feeling faint while driving

[tam31]

I have had some scary symptoms while driving that have begun within the past 3 years.  I often get dizzy feeling, like I'm going to faint, my vision seems to narrow in, I get pressure in my head, my hands get cold and clamy, it's almost like I'm losing consciousness and have to constantly refocus.  When the car stops, the symptoms seems to alleviate.  Sometimes when I stop the car, it looks as though I'm still moving.  Sometimes this happens when I'm tired, but sometimes not.  Also, it seems to get worse the faster I drive.  It's so bad that I can't drive on long road trips for fear of passing out.  Interestingly, it doesn't happen when I'm a passenger, which my doctor says rules out motion sickness.  I've only been on an airplane one time, but it happened then as well, just in a milder way.  My doctor says I am having anxiety attacks, but I don't feel anxious at all until it begins.  I have BPV and Meneires (diagnosed about 10 years ago) and my question is, could it be the Meneires triggering these sensations, thus causing anxiety, or could it be anxiety triggering the Meneires, which triggers these symptoms?  Or is it the BPV, all of the above, none of the above?  Help!!??
Thanks

[INK1291]

I feel our ears might be clogged with ear wax. And when driving on the fwy the pressure from being that high in the mountains makes your head stuffy. Which makes it hard to concentrate
You might even forget to breathe because your so unfocused from all the pressure in your head. And when you don't get enough oxygen to the head you're gonna yawn and feel sleepy. Maybe this can be fixed with an ear wax removal solution. Also I know I'm not the only oe who skips a healthy breakfast and then come lunch time I'm to busy to eat so I convience myself I'm not hungry. I hardly get any sleep and I know that non of this helps when I'm on that freeway and my head feels stuffy. MAYBE
All we need is...
MORE SLEEP
TO CLEAN EARS OF WAX BUILD UP.
TO EAT BETTER/HEALTHIER

[elusionz]

Thanks to Guitarguy, lukeh, and others for sharing their stories. I too am a driving anxiety sufferer from Canada, and my condition has been with me the past 6 years. I truly believe it all started after a scuba diving incident where I almost lost my life due to not receiving enough oxygen (or at least feeling that way). I was rushed to the surface (from 30 feet below) and was so happy to be alive. But ever since, whenever I would get on the highway, BAM, the symptoms would come on. Early on, I clearly remember the first symptoms were only related to swallowing and breathing. I felt as if I couldn't get enough oxygen and could not swallow which caused me to panic. I was even woken up from my sleep a few times by not being able to swallow properly.

A few years went by and my life changed dramatically. I had moved back home (after being in the US for two years alone) and I during this time I was able to cope a lot better with my anxiety. I was able to drive on the highway just fine, as long as I had COLD air blowing on my face, or the window open. Can anyone relate to that?? I took roadtrips with my friends where I drove, and everything was just dandy as long as I had my conforts -- cold air on the face and a bottle of water nearby.

In early 2012, things changed once again. Life became more stressful, and the driving anxiety became a real problem that prevented me from doing the things I needed to do. It got to the point where I was pulling over on the highway because I was so disoriented and scared that I would kill myself and others. My symptoms were (and still are) identical to what you guys describe - face going numb, heart racing, narrow/blurry vision, lightheadedness, pressure around head.

In the past year, I was determined to get to the bottom of this nonsense. In my teens, I was completely fine on the highway. I could speed, pass trucks, have the music blasting, etc...and it didn't phase me, so I knew that my fear was not a fear of driving...it is a fear of the symptoms of panic disorder and panic attacks.

