Hellington Boots
25-11-13, 12:10
Hello lovely folk,
Just wanted to share a little problem I'm having and see if anyone else has had this experiance or can share any helpful tips.
I have been suffering with general anxiety with all sorts of aspects of my life for a few years now ( I have had CBT and counselling for quite long periods). Recently I have started to have very bad anxiety on the motorway. I have never been hugely comfortable on the motorway. However, I have driven on it very regularly without issue for the last ten years (almost every weekend), sometimes doing 150 mile round trips and I was always relatively Ok. In the last few weeks I have become extremely nervous, hardly able to go over 60mph, not wanting to change lanes and being what I would describe as 'hyper vigilant'. It's almost like I am waiting for something to happen and anticipating problems when they arent necessarily any. I break when i see breaklights ahead ( but i am talking way way ahead, not in front of me.)
Coming home from my parents last night (60 mile journey), it was completely dark on the M25 ( sections of it are unlit, without even any cats eyes on the road). There was one section where roadworks were being done and 2 lanes had been divided in to three - so all the drivers were very tightly packed in. I was really struggling with the lack of light and felt like i was being dazzled by the lights of the cars behind me, and i felt really panicky/dizzy and light headed like i could faint any minute. I was driving along this section for almost 30 minutes and was getting in such a state. I kept breaking and thinking cars were much nearer then they were, and my partner (broken foot so unable to drive) who was desperately trying to calm me down but keep us safe and help me through, told me repeatedly that actually we were really far from the cars and that everything was fine but I simply couldnt judge and really thought i was close.
When I got home I was in a terrible state and didnt stop shaking for hours( and I'm sure so was my poor partner, since he had to experience it too and frankly had no idea if i was in control and could carry on.) I was tense for so long in the car that today I feel exhausted and all my muscles are really painful, especially my hands and arms.
This is now the third time this has happened, but i feel this was the worst experience of the three. I cannot tell if it was the veil of anxiety suddenly creeping over me that made me feel i couldnt see clearly, or if i have an actual problem of another nature. I have just had my eyesight tested and it's fine, and i am fit and well in all other aspects. Is this just another area of my life where anxiety is taking over? I really dont know but i worry that I am a danger to myself and other people.
I am now in the dilemma where do I carry on with the driving and try and push through this? Or do i stop driving on the motorway? I dont want to add weight to this issue and give in to the anxiety, as well as limiting myself in this capacity but i dont want to risk being a danger to others and myself. I also dont understand why this has suddenly started out of the blue.. I have not witnessed any accidents or been involved in any so I really dont understand.
Any suggestions gratefully received.
xxx
Just wanted to share a little problem I'm having and see if anyone else has had this experiance or can share any helpful tips.
I have been suffering with general anxiety with all sorts of aspects of my life for a few years now ( I have had CBT and counselling for quite long periods). Recently I have started to have very bad anxiety on the motorway. I have never been hugely comfortable on the motorway. However, I have driven on it very regularly without issue for the last ten years (almost every weekend), sometimes doing 150 mile round trips and I was always relatively Ok. In the last few weeks I have become extremely nervous, hardly able to go over 60mph, not wanting to change lanes and being what I would describe as 'hyper vigilant'. It's almost like I am waiting for something to happen and anticipating problems when they arent necessarily any. I break when i see breaklights ahead ( but i am talking way way ahead, not in front of me.)
Coming home from my parents last night (60 mile journey), it was completely dark on the M25 ( sections of it are unlit, without even any cats eyes on the road). There was one section where roadworks were being done and 2 lanes had been divided in to three - so all the drivers were very tightly packed in. I was really struggling with the lack of light and felt like i was being dazzled by the lights of the cars behind me, and i felt really panicky/dizzy and light headed like i could faint any minute. I was driving along this section for almost 30 minutes and was getting in such a state. I kept breaking and thinking cars were much nearer then they were, and my partner (broken foot so unable to drive) who was desperately trying to calm me down but keep us safe and help me through, told me repeatedly that actually we were really far from the cars and that everything was fine but I simply couldnt judge and really thought i was close.
When I got home I was in a terrible state and didnt stop shaking for hours( and I'm sure so was my poor partner, since he had to experience it too and frankly had no idea if i was in control and could carry on.) I was tense for so long in the car that today I feel exhausted and all my muscles are really painful, especially my hands and arms.
This is now the third time this has happened, but i feel this was the worst experience of the three. I cannot tell if it was the veil of anxiety suddenly creeping over me that made me feel i couldnt see clearly, or if i have an actual problem of another nature. I have just had my eyesight tested and it's fine, and i am fit and well in all other aspects. Is this just another area of my life where anxiety is taking over? I really dont know but i worry that I am a danger to myself and other people.
I am now in the dilemma where do I carry on with the driving and try and push through this? Or do i stop driving on the motorway? I dont want to add weight to this issue and give in to the anxiety, as well as limiting myself in this capacity but i dont want to risk being a danger to others and myself. I also dont understand why this has suddenly started out of the blue.. I have not witnessed any accidents or been involved in any so I really dont understand.
Any suggestions gratefully received.
xxx