they started shortly after my sister died. we spent countless of hours driving around town and going places, of course i did 95% of the driving. one day i was taking my parents to work and bam it hit from out of nowhere i felt the sudden need to slam on the brakes because i was going through an insection. i think that i came from the stress of moving, her death, and taking my parents to work everyday risking my job because i cant be late. now a days my b/f is acting like a prick because he says that he is tired of doing all of the driving but actually he doesnt because im fine (sometimes)except for when i have to take someone some place thats when it hits. im so afraid to drive when someone else is in the car because having a panic attack is embarrassing.i told my b/f about the situation but he is being mean to me and with out me he couldnt get up the road because he doesnt have a car. i feel like crap because i have a new car and gets chauffered i need help i dont know what to do
2007-06-17 13:28:48 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Mental Health
try cognitive behaviour therapy....
dont give up...in time the anxiety will get much better.
dont give up now....this is the best time to work on it. try not to quit driving. most people dont manage to restart once they do
2007-06-17 13:44:18 · answer #1 · answered by Zen-Psycholgy Guy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have the "exact" same anxiety! Only mine is in heavy traffic, areas I don't know well, and bad weather.....which doesn't leave me much time or places I can go. I have just flat out refused to go places I know will throw me into one! I feel as if I'm having a real heart attact with mine. I told my husband it is not worth it and he doesn't like it but that's too bad. He doesn't understand it either. Oh well. So that's what I do. Avoid it if at all possible. If not, then I try to go when there will be less traffic to deal with. I went to the doc's at first for this. They gave me valuim...however you spell that....it really worked. But, they only let me have it for 3 months. They said it was addicting. I didn't even have to take it every day! Only when I felt I was going to need it. I'm ready to go back and beg for more. It's been years since I'v had any. I have a new job and I'm already worrying about getting there in the winter! I know it's months away, but I don't know what to do on getting there. And it's only 5 miles straight down the road! I won't work any farther from home than that which never leaves me much to choose from either. But it's down a country road, which means alot of blowing and drifting in the winter. Scares the crap out of me. But mostly that's what I have done. Just don't drive. If your bf doesn't want to drive, then tell him your just gonna stay home. Piss on it. Maybe that will work for him. It has my husband alot, not all the time but alot. Well, hope this helps alittle. Take care.
2007-06-17 13:46:17 · answer #2 · answered by Shari 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I have the exact same issue. Cognitive behavioral therapy is very helpful. Also, taking small steps helps. Start with driving in ways that doesn't make you anxious, like just across the street and then gradually work your way up.
And I'm not a relationship expert and wouldn't try to pretend to be one, but it's not easy having a phobia/anxiety issue if the people around you aren't offering emotional support. You may want to discuss with your boyfriend how his actions aren't really helping you. People who care about you are going to want to help support you through this.
Good luck. And don't beat yourself up over it. It's actually more of a common thing then you'd imagine.
2007-06-17 14:24:23 · answer #3 · answered by Serpentine Fire 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One of my ex's used to get panic attacks while driving. Then he would pull over on the side of the road and walk around until he calmed down enough. Sometimes he puked because his anxiety was so bad. Most of the time it only lasted a few minutes so I think treating it like any other emergency and pulling over is a good idea.
2007-06-17 13:44:22 · answer #4 · answered by bipornorican 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had the same problem.
I couldn't drive, I couldn't even go out to the shopping mall without my mother. Not too cool for a single 22 yr old guy.
I used a combination of diet, therapy, medication (prescribed for a while, then herbal) and a lot of love and support from my family.
At age 33 I feel I am cured. You can get better as well.
Check out my website to read about my journey
2007-06-18 03:40:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anxiety often accompanies depression. Depression may result from any one of the stresses you described. Call your local health department or department of social services and ask for a referral to a mental health counselor. You'll be glad you did. (I'm sorry that your friend isn't supportive. You really need him now.)
2007-06-17 13:59:20 · answer #6 · answered by Bobby 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You might want to speak with a pro on how to deal with these panic attacks.
2007-06-17 13:40:53 · answer #7 · answered by Belgariad 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
with all due honesty and respect for acknowledging your anxiety it is best that you continue to reach out to whom ever for rides because with out you there would be no need for that new car CAUTION GOD BLESS
2007-06-17 13:42:05 · answer #8 · answered by 2003bf 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Anxiety attacks are a terrible,real thing. Please tell your doctor.
2007-06-17 13:32:48 · answer #9 · answered by Mary G 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