SO WHAT DID I DO, you may ask? I went for Cognitive behavioral therapy which attempted to change the way I think. Unfortunately during my 7 sessions I did not experience any relief, but I did learn some important things. (1) breathing is important, but you HAVE to practice. I was encouraged to breathe through my diaphragm and do it slowly. People with panic disorder tend to hyperventilate and take short, shallow breaths - which others have described here as a big contributer to the symptoms we all experience. I was also told to expose myself to the symptoms in a different environment so that I can learn that they are NOT harmful.  (2) I contemplated taking medication like Xanax, but I decided not to as I had a bad experience with celexa (citalopram). I want to conquor this naturally. (3) I bought a couple books: "Hope and Help for your Nerves" which I recommend, and "Rising Above Fear: Healing Phobias, Panic and Extreme Anxiety" which I have just started. The first book is good because it has taught me to realize that we are being bluffed by our bodies and we are creating something called a "second fear" which is created when we tell ourselves that we are going to die, or the next time will be worse, or WHAT IF, and other negative thoughts. The book encourages us to accept our fears (not control them) and let them float past us. It is only with acceptance that we can overcome this problem. It is about realizing that no matter how sensitized our body's have become, these fight and flight symptoms cannot get any worse than they already are and they will not hurt us. Accept (don't control) the symptoms, and let them FLOAT past you. At the very moment when your feelings seem to engulf you, surrender and accept it.

WHERE AM I TODAY? Well, after trying all these things, I still face the symptoms of anxiety on the highway. I am not discounting the ability of these strategies to help me, but I think it will take more time. Learning to face things, accept what they bring, and let them float past you will take time. I am very optimistic of a recovery though. And I think everybody on this forum should also be optimistic. Do not let your fears take over.

I welcome all comments and suggestions.

[Msrevelation77]

I am experiencing the same symtoms!  Everyone else, I believe, thinks I'm crazy but everyone knows when their body is out of order!  I've always had a problem with flying, which in the past has not hindered me.  However, it's been three years since I've been on a plane due to my fear of an uncontrolled environment and a severe attack.  I have also been prescribed Meclizine by my PCP, but I'm not so eager to take meds due to the side effects.  I prefer to take the wholistic approach, if it will work.  Anyway, I have a dr.'s appt. soon.  Hopefully we can get to the bottom of this, because I refuse to be a prisoner of fear!  And you're absolutely correct, my faith in Jesus has surely carried me thus far.  My prayer is that He will remove this condition and heal yourself and I so that we can live our lives to the max!

[lucky52198]

I am going through the same problem I've been driving since I was 15 years old now I am 30 years old and for some reason I cant drive on the hwy I feel like my heart is pounding so fast my hands sweat and my feet do also and I feel like I have to break immediately and I  just cant continue driving and now just the other day I had a anxiety attack out of know where will driving in the city { it felt like the street was to big for me}  can someone relate to this and is there any advice

[patticakes233]

OMG  I can only hope you see this message as I have never posted in a forum and have no idea this will be read...but your earlier entry was so insightful  you clearly get it!  I have been trying to explain my new onset of driving panic attacks to others and they all think I'm mental.  (which is not my typical m.o.)when on a freeway it is like i feel drugged and dizzy then panic comes!!!  it also could be described as the feeling of falling sensation very similiar to when drifting off to sleep and you do the jerk, but longer and much more severe. When this happens I cannot express the overwhelming fear beating in by body. i have had to completely stop driving on the freeway.  I do not feel anxiety until this happens.  as a passenger it does not happen and it also occurs when I am in big warehouse type stores with high high ceilings.  I have to hold a cart  I need to know what type of dr to go to, my primary has not helped at all.  any help appreciated a TON!

[jitinder91]

evening guys, I started getting anxiety when i was 19! Sounds fun, i know! I wanted to join the army so I did not tell tell the doctor of my symptoms as i was scared that they might not let me in the army if they found out about my problems! I chose to fight this by my self, anyways I am going to stop going on about my story and tell you something, breathe honestly, It doesn't stop your anxiety but it helps so much! put a hand on your chest and one on your belly. They should be level right, breathe so that the hand your chest doesn't move but the hand on your stomach moves out. I.e. you are breathing through your diagram. This should be practiced at least 3 times a day for 5 mins. And after a while it will make a difference.

Regards

Jit-UK