I have this very odd problem that has just occured in the last eight months. I have anxiety about driving and its pretty severe. The interstates make me freak out bad and four lane roads are out of the question and hills make my anxiety even worse. It has to be a simple straight two way road for me to handle it. The thing is though, the part of driving that gives me anxiety, I use to be able to handle it well for years and years. Its rediculous because nowadays I'll go miles and miles out of way just to avoid four lane roads and hills. How do I get over this?
2006-08-10 14:27:48 · 11 answers · asked by slipknot 5 in Health ➔ Mental Health
I have anxiety on that one thing. The rest of my life is good. Dont tell me I ******* need medical help!!
2006-08-10 14:39:27 · update #1
Never had an accident, never caused one, never been in one, i dont get it
2006-08-10 14:40:43 · update #2
I AM 43 YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER HAD A DRIVERS LICENSE BECAUSE OF THE SEVERE PANIC ATTACKS I GET JUST FROM PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE AND GET MY FOOT CLOSE TO THE GAS PEDDLE.I TOOK THE WRITTEN TEST EVERY YEAR PASSING WITH FLYING COLORS BUT NEVER EVEN CAME CLOSE TO COMPLETING THE ACTUAL DRIVING TEST SINCE I WAS A JR IN HS UNTIL I TURNED 30 AND I FELT ASHAMED AND LIKE A FAILURE FOR ALL THAT TIME. MY THERAPIST FINALLY MADE ME REALIZE THAT THERE WAS NO SHAME IN NOT BEING ABLE TO DO SOMETHING YOU'VE REALLY TRIED YOUR BEST TO DO. SHE ALSO POINTED THAT THIS PARTICULAR ANXIETY DISORDER IS NOT ONE TO BE TREATED WITH MEDS AS I COULD INJURE MYSELF OR OTHERS IF I HAD TO SEDATED TO DRIVE.
YOUR SITUATION IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT AS YOU USE TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT SEVERE PANIC OR ANXIETY. YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO OVER COME THIS WITH SOME THERAPY. I RECOMMEND YOU SEEK OUT A THERAPIST WHO SPECIALIZES IN PANIC/ANXIETY DISORDER THE SOONER THE BETTER SO YOU DO NOT COMPLETELY LOOSE YOUR ABILITY TO DRIVE.
GOOD LUCK,
DODA
2006-08-10 20:29:29 · answer #1 · answered by Simply D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess I would first act, did you have an accident and then this fear started? Either way, you need to get into some counseling to deal with the anxieties you are suffering. Imagery and other talk therapies are very successful with people with anxiety. The counselor could be a psychologist or other mental health professional.
Check your health insurance, which could cover counseling. If not, go to your local State or County mental health center. Most have a sliding fee scale, i.e. ability to pay.
In many case a Psychiatrist may chose to use short-term psychotropic medications to reduce the anxiety, but if the doctor does you must be very careful about driving.
2006-08-10 21:38:50 · answer #2 · answered by banananose_89117 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Have you been in an accident within the past few months??? Or is it an old memory that has been triggered by recent activities.
This is very common problem.
My step mother went through this a while ago, it's seems some old incident caused her to develop a form of phobia on crowded roadways, or on steep hills (much 2 our amusement).
What they had her do was strengthen her sense of security.....(Cell Phone, Global security in her vehicle(on-star??),Air bags, GPS Navigation system) , so she always knew that no matter where she was, she would NEVER be ALONE !!!!
Well, the sense of security she got from all that was amazing......
She even goes the speed limit now, hell, sometimes we even have to tell her to slow down..lol
I can't say this is your problem, but, it's worth checking into( if it fits in your budget), Try getting a cell phone with a location device built in it, that's a good start......
good luck 2 you, hope you can conquer your fears.
2006-08-11 00:22:39 · answer #3 · answered by Torri * 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can get over it by gradually driving on the interstates, just from one entry to another exit at first, and during a time when it's not busy. Then the next time go a little further, and pretty soon you will have accustomed yourself to driving there again. It may help to take a friend along, so if you get too freaked you can pull over and let them drive. Also, do it at a time when you aren't stressed from work or anything else.
2006-08-10 22:10:12 · answer #4 · answered by Catspaw 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look at the way some of these idiot's drive. Then you wonder why you suffer from anxiety. You know they always say to "watch out for the other person" and if you think about it, their is a lot of "truth" to that statement. I totally know how you feel. I hated interstate at rush hour coming home from work. Often wondered if I would never make it home or at least in one piece. It would absolutely scare the heck out of me. Avoid situations that make you uncomfortable even if you do have to go out of your way. Especially, if it makes you....feel better.
2006-08-10 22:02:04 · answer #5 · answered by xxx 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hate it when that happens.
A few years ago, I had a short freeway commute to work. Like you, no accidents or anything. Out of the blue, I developed this "fear" of driving. I do it because I have to.
I am lucky to be able to take surface streets to work now. When I do things with friends, I carpool and pay for gas.
I don't know where this stems from, but it's here and I have to deal with it.
2006-08-10 23:06:13 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like something in the subconscious mind, did you have a accident on the freeway or did someone you know? Until you can control it stay off of the freeway and such because you could freeze up or make a bad error causing a accident.
2006-08-10 21:35:56 · answer #7 · answered by edgarrrw 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Therapy. Sorry, I just can't think of anything that would work better, I'd say immersion in the thing you're afraid of, but I don't think you would be ready to handle that.
2006-08-10 21:38:44 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Seriously, you need to see a shrink. Something has happened in your life and this is how it's coming out.
2006-08-10 21:34:20 · answer #9 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think you should get some sort of medical help.
2006-08-10 21:36:02 · answer #10 · answered by cecile89 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