Hi, I have recently been getting panic attacks whilst driving, I have a very long commute to work (over 2 hours) and I have to drive this every day, the attacks were so bad yesterday that I had to pull over numerous times whilst on the Motorway, it seems to be the M3 that particulary freaks me out !, I am off work sick today but this is about the 3rd day I have taken off sick in as many weeks and my boss is getting less sympathetic, I am just so terrifed of driving to work tomorrow I don't know what to do. Does anyone have any tips on controlling these attacks ?, listening to music has helped but now I am associating certain music with attacks. It is very hard to explain, it all seemed to start in some roadworks on the M3 when it was dark and raining, I leave for work at 6.15 AM so it is always dark, my fear was that if I broke down in the Roadworks I wouldn't be able to get to safety or pull off the road and would hold up all the morning rush hour traffic, that 'paranoia' got worse until I was having a full panic attack. I now don't want to drive in the dark, although I have to and I have not got the option of not going to work as I am the main wage earner in the house and we deperately need the money. I try thinking of other things whilst I am driving but all my brain can seem to do is think about panic attacks, and now I am panicking going to work in case I get into trouble for taking so much time off, it is a vicious circle and panic is breading panic with me, any tips would be gratefully received.
Thanks ever so much
Claire