Magicklug Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 Any suggestions on how to deal with anxiety when driving? I have no idea why I sometimes get anxious when I'm driving. My symptoms are: racing heart, sweaty palms, and the fear that I'm going to lose control of my car. I've never been in an accident. These feelings are scary and because of them I avoid interstates and only drive highways and side streets. Anyone ever experienced this kind of weird anxiety? 😕 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian! Posted January 28, 2021 Share Posted January 28, 2021 3 hours ago, Magicklug said: Any suggestions on how to deal with anxiety when driving? I have no idea why I sometimes get anxious when I'm driving. My symptoms are: racing heart, sweaty palms, and the fear that I'm going to lose control of my car. I've never been in an accident. These feelings are scary and because of them I avoid interstates and only drive highways and side streets. Anyone ever experienced this kind of weird anxiety? 😕 that's a panic attack - nothing to be frightened or overly concerned about... I mean it's not ideal if you have them whilst driving, but it's just the body's way of telling you that you're under stress / emotional and potentially bottling it up. if it helps, it happened to me back in early 2010 - never while driving, but when I went shopping or the theatre (bizarrely!) - genuinely the most frightening situation as I thought I was going mad. I went to the doctor about it and the short-term help was beta-blocker medication for anxiety... although I never finished the prescription as I only took them occasionally - I still keep the box nearby to remind me of those times.... I can look back and laugh at it now. 🤪 the longer-term solution (had to wait 4 months for an appointment) was being referred for counselling - that effectively became bereavement counselling as the situation was ultimately caused by being an executor of a relatives estate, and not spending time dealing with their death emotionally because I was too busy running around like a blue-arsed fly handling the will, legalities, funeral etc... part of those sessions dealt with spotting the signs of the attacks and training myself to deal with them. to be honest, I haven't really had a problem since... and I don't worry about it reoccurring, because I know if I sense it about to happen, then I can deal with it before it ever gets to the stage of real anxiety - certainly work and/or covid (unless I get it!) shouldn't trigger any issues on that anxiety front, and so the only stresses in my life are on issues that I can't control - so why waste my time worrying about them? I read in another thread that your stress is work/covid related - covid is going to be around in one form or another for the rest of the year at least (it might be another 6 months before I get both vaccine jabs), so you're going to have to find ways to deal with it... I mean, when I blacked out in the local shop in 2010, I just embarrassed myself... if something happens to you while you're driving, that's more serious with potential consequences for others. 🚑 you have to remember that if you've now reached the stage of having panic attacks, then it's unlikely to go away by itself - you need to address the root cause or at least release the stress valve a little... maybe that's talking to a doctor, or calling a helpline, friends/family etc... depends what options are available to you where you live. I wish you well. 🙂 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jafar Muhammed Posted January 29, 2021 Share Posted January 29, 2021 I am missing the love/heart reaction here. Sorry, @brian!I couldn't send one ❤️ @Magicklug, be strong! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckyjack Posted February 10, 2021 Share Posted February 10, 2021 you just need more practive, I was in the same boat 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magicklug Posted March 19, 2021 Author Share Posted March 19, 2021 Thanks for the advice everyone. 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D3vil Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 While driving, I need some distractions because I feel stressed on tight roads mainly, and when it is dark, I panic) 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Huslua Posted February 12 Share Posted February 12 (edited) 8 minutes ago, D3vil said: While driving, I need some distractions because I feel stressed on tight roads mainly, and when it is dark, I panic) I get where you’re coming from with this. I once felt nervous driving on busy highways after a close call. I couldn’t even explain why the fear came back randomly afterward. What helped me was starting small, like taking quiet roads to build confidence and practicing deep breathing when the anxiety kicked in. A handheld like an Air Bar Nex helped me a lot while driving. It’s good to find small tricks that ease the tension while you build confidence! Edited February 12 by Huslua 0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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