Situational Anxiety/Anxiety while driving.

[thomj513]

I don't know if this is even a legitimate problem area, but I'm having problems with anxiety while driving in my car.  It's getting to the point where I'm afraid one day that I won't be able to even get into the thing.  My Dr has had me on Prozac and Celexa but I'm now off of both due to the bad side effects I was having.  I go back again on the 17th of this month to see what else they'll prescribe.  Anyone else have this "phobia"?  Thx, Thom.

[Jesse74]

I just recently developed this problem.  What triggered it was that I have high blood pressure, and finally was hospitalized for it.  I have meds for it now, but I worry I will have something happen to me while driving, that I will hurt someone else, etc.  I had no idea other people suffered from this same problem until now.  And here's the really bad part of my particular situation: my job is a medical van driver.  Basically all I do all day is drive all over southern ca area picking up sick people to take to doctors, etc.  Not EMT, thank God, but still stressful.  Even if I'm feeling okay, all it takes is a client to flip on me about going a different route than what they want, or just talking too much to me and being overexcited, and that can send me into a panic attack.  The attack will spin worse and worse because I start to dwell on it and how I know I can't just pull over with these people on board, etc.  It's gotten to the point I might have to find a different job, it's that bad.  I will probably have to get on some real meds for the anxiety, or hopefully find a job that only entails driving to and from work.  I can definitely sympathize with anyone else going through this.  

[christiebrooks]

I am going to take my driving test tomorrow for the forth time....and my parents are pressuring me since I go to college and they do not want to drive me there anymore.....the thing is, I really want to pass and I know how to drive but i start to get very nervous and hyperventilate when i drive....I cried after my third test fail and now my dad keeps telling me not to cry, such as in a mocking manner. They think I am crazy and that i do not want to pass but they do not want to see that i have a driving phobia.....and maybe perhaps just anxiety problems..i read these stories and i am glad that i am not alone.....wish me luck tomorrow!

[LorenL]

I have had this problem for a number of years now. Once my baby was born I completely stopped driving because of the fear of having a panic attack while they were with me in the car. I started to drive short distances, to the local shops etc. But haven't yet gone further. Ive left it for a few years now and just seems so much harder to get back out there. I took the easy option of never driving and relying on other people but now it is really getting me down because I cant just get up and go where ever I like. I want to avoid medications if I can but this plays on my mind all the time from the time I WAKe up until I sleep at night. Any recommendations. Have tried to go further distances over bridges and lights but get to a point where I start to freak out and say I cant do this, then pull over and my husband then takes over. Its so frustrating and just want to be able to drive normally again. Any suggestions or advice to overcome this!

[sla0104]

Hi There,

I just came across this - i know it has been a number of years. Are you still suffering from this or have you found something to help you??

I am currently going through this and it's very upsetting as I have never had this happen before and now it's happening every day.

[RY1234]

Thank you!! It's still hard for me because of my "fear" of having one while driving. I'm only lucky because I run my own online business from home and my husband has a good job so I don't "have" to work. But my only issue now is, my daughter's school was rezoned to a crappy school. So luckily she got into a better school this year, but they don't offer transpertation (it's an "open enrollment" where your child can still continue going to that school EXCEPT they don't offer bus transportation--and the drive is 16 min away), so I'm still suffering from having the courage to drive her to and from. It's not really when she's with me in the car. It's only when I'm driving back alone and then driving "alone" on the way to pick her up :( It's stressing me a lot. But my friend is driving behind me to get me used to it and it is helping. I've also found different routes where I don't have to go through much traffic lights (traffics lights scare me the most)-something about having to "stop" and "wait"..most likely because when we stop, we feel like we cant move again. When driving you are constantly moving therefore you feel you can hurry along or drive somewhere to pull over if needed. So stopping at a light is the biggest issue because I feel once I stop..if I panic, I can't start up again ....that is why people have a hard time. I REALLY trully feel my biggest issue was quitting regular cigarettes. The ecigs I vape work great-but the nicotine level is very low but the additives that my body was withdrawaling from really screwed my mind up because somehow (even after almost 2 years), it altered something in my mind..sigh. Sometimes I feel I should just go back to smoking regular cigarettes. I am TERIFIED of being "medicated" (even tho oddly I trully feel regular ciggs have traces of medication in them since tobacco companies don't have to list 500+ chemicals in them that make you extremely addicted. I never had panic when I smoked. I can't drink or take anything that will make my heartbeat go fast (coffee now frightens me unless I'm not going to drive).

One other thing I recently researched was middle ear issues (which also happens after quitting smoking oddly). Something to do with making sure your middle ear is in good shape because that can escalate anxiety and panic attacks. Even if you don't have any middle ear infections, do get it checked. Also TEETH FILLINGS (mercury fillings) seem to do something to our brains as well). IF ANYONE HAS MERCURY FILLINGS-it is important to go to a HOLISTIC dentist that is EXPERIANCED in removing them safetly as this seems to be another issue with those who have extreme panic disorder.

[muddyxb]

wow I just read everything your wrote and I just want to thank you for all that information...I feel like a big loser because I just can't get behind the wheel again after having a panic attach about 6 months ago and I have to get ride to work and back now...I just can't fight that fear off! I hope your doing better.