Travel Anxiety

[Lionheart]

I have a major fear of car accidents. I was once involved in low speed accident, have heard some horror stories, and lost some friends to auto accidents. I think the worst, ("catastrophize"), and have full blown panic attacks, if I am traveling but not driving, (I am not quite as anxious when driving). In this situation, I literally have no control. This physically makes me sick, draining me of energy so that I need complete bed rest afterwards, (read: tranquilizer). I need to tame this fear as it is interfering with my everyday life, *(I am already disabled due to PTSD). I really need suggestions and support with this please.

 

[Lionheart]

I forgot to add that I have had several close calls in the past few years. Once I was almost broadsided...the man who was running a red light, stopped less than a foot from the driver's door. Another time, my daughter was with me and we are almost broadsided by two large trucks, *(again running a red light). I suppose, I will consider tranquilizers if I can't find other effective coping methods. Hopefully, my new therapist will be helpful.

 

[seaworthy]

Hi Lionheart,

I started a thread in the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder group entitled 'A Recipe for Self-EMDR'. Many years ago, I used to be adept in using this technique on myself to desensitize and reprogram my mind, emotions and body for Traumatic events. I was phobic about anything that could explode (i.e. gas hot water heaters, Barbeque's, pressurized cans, car batteries) as I witnessed friends of mine exploding a can of gasoline on a Barbeque and burning to death as a child. I am relearning how to do tailor this technique to myself now and to practice it and practice it. I still can't (or choose not to) light a Barbeque, but I'm not debilitated by exposure to one, nor hypervigilant and constrictive of my lifestyle by 'things that might explode'.

seaworthy

seaworthy

 

[Tinyflame]

Dear L,

To the extent I am aware, to extinguish a fear we have to 'feel the fear' AND see that nothing bad happens.
In other words, if we are medicated, etc, it will assist us at the moment, but won't erradicate the fear.

Of course, I realize that you have experienced much of the worst.
Perhaps (beginning by) taking short trips and keeping a "running total" of how many times you don't experience a problem may help, cognitively.

I know that Dave (cragger65) may have good advice on this one (-Hope that's ok Dave.. Dave has good advice on everything, pretty much :) ).

 

[Lionheart]

Thank you Seaworthy. I will check out the thread and ask my therapist about EMDR as well.

 

[Lionheart]

Thank you Junebug, I began working on this in therapy today and I agree that tranquilizers are probably not the answer, as I need to be alert while driving.

 

[Lionheart]

Just an update: I am finding that re-focusing my attention to the control that I do have, along with the serenity prayer is helpful. I have broken things down into smaller steps and am now working with my therapist. I would still like to hear from members as to how you deal with outside circumstances and situations that create major fear.

 

[Deleted member 541]

Facing your fear, in small steps, a little at a time, is the best way to go.....Keep at it, it will get better....

 

[Lionheart]

Thank you She Cat, I really needed the encouragement!!!

 

[midi]

I'm recovering from being a pedestrian who got hit by a truck, so I can share in your anxiety of auto accidents. I use a combination of probability, drugs, meditation, and breathing to try and deal with my extreme fear of autos. First, the probability of me being hit by another truck/car/bus/plane again is very low, second drugs help with panic attacks, third slowing down the mind helps calm the body, fourth being conscious of your breath grounds you and lowers the anxiety.

When I am in a car (which is very rare), I simply close my eyes, try to focus on my breathing, and tell myself over and over that being in the car is not forever. I can't control what happens, but I can try to deal with my fear while it's happening.

 

[Lionheart]

....being conscious of your breath grounds you and lowers the anxiety.

Thank you Midi, I had forgotten to focus on my breathing, which is a technique I have used in the past to help with anxiety. I am sorry that you were struck by a truck, that must have been horrible for you.
My therapist says that driving or riding in a car has become a phobia for me and has a lot to do with the feeling of having no control. Lack of control can be a major trigger I suppose. I have curtailed my driving/riding to only what is absolutely necessary.

 

[FlameTachiku]

Hi Lionheart777,

I am so sorry to hear of what you go through with travel and driving. I can completely relate and it was terrible. I had an accident and it combind with other things kept me out of life for a year. Meaning I spent it in bed and was successful to brush my teeth and get to the bathroom independantly. Getting in the car and not jumping in fear at shadows, heart racing, breath gone, and terror took time. The most difficult was driving past the place of the accident. It was three years plus to get better with the driving part. I now travel and drive and am a driver for others who can't. I had an extremely good therapist. Tricky I had to drive to get to him and some times a great distance as there was more than one office and through a big city. First I learned how to calm myself from the symptoms. Then he worked with statistic's to pull emotion out the equation. Cognitive behavior therapy was helful. Then the dreaded exposure therapy at the site of the accident. There were very specific instructions with exposure therapy, not just going to the site because that flairs my symptoms without improving them making not only that experience worse but surviving the after effects difficult. I guess getting a good therapist with multiple approaches and working on the needed steps is what worked...and time. It is possible to recover and drive without fear. I have moments of terror but not to the point of curtailing driving (unless ice storms or bad snow). I hope for you a good therapist and a chance for the freedom, not only to drive when you need and want to, but the freedom to go and be without the effects of fear. I fully agree with the above, targeted breathing helps so much.