Dear Linda and Pete, I want to thank you for your postings, which help me realize I am not alone. I'm sorry I don't have any advice to offer, this is my very first time here. For the past 5 years I have been terrified to drive, in fact I didn't drive at all for 2 years. Now that we have a new car, I feel a little safer, but I have a certain driving circumference that I won't venture beyond. I thought I was just being a chicken, but I am beginning to realize that there is something more to it. I wish I had something valuable to offer to you, but at this point I'm just trying to deal with the anxiety of writing annonymously to strangers and not feeling shamed. Best, Hope

Linda try not to be too hard on yourself. There's no shame in what u did. It's not easy dealing with panic attacks. I often go cycling on the same track. When I had my first panic attack on this track I just stopped and wouldn't go on. My Dad had to cycle back and drive the car to where I stopped. I improved stacks since then. I now cycle past that part and have a chuckle at what I did that day. And now if I have a panic attack whilst cycling on that track I just keep on going knowing that it will pass and all will be fine - as it always will be. So when u improve more you will be able to resist turning around and driving home.

Hello, My name is Linda. I can no longer drive on the expressway. I was very embarrassed over the Fourth of July as I had to turn around and come back after having a panic attack that caused me to get very dizzy and disoriented. I had a very hard time getting home. I don't think my brother fully understands. He wasn't mean on the phone but seemed disappointed in me. The shame of it just makes the spiral seem worse. My parents and brother's family are all competitive and successful people. They have a hard time understanding that I am not like them. Part of this is genetic on my father's mother's side of the family. My father has a short fuse and a very irritable disposition. My grandmother was a chronic worrier, and her mother was mentally ill with anxiety and confined to a bedroom for three years. Yours truly, Linda

Pete, This is to let you know that you are not alone in this. I am not on meds but probably need to be so I can't advise you on that. I am okay most of the time except that I can't get on the expressway and I have trouble on unfamiliar or busy roads. Congratulations that you can drive some. A lot of folks can't drive at all. I know about the shame part. I had to turn around on the way to my brother's and barely made it home as I was getting very dizzy and had trouble seeing straight. He sort of understood but not completely and was upset. I have spent most of the day crying and sleeping and not wanting to leave the house. There may be a number of causes. There may have been some severe ridicule in your past or emotional abuse. I was ridiculed and criticized by my parents when I was in driver's training. Also, there is the hereditary factor. I might try a combination of exercise, diet, meds, and hypnosis but I don't have a lot of cash right now but might when my divorce is final. My husband is very nonsupportive of me and criticizes me very harshly. I don't know why he wants to stay married. We have been separated for three years. Being critized and ridicules increases the spiraling factor and makes things a lot worse. It is best to avoid such people. I too don't usually hyperventilate, but I get dizzy, my lips get tingly and I can't think or see straight. I think that symptoms can differ between individuals.

Welcome, Pete. Once you read some posts, you will realize othere here know just what you're talking about. If you look at the information part of our site for the symptoms, you'll find that yours are right in there. I hope this makes you feel somewhat less alone with what's happening to you. Our site offers tools tools such as the Anxiety test, which is really helpful to take and print out for your first doctor's visit. Our Panic Diary is there for you to keep a record of your panic attacks. And finally, our Panic program is a 12-session program designed by experts to help you deal with your PAs and to improve your situation. Perhaps you can show our site to your Dr.?

Hi there, Well Ive just arrived here via a search engine, and need somewhere to just post a short version of my 'tale of woe' and hopefully recieve some medication advice from somebody. I havnt scanned this message board yet, but will do after posting my message. I just feel the need to get this out...please bear with me.. 32 year old male. Suffered from depression for the last few years. Coupled with Social phobia and increasing anxiety. Depression under control through therapy (not using drugs). The other day I was driving down a freeway in a car, with relatives and suddently got this panicked feeling...felt like I was on the top of a roller coaster going down. Came out of the blue, was horrible. Tried to ride it out, but had to pull over as I was sure I would crash the car. Things have got worse since then. I have a general feeling of high anxiety, at times when watching the tv..doing normal chores...anything. Following symptons: Fear Light headed feeling. Nervy and twitchy. Worst symptom of all: A feeling of looking at body parts such as hands, and feeling disconnected. Very difficult to explain. Like I am trapped in another body. Its quite disturbing and upsetting. This "anxiety" seems to have started since the panic attack behind the wheel. I can drive a car, but not on freeways or any big open roads. Ive never felt agrophobic before. Ive been to my local doctor. He has refered me to a Pshychiatrist. In the meantime has put me on the following meds: Alprax 0.5 milligrams twice daily Risperdal 1 mg Twice Daily. After some research Alprax seems to control anxiety, and Risperdal is an anti-psychotic med to control the disociation feeling I have with my body during anxiety attacks. Im also booked in for a CT Scan. Dealing with depression and social phobia in the past was challenging at times, but this new level of anxiety I have reached has stunned me. It can control my whole perspective...the feeling of dissociation with my body is extremely horrible. Id like advice if anybody has experience combining the above medications (as Ive just started them) and this odd feeling of body dissociation. Im sorry for not reading any of the forums rules etc, I hope I havnt jumped the gun in some way. I really just need to know somebody