My Panic Attack Solution

Comment from trista
Time September 24, 2009 at 12:23 am

Its not really weird. many people have anxiety over driving or other things. You need to talk to your Dr about it. I will drive around town but have not even got on the interstate ramp in 4 years….
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Comment from ex0
Time September 24, 2009 at 12:39 am

Try driving on roads that arent so busy and take paths that have less traffic to rebuild your confidence. But seeing a doctor would be a good idea as far as this goes.
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Comment from Tasha
Time September 24, 2009 at 12:47 am

Do baby steps. Try driving around your neighborhood by yourself, then expand to other neighborhoods, then try driving to your favorite stores/ restaraunts, and in no time you will be comfortable driving! Remember, there’s no rush. You can take as much time as you need to assure you are comfortable. Good luck!!
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Comment from spunk113
Time September 24, 2009 at 1:14 am

Ah, perhaps you’ve finally realized how many stupid crazy people are out there on the road with you–it’s enough to make anyone stay off the road. Seriously, though, the cause could be almost anything. Since it’s to the point where you’re having panic attacks, you may want to consider seeing a doctor (to rule out a physical cause) or a therapist. If that’s not a practical option for you, you have two choices: use public transportation or face your fear by driving. If you go for the second, start with short trips–to the end of the street, around the block, to the store–and avoid driving at night until you feel more confident. Good luck!
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Comment from Katsol
Time September 24, 2009 at 2:00 am

I cant drive either it scares me alot. But I did have a bad wrech rolled my car. You could have gotten it from lack of driving for awhile. And the only way to over come it, is to get back in the drivers seat and try again. Take someone with you for the first few times. Until you are comfrotable with it some what again. Then take the big step calm yourself before starting. Just sit in the seat for a few mins before driving. Then start to drive. It will take awhile to get over the fear but I did it, so can you
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expirences

Comment from InLoveandWar
Time September 24, 2009 at 2:31 am

plenty of people are already afraid of driving to one degree or another, even without getting into an accident. And it’s no wonder; driving is a pretty scary thing. You could even argue that a little fear is good–that it helps you drive more safely.

What you’re going through sounds intense enough to require some kind of active solution, however. For starters, you might want to try relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or visualization. Also, do you know anyone who is comfortable about driving and wouldn’t mind talking to you about what that’s like? Another idea is to explore your driving feelings and memories with a trained therapist.

There are all kinds of therapy out there, so you may want to do some research. Virtual reality exposure therapy, for example, simulates the experience of being in a car.

You may be experiencing Panic Attacks. Here is some more info on that.

Panic disorder is different from the normal fear and anxiety reactions to stressful events in our lives. Panic disorder is a serious condition that strikes without reason or warning. Symptoms of panic disorder include sudden attacks of fear and nervousness, as well as physical symptoms such as sweating and a racing heart. During a panic attack, the fear response is out of proportion for the situation, which often is not threatening. Over time, a person wiith panic disorder develops a constant fear of having another panic attack, which can affect daily functioning and general quality of life.

Panic disorder often occurs along with other serious conditions, such as depression, alcoholism or drug abuse.

What Are the Symptoms of Panic Disorder?
Symptoms of a panic attack, which often last about 10 minutes, include:

Difficulty breathing.
Pounding heart or chest pain.
Intense feeling of terror.
Sensation of choking or smothering.
Dizziness or feeling faint.
Trembling or shaking.
Sweating
Nausea or stomachache.
Tingling or numbness in the fingers and toes.
Chills or hot flashes.
A fear that you are losing control or are about to die.

Beyond the panic attacks themselves, a key symptom of panic disorder is the persistent fear of having future panic attacks. The fear of these attacks can cause the person to avoid places and situations where an attack has occurred or where they believe an attack may occur.

What Causes Panic Disorder?
Although the exact cause of panic disorder is not fully understood, studies have shown that a combination of factors, including biological and environmental, may be involved. These factors include.

