I AM NEW TO PROGRAM ONLY 3 DAYS INTO IT. HAS ANYONE OUT THERE EXPERIENCED DRIVING ANXIETY. TO THE POINT OF AVOIDING TO DRIVE BEYOND 2 MILES FROM HOME? I PUSH MYSELF TO DRIVE FURTHER AND END UP WITH HOT FLASHES, CHEST TIGHTNESS, NAUSEA. ANY HELPFUL HINTS OUT THERE. MEGAN

Hi Tooth,

Yes, I have driving anxiety. I've just started the program as well and am in the second week. I am starting to understand that there is no outside force causing the panic; it's me that's doing it. I believe it's because as sensitive people, we internalize so much of what we feel including anxiety, depression and fear. But just in understanding what is happening to our bodies while we have panic, is very, very helpful. Week two will be especially helpful to you for those reasons. HANG IN THERE!!!

your not alone. i have them all the time... i allways end up pulling to the side of the road.

i have work anxiety for the first time ever im scared that i will screw up and get fired i have always fought with anxiety but until now have always been great at work work always reduced anxietyfor me i am in my 2nd week also

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD THESE ATTACKS? I AM TO THE POINT WHERE I NEED TO PULL OFF OFTEN. A 10 MIN TRIP TURNS INTO 30 MINS. MY PANIC ATTACKS ARE ONLY WHEN I HAVE TO DRIVE- NO OTHER TIME- IT'S SCARY- I DON'T WANT TO GET IN AN ACVCIDENT.

HELLO GERBEAR!!!! IT IS NICE TO KNOW SOMEONE ELSE OUT THERE IS HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES. DRIVING HAS BECOME SUCH A PROBLEM. I STAY ON BACK ROADS SO I CAN GO SLOWER- I GET HOT FLASHES, ROAD FEELS LIKE IT IS NARROWING, AND I ALWAYS WANT TO PULL CAR OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD- IT IS LIKE MY BODY TAKES OVER WHAT I AM DOING???? SITTING AT A RED LIGHT IN TRAFFIC FOR TOO LONG- STARTS A PANIC ATTACK.IT IS SCARY!!!! SOMETIME I JUST DRIVE SLOW TO THE STORE AND NOTHING STARTS.

quote:

Originally posted by GerBear:
Hi Tooth,

Yes, I have driving anxiety. I've just started the program as well and am in the second week. I am starting to understand that there is no outside force causing the panic; it's me that's doing it. I believe it's because as sensitive people, we internalize so much of what we feel including anxiety, depression and fear. But just in understanding what is happening to our bodies while we have panic, is very, very helpful. Week two will be especially helpful to you for those reasons. HANG IN THERE!!!

Yes - not driving around town or on regular roads but more like on highways for more than 15 -20 minutes along a long stretch, it does come on. I get a light-headedness and an out-of-body experience which makes me feel floaty and in some kind of dream and my heart starts palpitating quickly because it makes me nervous.

Last weekend my family went to the zoo and I specifically drove for this reason. I wanted to tackle the attacks. I felt one coming on in about 10 minutes on the freeway and I used the techniques to float through it. I totally nipped it in the bud before it had a chance to go anywhere, a proud moment! I didn't have one after that and it was about a 45 minute ride.

i find it stressful just being in a car sometimes its easier if i am the 1 driving and sometimes harder i have a few theories as to why cars are stressful it could be the movement or the fact that subconcienciousley were wary of fast movement or because theres no where to go lemee know what u think (anybody). have a chill

Swirly I totally agree with you here, it's a non-natural environment to be in, inside a hunk of metal going 60, so there's something about the perception of the speed going by in our peripheral vision and then being still inside the object, but even then, as the other poster said, it's all us reacting and we have to find a way to get over those attacks before they take over our very lives.

I think they usually start this way, with one thing, and then if you never nip it in the bud before you know it you have a whole host of situations, like social issues or sitting in theaters, or being stuck in the dentists chair and before you know it you are completely agoraphobic to everything.

yep

I know what you are going through i have got to the point of agoraphobic state and it sucks. I am on the 2nd session now and hoping it will start to work for me.

IT IS NICE TO KNOW IT IS NOT JUST ME!!!!!

I also have driving anxiety. Really bad. It started 1 1/2 yrs agao when I had a very long coughing fit while driving, got dizzy and almost passed out. That set it off. Now panic has take over my life. I drive 40 miles to work and then back home again every day. The worst is on the highway. A lot of times it happens at traffic lights and going down big hills ( I live in what is called the hilltowns - great huh!) While I am on the freeway or in the city I have to be on the phone with soemone to distract me. I HATE IT. I always loved driving. That was my alone time, down time, quiet time. Now I feel like a freak. On realy bad days I avoid the highway and take all side streets. My painic has now spread into almost all aspects of my life. Work, meetings, doctors (but I always passed out with needles unless I was/am laying down), dentist. Now the thought of any type of physical harm rght down to a paper cut freaks me out. I hope this program helps.

tooth fairy-
i am starting week two as well- i so know what you are going through! i won't drive at all as a matter of fact Ihate even being in a car-- Everyday I have my mother drive me to work and I only work a mile away from home. Anxiety at work is happening as well hell anxiety is happening everywhere I go! The guilt that I have of being this way is unbelievable my panic attacks is impacting everyone around me my children my husband even my poor mother who just lost her husban (my dad) less than two months ago. I'm sitting here crying now just writing this- but I no we have to believe its goig to get better I remind myself everyday to forget the past guilt and move forward becausr when we get better we can make it up to first and formost ourselves (yes time to be selfish) for the time lost and then to those we love and cherish- thank you for sharing cause I know I'm not alone- we will get through this

I just don't think the human brain was designed for this fast paced modern world.