Panic Attacks While Driving

[maureen douglas]

Wondering if anyone can help, for about 4 months now. I've been suffering panic attacks again, on and off for 8 years but these were the worst and only happen when I'm driving.

Its destroying my life, 3 and a half years ago I had a car accident and rolled my car on a main road and had 4 children in the car, thank God none of us were hurt, but I'm thinking now its maybe PTSD. Only reason I can think of for the panic while driving, I've been driving for 15 years and driven all over the country, now 4 miles scares me to death.

 

[nursenurse]

Not PTSD, but I had a major panic attack unrelated to driving. After I ruled out medical causes, which has likely been done in your case, I had to, and still do, focus on other distractions that keep my eyes on the road. Talk radio, listening to the words, learning Spanish via CD (Canadian, eh?), short but frequent trips ( if you need that start). Cut back on stimulants like caffeine. Don't drive after a night of alcohol. Or after an hour. And of course, therapy, where is your counsellor? These fears need to be taken seriously so you can effect a good result.

Don't let this take your life. Get thee to a counsellor and more if you need. Life is too short to not drive.

 

[maureen douglas]

Hi there, thank you for the reply, I haven't had a counsellor as I thought I could beat this myself, first panic attack happened while I was driving in the dark, I had to stop for 10 mins and at one point thought I was going to have to call an ambulance. I calmed down and drove maybe 3 miles and had to stop again, then it was 4 miles home so I spoke to myself all the way home. After this I stayed off the road for a few days but the damage was already done, then a few trips to the gp, pills, made me worse, so accidentally stumbled accross deep breathing excercises. They were a god send but the fear is never gone, that's the worrying thing, even if I've had a perfect journey I worry about the next, I'm off to talk to doc again today and see if there's any answers. I will let you know.

 

[macca]

Sounds like there's definitely a reaction to driving, which makes a lot of sense. Many people develop PTSD after car accidents. Plus it sounds like there was other stuff going on before the accident due to the panic attacks before it. Therapy would probably be really helpful, if you have access to it. What helped me with panic is, on top of the breathing, if I kind of talked myself down, as if I was an adult comforting a very frightened child.

 

[maureen douglas]

Today I went to the doctors. I am being referred to a mental health team in the hope I get what they call Eye Movement desensitization.

Also talk help should help me cope better.

My doctor is 99% sure it's PTSD. So will have treatment in the form of medication as well.

Thank you all for reading, it really has been very difficult of late.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I have struggled with very bad anxiety driving for the past three years. Now my daughter drives me to where I need to go. I had two accidents and my driving was scaring people. Do you have friends and relatives who can drive you around right now? My heart goes out to you in empathy and understanding. My anxiety was a free floating anxiety. Been a good driver for so many years but just could not do it anymore. Big hugs.

 

[HFA_Cat]

I have dreadful panic attacks whilst driving. The only thing that helps at all is sort of dangerous, but for me if I don't do it I'm afraid I'll black out. So I close one eye. My panic attacks ramp up to where I can't breathe - head spins, can't see. Shutting one eye helps bigtime with the spins... I truly try to just pull over but you can't always do that.