I am new to this program. I have just started Lesson 2 and feel I can follow the six steps in certain situations but not when I am driving. I have had frequent spells driving to and from work, luckily it is a short drive. My questions is how to I focus on my breathing when I am driving. Right now to concentrate on the breathing and comforting mood, I have to shut my eyes to visualize this. Of course I cannot do that when I am driving. Also number 5 says to distract, do some action, mental and physicial. I am worried I will get in a car accident and hurt myself or worse someone else. Can anyone give me some advice on how to follow these steps without spacing out what I have to do?

To get myself started with driving again-alone-I brought the tapes with me in the car. Tape #3 was one of my favorites for driving. Wonderful, safe distraction.

There is an awesome tape, inexpensive, from the Midwest Center specifically for driving with comfort. I love this one. Carolyn Dickman is the speaker on the tape and it really helps as a distraction and gives comfort. It's as though you have a friend in the car with you, cheering you on and chatting to you. It only takes a couple of days to get it in the mail after ordering it. After a while, the wonderful humor in the tape becomes more and more apparent, as you relax more.
With the breathing- practice it at home as much as possible and you'll soon get to where visualizing won't be necessary.The breathing, fairly quickly, kicks in automatically when you need it. Also, read over the flash card several times so that you have the steps "ingrained in your brain"and you will just remember them as you need it. It works.

Give yourself LOTS of praise whenever you drive anywhere. Celebrate every driving accomplishment, no matter how small it is.
Tell yourself over and over that you are getting better at the driving with comfort every day.
The more you tell yourself this, the more quickly your mind accepts it as the truth.
Our minds believe what we tell them, if we say it often enough and strongly enough.
I could not drive at all, the panic attacks were so severe for years and now I can drive any time and anywhere,
You'll get there. You're already on your way.
God bless and hugs to you!!!!!

Thanks for your quick reply. I feel better already. I never even thought about using the tapes in the car. I am also planning on looking into purchasing the tape specifially for driving. Thank you for being there.
God bless. You made my day!

Yep, I'm in the same boat, but not nearly as bad as it used to be. Just keep going. I'm in the same situation as you, when it comes to thinking about hurting somebody while driving, but absolutely do not stop driving. You sound like you have such a good attitude about it...Keep working!

yeah, i'm right there with you. Driving is a big one for me. especially highway or bridges. yeah i agree driving is a hard one to work the step about distracting or getting busy. That is a good tape i've listened to it at home. Great idea to have it in the car! Good luck!

I received the Attacking Anxiety & Depression program today. It is good to know that I am not alone. I haven't been able to drive long alone for over 20 years. I'm hoping this program helps me as it as help you guys. Pray for me as I pray for you.

20 years ago i couldn't drive without having a panic attack. Now at 38, i can drive almost around town. I decided to try this program because i wanna be able to drive out of the city or even take a plane somewhere. I am terrified to do it but someday I will. The last time years ago i forced my self to drive farther . I ended up having a severe panic attack. I am afraid to test the waters and if i do I'll drown. I'm hoping that this program really works and it seems that it has helped many people. But can it help me? We'll see. I glad to know that i am not alone. Just knowing that really helps alot.

Look I have been dealing with panick attacks for 11 years and my most worse time that I have panick is driving and going up mountains or driving over bridges and being closed in where i feel i cant escape when i need to and being high I feel like am going to loose control and go off the side of the mountain. but you have to remember none of that has happened to me in the past and it isnt going to happen in the future just remind yourself and go over your 6 steps and just keep doing it and you will be able to fight your fear of things..

I am 2 weeks into the program. I am feeling good about the program. I am really glad to hear that their is hope for me and for all of US!! I struggle with distance from home especially alone Iknow it will get better

I would become emotionally exhausted from the experience of driving at the end of the day. I now have anxiety at times but not panic. Nor have I taken the plunge into the rat race (the FREEWAYS of California). That's a big one for me so I am doing smaller bits of the highways. I am on Session 12 and trying to put this stuff to good use to be symptomatic free. Happy to hear some of you are using the Driving With Comfort Tape. It really helps me start my driving on a positive note.

Hello everyone,

The main reason I "broke down" and finally ordered the program was because my sister-in-law asked me to drive her to the airport. I thought I would have a heart attack right there Not funny really but I have to see the humor in this. I have avoided freeways since I began driving over 20 years ago. I live in California so that is not easy. I manage driving surface streets, although I have a terrible fear of getting lost if I have to find a new address. When I do drive, I find myself holding my breath, so I've really been trying to force myself to breathe and stay calm. I feel trapped when I get on the freeway, not in control of my situation, terrified I'll take the wrong exit and never find my way back. I know this is irrational thinking, but it's what I do to myself all the time. Truth is I have a terrible sense of direction and feel I have to hide this at all cost because people will think I'm stupid. I hate being asked to drive anyone anywhere, but I can't keep making excuses because I live in fear. I also suffered many anxiety attacks in the car when I was a child, once again this feeling of being trapped and unable to breathe. I probably should be in therapy talking about this, but I'm hoping the program will help me get over this life-limiting complex. It really helps to know I'm not alone and that many of you have overcome this.

Thanks for letting me vent.
Sandra

Sandra, You have explained exactly what it is like and I could be the author. My mind is like a GPS System that knows all the short cuts via back streets etc. across town and then some. I don't know how many people I have gotten lost when asked to give directions on the Freeways????

Hi all,
I know this is jumping in again after the fact, sort of. Just thinking.
Isn't it awesome that we now know that this discomfort with driving is just a symptom from anxiety? Not all have this , but many of us did or do and it's such a wonderful comfort to know that we're not alone. Also, that there is a way to overcome this. I did, we all can.
Quite frankly, I used to feel like I was the only person on the face of the earth that could possibly be so panic stricken while driving.
It made me feel so helpless and I allowed it to eat away at my self esteem, big time.
Let's remember to cheer each other on for every little step forward and especially to cheer ourselves on for every day, every minute spent, that we work on moving in a positive direction.

hi,
i am currently 19 and have my temps... i get so stressed when i'm driving that i will slam on the brakes and get out and start to run away from the car... wish i knew why i did this. Seems like i will never be ready to take the driving test to get my real licence.
Trying to find a way to stop the panic attacks while driving but the more i think its not acceptable nor the right time to have a panic attack that is when they come on the strongest... hard to drive when your heart feels like it is beating out of your chest.

any suggestions???
ashb

I have had a hard time driving for the last few years especially on Highways. For the last year I have taken the highway at times but if I can take a back road I did that. Since I was laid off from my full time job I started taken only back roads, maybe because I know I can just pull over and let cars go. It's the cars behind me that bother me or if I'm at a stoplight I feel panick coming on. I can't wait for the day when I am able to drive on the highway all the time again. I even took the back roads to my grandmothers who lives in the next state. I my later stages of highway life I also stayed in the right lane in case I had to pull over.

I'm on week 4 of the program. They say that meds would help, I tried Zoloft and that made it 10x worse. Maybe xanax would help???

I will try the driving cd as well.

Do you get really tensed up and it's hard to focus too??