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Discussion Topic: Panic on the highway
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 maggiepie |
07-13-2004 @ 11:13 PM |
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Joined: Jul. 2004
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I am wondering if anyone experiences panic attacks while driving or being the passenger on highways on longer trips? I have suffered with panic attacks for over 20 years, but have come a long way from where I used to be. I now mainly just get panic attacks while driving on highways. But I find that this is really debilitating for me. My 20 year high school reunion is later this month (4 1/2 hrs away) and after looking forward to attending it for the past several months, I have decided that I probably won't go after all. The reason is that I'm dreading the panicky feelings and attacks I may get. I just want to be safe and free from panic attacks. Can anyone relate? If so, how do you cope?
Michelle
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| Lauralai
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07-13-2004 @ 11:50 PM |
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Joined: Jul. 2004
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Hi Magpie,
I, too, am terrified of riding in a car since I was in a
serious car accident. Unfortunately, due to my
son's cancer treatments, I had to travel 200km
every week or so for over a year.
To get myself in the car, I take two clonazepam, two
gravol and one large shot of whiskey. I sit in the
back with a pillow and wear ear-plugs. When I do
come to conciousness again, I'm still pretty
relaxed, and am able to cope.
The downside is that once I'm in a "safe" place, I
immediately need to sleep off the drug cocktail. My
doctor is aware of my coping stratagy, and while
he'd like to find something better, for now it's the
only combo which is safe for my son, who still
breastfeeds.
My son's oncologist is convinced the breastmilk is
why my son is doing so well on the high risk
protocol of chemo he takes. Most of the other kids
have tons of addmissions and keep having to have
there chemo reduced ( which puts them at greater
risk of relapse). So for now, that's how I cope.
Apart from the PD, I'm basically healthy, so you
may want to give it a shot.
TTFN
Lauralai
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| njl |
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07-14-2004 @ 10:57 PM |
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Joined: Jul. 2004
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Actually my last event was while traveling - what drove me here. I think it's because being in a car
is so confining. There's no escape from what you believe the problem is. And what can you do? Fill up the car with water and take a bath? Sometimes I wish I could. If the problem occurs on long trips then perhaps the solution is to break the trip down into smaller ones. If the breaking point is about 1 hr then maybe driving 1/2 hr at a time, pulling over and trying to relax. But of course for rural areas this can be problematic. mp where would you be driving to/from where? God bless, njl
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| mel |
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07-15-2004 @ 10:11 PM |
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Joined: Jan. 2004
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I can totally relate but am certainly not much help. The only technique that somewhat works for me is to let my husband drive,take the headphones and try not to pay so much attention to what is going on. Lose yourself in the music or anything. Sometimes I'll climb into the backseat with my 7 yr old son and play some silly made up game to preoccupy myself! If you have to be the driver...well, I haven't figured that one out yet...let me know if you do because I feel confined and out of control even more in the drivers seat.
Mel
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| celticdrummer |
07-16-2004 @ 9:55 AM |
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Joined: Jul. 2004
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Hi Michelle,
Yes, I can definitely relate to what you are saying about travelling and I too suffer greatly from anxiety that comes along with riding/driving in a car for distances greater than 10 minutes. I have to take klonipin and xanax to get me through anything longer than that.....and usually start the day before the trip as the anxiety the day before is just as bad as the actualy trip itself. That's how I cope....the only drawback is that by the time I get to where I"m going I'm usually pretty drugged and not able to participate wholeheartedly in the event that I travelled for in the first place. If you find something that works better, please share!!!!!! kathy
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| Carmela |
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07-18-2004 @ 5:46 PM |
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Joined: Jul. 2004
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Wow! I guess i'm not the only one freaked out about driving, or even being in a car. I was in a car accident too last year. 
Does anybody head feel weird though when driving? It's hard to explain, there's too much going on and your head inside starts feeling kinda dizzy, but not really dizzy. I guess it would be the chemical imbalance..
What is it?
Carmela
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| CharlotteNC101 |
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07-23-2004 @ 3:07 PM |
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Joined: Jul. 2004
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Hello Maggie,
Wow, I really understand your situation. I just had an awful morning and for the first time since my panic attacks started, actually passed out in the Vet's office this morning, while I watched my animal have blood taken. I had to be carried to the back room and be put on a sofa while I threw up. Felt better after a few minutes, but scary since my panic is in a car. I previously (till few weeks ago) traveled three states for work in DC, Maryland and Virginia and had to daily for my job. Hours of driving for me is best broken up by stopping every hour to get juice and just stretch your legs out. Are you on a current daily medicine to cope or do you have anything like a benzo to help you out??? I think you should maybe bring someone too to come in the car. Sometimes the guilt of not going is going to eat you up more than the panic. Also try self help tapes or books on tapes to distract you. Let me know!!!
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| katie |
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07-23-2004 @ 7:34 PM |
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Joined: Jun. 2004
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It's good to know there are others out there who panic in the same situations I do. I was in a bad car accident several years ago. I use that as my excuse not to drive because people seem to be able to understand it more. It's really all the panic attacks I've had while driving,though (they started many years after the accident). I haven't driven in a car by myself for about 3 years. It's posed quite a few problems getting back and forth to work. I also can't stand to be in the car for long trips. That started on my honeymoon when we were driving from NC to Vermont. I discovered dramamine. I take one before we leave on a trip and it tends to relax me just enough to get by. We're moving to a new city 8 hours away next week! That's caused a lot of sleepless nights. Not only do I have to deal with this monster drive, but once we're there, I have to deal with finding a new job and a way to get there. Yuck! I did have one step forward today. My license has been expired since December and I was terrified to get it renewed. I finally did it today and it wasn't so bad (except my new picture). My husband said he was proud of me. Having a current license, unfortunately, doesn't mean I can drive by myself yet, but at least it's a start. Hang in there everyone!!!
Katie
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| CharlotteNC101 |
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07-23-2004 @ 8:00 PM |
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Joined: Jul. 2004
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Hello everyone. . .I am still driving all over but now am questioning is it safe. Have you ever heard of anyone ever passing out on the road??? I previously worked for a major Pharmaceutical Company and called on Psychiatrists. One of the docs there was also a dinner buddy and he told me people don't actually pass out from this that he has ever heard of, but after passing out today at the vet, I am concerned. I drove to the gas station a few minutes ago and was hyperventilating the whole way there so tense. My job depends on driving and now I am freaked out. Also I can't get into see a cognitive behavioral therapist till August 30th, which means I am going to have to stick this out the whole month. . any suggestions??
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| Carmela |
07-23-2004 @ 8:16 PM |
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Joined: Jul. 2004
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All I have to say is, "we do it to ourselves!"
All the negative think ing we have done, did this to us! Think positive, believe, pray, be busy!!
Being positive is the way to go. Watering a dry lawn is depressing. Watering green grass makes you happy!
Carmela
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| Posted By |
Discussion Topic: Panic on the highway
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