driving

[woody22]

is there anyone in here that has or has had trouble with driving the car its getting worse by the week any help please?

[Karen]

Hi Woody

Welcome to the forum.

There are others here with similar problems and there is a post here:

CBT therapy for driving problems - my diary (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7162)

detailing Nic's (nomorepanic) CBT treatment for this.

Here are some other posts about driving ....

Hi new member mom w/ panic and dp/dr (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1239)
Driving (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6038)
driving phobia (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=5105)
Hi, I am new and need re-assurance (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6527)
Panic - When driving (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=6631)
Panic attacks while driving (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7291)

Also on the website are some coping techniques:

How to cope with Panic Attacks, Anxiety, Phobias and OCD (http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/NMPcms.php?nmppage=coping)



Karen



Happiness is not a state to arrive at but a manner of travelling.

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough ~ Christine Cagney, Cagney & Lacey

[honeybee3939]

Hi Woody,

I have a problem with driving too, traffic lights, road works etc, as karen mentioned take a look at Nics CBT treatment,it is helping me change my thought pattern while in the car, its going to take me a while to overcome my fear, but i am steadily making progress,

Love

Andrea
xxx

[jill]

Hi Woody

WELCOME TO THE SITE :D

TAKE CARE

When you fear something
learn as much about it as you can
Knowledge conquers fear

[trac67]

Hi Woody,

Welcome to the forum you will get a lot of good advice here and make some new friends.

take care

Trac xx

'Live your life with arms wide open, today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten'

[Paddington]

woody,hello.Well i am sitting here thinking,wow another me!I get myself in such a panic at the thought of driving it's absurd.i am starting to think it's the thought of driving that is worse than actually doing it!!i am FORCING myself to pick my daughte up from work today[i'm going for the feal the fear and do it anyway approach!]i am DREADING IT!!I dont know why tho[not much help am i he he he]i passed my test last june,and have hated it ever since,all i can say is mate you are not alone!the topics Karen sent are very good,do read them. They have at leastgot me behind the wheel,even if i dont like being there!good luck,let us know how you get on.love mary-rose.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

we are all in the same boat and can guide each other ashore

[Alexandra]

Hi Woody

Welcome to the forum.

You will find lots of help & advice on here.

Take Care

Alex

Many People Will Walk
In & Out Of Your Life
But Only True Friends
Will Leave Footprints
In Your Heart

[nomorepanic]

Woody

Welcome aboard.

Karen has given the link to my post so that may help. Do you have specific issues with the driving?

Nicola

[carolynw]

Hi ive had problems with driving for a long time but especially when i get in a car with some one else driving, will avoid it at all costs!

Seem to have an irrational fear that we're gonna crash and die. Its made me feel better to know im not the only one, but not sure how to conquer it

[nomorepanic]

Carloynw

It is all about changing thoughts and looking back over past experiences. Have you ever crashed before - have you ever died?

Sounds silly but if you stack up the odds then they are nearly zero.

You have to change those thoughts and think positive. What will really happen? In reality you will be fine and nothing happen. Don't let it rule your life like it did mine.

Nicola

[MrsCluggy]

Hey Woody22,

This is such a common complaint, you would be surprised ! I suffered with this for a while. Last year, I actually drove my family to Cornwall for a weeks holiday. I live in the Midlands at it took me a whole 7 hours driving, being stuck in motorway traffic, roadwork traffic jams etc. I got so worked up about the journey BACK that I couldn't enjoy my holiday at all and I actually came back a day early ! I had the added stress that I was the only driver amongst our party and I knew that if I had a panic attack on the motorway, miles from anywhere, we would be well and truly stuck. So, I had to sing to myself, I talked absolute gibberish to my family in the car just to keep my mind occupied, I was a real mess.

BUT, I AM SO GLAD THAT I DID IT !!

What seemed to me to be a perfectly natural journey, was according to my CBT Counsellor a huge deal. He said that he couldn't have driven to Cornwall and that what I achieved was huge.

So, if you are having trouble with driving, I would say that the worst thing you could possibly do is AVOID IT. If you use avoidance to ease your symptom, believe me, you will make getting better so much harder for yourself.

Take it a step at a time. Just sit in the driving seat of your car on the drive outside your house. See how that feels. Then go back in the house. The next day, do the same but turn on the engine. Then go back in the house. The next day, drive the car off the drive and round the block. Then go back in the house.

Do you understand my drift? Small steps, but they can be very effective.

Is there anyone who could perhaps sit in the passenger seat while you drive, just for moral support?

Believe me Woody22, once you go on a small journey and realise that even if you get stuck in traffic jams etc, nothing will happen to you. The traffic will get going again and you will be free to move again. There are no rules about how slow or fast you should drive either, it's your car, you are in control, you can go your own pace.

Just imagine how you would feel if you go on a small journey, complete it successfully and then pull up on your drive. I bet you would have a huge smile on your face.

I know I did when I made my journey back from Cornwall. No matter how stressful it was I DID IT. ME. NO ONE ELSE. ME.

You can do it too. I know you can.

Small steps is the key.

Best of luck Woody22.

Feel free to PM me at anytime. I'm always around.

xx

If the opportunity doesn't knock .... build a door.