Is this an anxiety attack or something more serious?

[tileman]

Ok, for the last 5 years I have been getting these spontanous symptoms while driving my car, and it only happens when driving.  These symptoms include a tingling sensation that starts in my fingers and quickly and intensley spread to my face. If I cannot stop the car it becomes so bad that I have trouble functioning my limbs and breathing.  they feel heavy and unresponsive.  Other symptoms are rapid heart beat( not sure if its my adreniline kicking in) and dizziness, unfocused vision and it feels like my eyeballs are vibrating.  drymouth also.  these episodes will come and go-sometimes happening only once a year and sometimes happening frequently.  I just had one yesterday and it was the worst one yet.
      These symptoms start out mild and quickly progress untill I am almost not functional.  When I feel the symptoms coming on I try to pull off, but sometimes I am on major highways and I can't.  Which is very dangerous.
      When I pull off the road and get out of the car I get a sudden intense rush of dizziness and feel like I am going to black out.  When that fades the heavyness and tingling sensations slowly fade as well.  
      Is this anxiety an attack?  I am not a nervouse driver, I am 25, and relatively healthy with no major diseases.  I am a smoker with bad sleep apnea though, could this be a side affect?  I appreciate any help or advice you can give me b4 I go and spend money at the doctors office.   Thanx again

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

yes sounds like anxiety to me , because it only happens while driving so its become a habit to happen than, it can happen at other time, anxiety changes forms and symptoms so dont be surprised if it does . i have the tingling to , all your symptoms , i have had before. have you seen a dr about them or talk to someone, dont let it go on and get out hand , and remember its just your body doing it , theres really nothing wrong with you .

[Nasal_Problems]

Sounds like you have agrophobia. Were you been in an accident or did something occurred in a car to you 5 years ago? Try to think about it thoroughly. Whatever happened seems to have manifested a fear in you. The good part is you are starting to learn about anxiety. All the symptoms you mentioned are typical. Your quite normal in fact. One of the hardest parts of anxiety is believing when other people tell you the symptoms you feel are normal. The reason is, they seem soooo severe! I know. I've been there and still get them. But, knowing its anxiety and not lifethreatening is your first step on the road to recovery. I suspect that if you try to go out on a casual drive around the block (that's it) you may not experiece this sensation. Even if you do, if its only located in the car and you can still drive that's good. Try to work on it. I think you'll see an improvement.