Family history. Panic disorder has been shown to run in families. It may be passed on to some people by one or both parent(s) much like hair or eye color can.
Abnormalities in the brain. Panic disorder may be caused by problems in parts of the brain.
Substance abuse. Abuse of drugs and alcohol can contribute to panic disorder.
Major life stress. Stressful events and major life transitions, such as the death of a loved one, can trigger a panic disorder.
How Common Is Panic Disorder?
Panic disorder affects about 2.4 million adult Americans. Panic disorder most often begins during late adolescence and early adulthood. It is twice as common in women as in men.

How Is Panic Disorder Diagnosed?
If symptoms are present, the doctor will begin an evaluation by performing a complete medical history and physical examination. Although there are no laboratory tests to specifically diagnose panic disorder, the doctor may use various tests to look for physical illness as the cause of the symptoms.

If no physical illness is found, you may be referred to a psychiatrist or psychologist, mental health professionals who are specially trained to diagnose and treat mental illnesses. Psychiatrists and psychologists use specially designed interview and assessment tools to evaluate a person for panic disorder.

The doctor bases his or her diagnosis on reported intensity and duration of symptoms, including the frequency of panic attacks, and the doctor’s observation of the patient’s attitude and behavior. The doctor then determines if the symptoms and degree of dysfunction suggest panic disorder.

How Is Panic Disorder Treated?
A combination of the following therapies often is used to treat panic disorder.

Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy (a type of counseling) addresses the emotional response to mental illness. It is a process in which trained mental health professionals help people by talking through strategies for understanding and dealing with their disorder.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy. People suffering from panic disorder often participate in this type of psychotherapy in which the person learns to recognize and change thought patterns and behaviors that lead to troublesome feelings. Therapy also aims to identify possibly triggers for panic attacks.
Medication. The anti-depressant drugs Paxil and Zoloft and anti-anxiety medications such as Xanax or Klonopin are used to treat panic disorders. Sometimes, heart medications (such as beta blockers) are used to control irregular heartbeats.

Some people will respond well to treatment only to experience panic attacks later in life. When panic attacks continue after treatment has stopped, additional treatment may still help control and reduce panic attacks. In addition, relaxation techniques, such as breathing retraining and positive visualization, may help a person during an attack.
References :
http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-panic-disorder

Comment from prittikitti
Time September 24, 2009 at 3:02 am

I’m scared too and haven’t driven for years. I plan to do more practice and get back into it again, unfortunately because soon I have to. I’m scared I’ll hit someone or be too slow or make a d/a decision or something! I think I’ll see a doctor about this, seeing I’m naturally a bit of an anxious person. (sure it looks as if my friends’ have more confidence than me, with driving anyway, but I guess its something that they’re passionate about doing, and if someone really wants to do something they just do it!)
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Comment from MissKathleen
Time September 24, 2009 at 3:49 am

I was so afraid to drive that I actually quit driving for 9 years. My life was very limited, but I couldn’t handle the panic attacks I suffered from driving. I began praying for help and when my boyfriend lost his driver’s license, I instantly had to drive everywhere. I just say to myself, "God please keep me safe" and that seems to help me have the courage to get out there and drive. I no longer have panic attacks, even though I have made a couple of errors in judgment while driving. Luckily, I haven’t had an accident, but have had a couple of near misses. I’ve learned not to turn in front of people and look both ways a couple times before pulling out in traffic. Cars seem to appear out of nowhere sometimes.

I sincerely hope you can overcome your fear of driving. For me, it took stopping for 9 years. No one can do that in these times unless you have someone to drive you all over like I did. Perhaps you can quit for a couple of weeks and pray on it. Good Luck!
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Comment from debra k
Time September 24, 2009 at 4:24 am

Believe it or not I had the same disorder, several years ago! I went to a Psychiatrist, and she helped me so much! I got OVER it!!! I realized my fear of driving and having a wreck, and the pain of the "imagined wreck", was worse, than if it actually happened!!! I drive every where now. You are having a"Generalized Anxiety Disorder"!!! Do not let this "put your life on hold"!!! Go to a counselor, or a Dr. that "Specializes" in "Anxiety Disorders"! Good Luck Hon, It will be OK!!
References :
self experience