I am on lesson 10 at this time and have still not been able to face my fear of driving alone. I am getting closer to trying though. A couple weeks ago I went to the Midwest Store online and ordered the book by R. Reid Wilson, PH.D "Don't Panic" Taking Control of Anxiety Attacks. I also ordered Lucinda's audio tapes on Panic and Driving with Comfort. Let me tell you if you have not purchased any of the above I urge you to do so. "Don't Panic has really opened my eyes to just how much we let this take over our lives and gives detailed information on how we CAN get this under control. I love the tapes and I feel everyday I am closer to getting behind the wheel and driving. I had a doctor appointment yesterday and I was anxious about the procedure, I did ok until they left me alone in the office for about 20 minutes to relax after the procedure. Did I say relax, well I started looking around the office and I could feel my heart begin to race then the heat feelings I get in my legs moving up and all of a sudden I said "Hey I am having a panic attack" I wanted to jump off the table and run out of the office, instead I stopped myself, sat up a started doing my breathing, telling myself it was ok to feel this way and I did not need to run anywhere. The calming breathing techniques and relaxation tape came into my mind and I discovered how I was in control and not the panic. What a great feeling that is! I thank Midwest for being here for all of us who suffer from anxiety! I am not 100% better and I am still fighting everyday to let Panic know who is in control, but yesterday taught me something, I used my tools to stop panic in its tracks and it worked. I pray for us all to one day be the Lucinda and Carolyn and the recovered so we can help others!!!

Hi KAA,
Hi I just read your topic, thank you for sharing the name of that book. You thought it was great huh? Iam Backcomb, and I am in topic 3 under fear of driving. You may want to read some of it, you might gain some insight, and learn some things from the4 pages that has been written. I have been doing driving everday. I am trying to build building blocks and gradually go farther and farther. I have a hard tine thinking of myself as my safe place. My fear is that I will go to far and not be able to get back. Still thinking my house is the safe place instead of me. It is so hard. I bought that tape driving with comfort. I also read the book, What Do You Say To Yourself When You Talk To Yourself. It is great. I personally feel it is the key to our recovery. Tape 3 is my favorite tape. I fel thatis where it sll starts.@ years ago I worked on my driving and I was doinfg great and I went a whoke year without an attack and then one day I had a bad one. It set me right back to the beginning. I did it to myself by what I said to myself. I wish I would have been in the program then. I finished the program, but I'm not nearly where I want to be. It is so hard and so much work. I don't know about you, but I deal with alot of physical pain. I tense up really bad when I drive sometimes. I have gotten up to 15 miles so far. I guess it's better than nothing. I am so hard on myself. Iam really impatient. I have been driving since I was 16, I always wonder if there ever will be a time when I don't think about it anymore. I live for that day. I'm sure you do too. My first attack was on the fast lane of the freeway years ago. Did you have alot of attacks driving? I think driving is a hard one to overcome cus you have to be somewhat in control when you drive so you do not hurt yourself or someone else. This is the weirdest struggle in the world, I think. It blows me and frustrates me so.
I had to respond and let you know I totally can relate to you. If I can be of any supoort let me know!!! God Bless, Backcomb

Thank you for your reply. My very first panic attack was while I was driving, I got dizzy, sweaty palms, heart palps,etc, at that time I did not know it was a panic attack, I just thought I was really having a heart attack or something. I cried the rest of the way to work praying to just get there safetly. Of coarse I did but I immediately called my doctor who sceduled me for numerous expensive tests to find out in the end I had a panic attack. At that point I drove again in about 2 weeks after the fear subsided and did great until this past September when I had a really bad one driving again that was it for me!1 I ordered the tapes and have tried really hard to make that first attempt to drive again. I drove with someone with me and that was ok but alone!!! Nope too scared still. I am trying to get the negative thoughts replaced with the positive and hopefully that will come soon. I will be praying for you and be so proud that you have taken the steps to try that is wonderful. I want to be there so bad also.... God Bless

HiKAA,
I know you can do it!! Start just by going around the block, and give yourself permission to fail. It is better to have tried and failed than to not have tried at all. Doesn't it blow your mind when you are doing good with it, and then all of a sudden it's in your face again. It sounds as thought we share the same experience. Do you have problems too about you being your own safe place? Have you been dealing with this for very long? There are quite a few people that struggle in this area. I also worry about if I ever were to pull over that I wouldn't want to start up again.I even have a car phone, but I've never used it. I hate to admit failure. Can you believe it?
I will be praying for you so that you can make a move. I will be of any support you want. Just know that you are not in this alone. I feel your pain right with you. Thanks for your supoort to, and for answering my reply. Have a good one, Backcomb.