Patty
01-06-08, 13:16
Hi everyone,
I started getting panic/anxiety 9 years ago. The first time I took a panic attack when driving was on the motorway - it was very scary - but I was still able to drive without too much bother (except on motorways where I would get a lot of anxiety).
Over time I have found that the driving anxiety has got gradually stronger. It has gone through different stages - from the first attack on the motorway to a fear of lorries being behind me (which started 6 years ago). Over the last 9 months this has progressed to constant panic attacks & anxiety when anything is behind me - on 'main' roads. This feels like I'm in a scene from a nightmare where someone is trying to run over me. It's that scary :weep: If anything is behind me I have to pull over (if there is anywhere that I can). I need to feel that I can escape from the situation immediately - I am so scared of anywhere that there is no hard shoulder that I avoid it. I would also have fears of 'losing control'. The busier the road gets the more anxious I become. The main symptoms that I have are depersonalisation/derealisation & dizziness - feeling that I'm going to pass out.
This has become a big problem for me as before the anxiety I always enjoyed driving and the independence that comes with it. I would have drove anywhere - the bigger challenge the better. Now every time I go out in the car I feel just as scared - if not more than the previous time. I'm in a constant state of anxiety and it's really restricting my life. The roads that I feel 'safe' on are becoming fewer - the only roads I feel 'safe' on are quiet 'backroads'. I take detours to stay on these roads even if a journey takes longer.
I would be so grateful if anyone has any ideas on why this has developed the way that it has :shrug: I keep asking myself: 'Why am I so afraid of traffic behind me?' - the only reason that I can come up with is that as I also have Social Anxiety I go into panic mode as soon as someone else can 'see' me driving!?:unsure: Also, has anyone else felt any of these fears when driving? What is the best way that I can overcome them?
Any experiences or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks xx
I started getting panic/anxiety 9 years ago. The first time I took a panic attack when driving was on the motorway - it was very scary - but I was still able to drive without too much bother (except on motorways where I would get a lot of anxiety).
Over time I have found that the driving anxiety has got gradually stronger. It has gone through different stages - from the first attack on the motorway to a fear of lorries being behind me (which started 6 years ago). Over the last 9 months this has progressed to constant panic attacks & anxiety when anything is behind me - on 'main' roads. This feels like I'm in a scene from a nightmare where someone is trying to run over me. It's that scary :weep: If anything is behind me I have to pull over (if there is anywhere that I can). I need to feel that I can escape from the situation immediately - I am so scared of anywhere that there is no hard shoulder that I avoid it. I would also have fears of 'losing control'. The busier the road gets the more anxious I become. The main symptoms that I have are depersonalisation/derealisation & dizziness - feeling that I'm going to pass out.
This has become a big problem for me as before the anxiety I always enjoyed driving and the independence that comes with it. I would have drove anywhere - the bigger challenge the better. Now every time I go out in the car I feel just as scared - if not more than the previous time. I'm in a constant state of anxiety and it's really restricting my life. The roads that I feel 'safe' on are becoming fewer - the only roads I feel 'safe' on are quiet 'backroads'. I take detours to stay on these roads even if a journey takes longer.
I would be so grateful if anyone has any ideas on why this has developed the way that it has :shrug: I keep asking myself: 'Why am I so afraid of traffic behind me?' - the only reason that I can come up with is that as I also have Social Anxiety I go into panic mode as soon as someone else can 'see' me driving!?:unsure: Also, has anyone else felt any of these fears when driving? What is the best way that I can overcome them?
Any experiences or advice would be much appreciated. Thanks xx