Hi Devon it is true we have to start somewhere unless we let this crippling illness get us! I too force myself to drive (can't stay home all the time) I hope this passes for all of us. Nobody understands this unless they have it. It is great to vent with all you guys. Anyway have a great Memorial day Weekend to all.
Hi! No I do not pull over anymore, I used to hyperventilate on the curb but I just let it pass now. Remember fear feeds fear.....listen to music....something like Chris Tomlin Arriving CD or whatever is soothing to you, or even sensual type music, anything to change or distract your fearful thoughts. sometimes it will keep it up or sometimes I actually win. It is uncomfortable and I hate it too but I got to get from point A to B and I am going to do it by golly come hell or high water! (If the Lord's willing)
Devon, thanks for sharing your driving experience. I too get that feeling of dizziness and weird off balance feeling. Do you force yourself to drive and it gets better? I asked my dr. for something to help me be able to drive because the serax helps with the panic attacks, but not much with driving. He prescribed Prozac so I hope it will help me be able to drive more. Thanks again.
I also used to love to drive, thats why I took a job that requires alot of driving. Now I get on the highway and sometimes just in town and I'll get this floaty weird feeling in my head or almost like I'm dizzy/off balance. I also get it if I am around my naggy winey mother too long...........sorry but it's true. I take prozac, it has helped me.
Granny,
Welcome to The Panic Center. We thank you for sharing your story with us today. This support group is full of supportive individuals who may be able to help you answer some questions regarding panic and anxiety. Please feel free to roam the site at your own pace.
If you look to the left of the screen under "TOOLS" you will find many supportive tests. These tests are not diagnostic tools and are not a replacement or substitute for a physicians advice.
The purpose of these tests is to prepare you with information that you can present to your physician. When you're finished the test, you can either print your Final Report or email it directly to your doctor.
We also have developed a Panic Program. This program is 12-weeks and involves the tools mentioned above. Each session is based on the previous session, so we strongly advise that you work slowly through the program and not jump ahead.
If you have any questions or concerns with our "TOOLS" you can contact our support department at support@paniccenter.net.
Take care and we hope to hear from you soon.
Josie
______________________________
The Panic Center Support Team.
Thank you so much for replying. I'm new to this site and didn't know there were messages. I take generic xanex and my dr. just prescribed Prozac to slowly replace that. He told me I can't force myself to drive on the freeway, that this is not a phobia and that anxiety is very different from phobias. I love to drive and did it a lot for many years. Very hard to understand why this 'fun' part of my life is so adversely affected. I honestly can't hardly breathe getting on an entrance to the freeway...I'm so afraid of having a car wreck because of the panic attack. It gets a little better after a short way, but I really have to get off the freeway. I've tried breathing exercises, thinking of other things, etc. Doesn't work. I don't have so much trouble in my comfort zone around town and going to shop locally. Its terrible and I'm sorry for anyone that suffers from this. Thank you for your input.
Hi guys I too had a bad attack yesterday while driving on the parkway. I felt like I was going to faint and felt really weird (sorry thats the best way I can describe it). This is an awful illness and embarrasing. I don't go out as much as I used to and do only things that I must. I wonder if this will ever go away? It seems the more I worry about it (which is all the time) the more they come lately. I do take xanax but I try not too. Any suggestions to help get rid of this once and for all?
Hi there
You didn't say what meds you were on. I aslo have panic when driving. I take Paxil and it helps but I don't think I can ever drive a freeway again. I have had this disorder off and on since the early 80's I got over it the first time by myself but I wasn't so lucky the 2nd time it hit. The only advise I can give you is to accept the panic anf float through it. It worked for me the first time but I just couldn't do it the second time.
Good Luck
I began having panic attacks about 9 years ago and the worst one was while driving on the freeway. Since then I have a terrible time driving. Can get around town and do shopping, but even with medication, can't drive much on freeway. Has anyone heard about an herbal medication called Ultimate Anxiety Relief? I really want to stop taking anxiety medication.
