be a good day, thank you again. I hope all is well for you.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I am having a anniversary reaction today. It is 4 years since my son got killed in a motorcycle accident. I am so grateful for all of the help and support I have gotten to keep on driving. I woke up with alot of anxiety. I do not get it. You would think with me having success, I would be feeling better about driving.

I am doing better on the anxiety now. My pills kicked in. I am glad for the help. I will do ok. It is something to do that I need to do. I will go for a drive. It will get me out of the house, and I will see the sights, and have contact with other people. I will do fine. I have so much help and support and I am so grateful. It really helps.

So I will get ready to go and I will do this. I will have a good time driving. I will have another success story. I am doing better. I do not understand the pre-driving jitters I get. I need to figure this one out. I think I am scaring myself. I do not know what the thoughts are that trigger me. I am scared and afraid.

I remember when it was so bad. But it hasn't been bad. I have had such success. I will do ok. I will get to drive farther next week. I will do it ok too. I am exposing myself to it. Once more thank you for all of the help and support.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I cannot believe it. I did it with no anxiety again. Even the pre-driving jitters calmed down before I had to drive. I calmned down. I am so very happy. This is so awesome. I hope it means that I won't have this anymore. It makes me appreciate all the help and support that much more.

I had some irrational thoughts and I said to myself that they were irrational thoughts. I Had thoughts of getting into an accident. I passed the slow traffic instead of just following it. I am getting back my strength.

I will do ok next week. I will have to drive for an hour. This will be my litmus test. I have driven there so many times, but not with the anxiety. So I am resting up and taking it easy. Yeah:)

Keeping track of my progress and all of the help and support, knowing that i am not alone in this affliction has made a profound difference in my life. Enough for one day.

 

[Smushroom]

Well done gizmo! So happy and proud!As the saying goes 'Slow and steady wins the race' By starting off small, with small goals, you will increase your tolerance as well as being a good boost to the self esteem. Well done! *hugs*

 

[The Albatross]

Great job Gizmo!