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Scared of driving too

for 20 år siden 0 +0 / -0 3

Heather, I was so glad to read what you wrote. It is to the T of how I feel. So good to hear that I am not the only one!!! Today I am starting my paxil and going to try and over come the freeway. I use to drive on the freeway. Not sure what happened to feel this feeling of panic. I have a family get together for thanksgiving and will go with my husband for a 8 hour freeway trip. I still dont like the freeway even when anyone else is driving. I went to the docter and he told me to try paxil. Wish me luck on my new change that I want so badly. Thank you Again, Ellen

for 20 år siden 0 +0 / -0 293

Dear Elizabeth, It would be great if your therapist could help you with the exposure aspect. When you start driving, definitely take it slow, drive in quiet neighborhoods and just do a little at a time. Taking driving lessions is a great idea, if you let them know your situation I am sure they will work with you. Susanne

for 20 år siden 0 +0 / -0 1

Hi, I'm 24 and I have OCD. I have always been afraid of driving. I have a lisence (sp?) but never drive. I just started grad school and one of my professors told me I need to learn to drive for my career. I'm on Luvox and Ativan. I am terrified of driving. My main fear is that I will hurt people and go to jail. Are there any driving schools that specialize in teaching people with anxiety? Any advice on learning? I'm on winter break and I wanted to try to start learning before I go back to school. I do see a therapist at school but she works with me on breathing exercises, not exposure. Thank you, Elizabeth

for 20 år siden 0 +0 / -0 57

I haven't left my hometown in years either. I never visit friends or relatives who live far away. Now I don't drive at all but when I did my cell phone was my best friend. I had become so attached to it that I couldn't look at it while driving. If I did and saw there was no service I would go into instant panic. I deffinately could not drive by myself long distance, so maybe you can have someone go with you and drive. When we had to go to a wedding, I had my fiancee drive and I took a sleeping pill. I woke up after 6 hours and we were there. The other advice I have is rent a car with the ONSTAR system on it. If you have an emergency there is just one button that you can press and they'll send help your way. It works on the satelite system so you don't have to worry about them not being able to find you even in the desert. You probably won't use it but it will help. Or you could take a bus. That way you could put on head phones and sleep on the way there. Buses also have bathrooms in them, so if you freak out you can go in there and close the door and scream if you want to. One last thing. A couple of years ago I had a very good therapist. He used hypnosis to help me take a trip to Washington DC that I wanted to take really bad. We did the preparation for a couple of weeks. He had me lower my fear while under hypnosis while I was imagining first getting ready then taking the trip. I took the trip on a bus and had no problems whatsoever. Than he also made a tape of the hypnosis session where he made me relax and talked me through things. That helped greatly. Anytime I had an attack in the car I pulled over, put the tape in and technically did self hypnosis. I did that so much that after a while all I had to do is put it in while driving I became relaxed.

for 20 år siden 0 +0 / -0 17

I hear this loud and clear. I too, cannot drive on any major highway and always need back roads to get to any location, or I go out at the crack of dawn. I'm lucky I live in a small town out in almost the country. However, some days, it doesn't matter. I found that having something personal- a photo of something I love helped. Also, I have stuffed animals from friends/family collected over the year. I will take one from someone I know did something SO difficult and use that to help give me strength. But those are good for short trips. Long trips - definetly a cell phone. When I started driving more, this helped me WONDERFULLY! Secondly, can anyone go with you? are you nervous being in a car with someone? Perhaps a family member could come your way and help you get to visit family? Good luck and don't lose faith in yourself!!! I think all of us with PD get that way- we are farrr too hard on ourselves!

for 20 år siden 0 +0 / -0 10

I am glad to see there are other people who have a fear of driving. Mine has been going on since I was 25 and I am now 59. I got into an accident when I was 25 and was never sure of my driving skills after that. I was able to drive on the freeway in the daytime but not at night and then it grew and grew until I could not drive at all on the freeways. I tried once about 18 years ago, but I actually freeze. I cannot drive at all. I could cause a major accident. Also, I cannot drive on wide open roads, in tunnels and God forbid I would ever have to drive on any kind of a bridge. As discussed, I think this is a control issue. The fear of not being in control; for instance, not being able to pull over and stop. I am limited to only places near my home and as some of you know, if you have an panic attack when you are driving on a certain street, you avoid that street the next time. I am really going to try to complete this program and do my best.

for 20 år siden 0 +0 / -0 6

I totally relate to this post. Thank you so much for writing about this topic. I have exactly the same problem with driving. I pull over all the time. I also drive in the bysicle lane sometimes wich really embarreses me because people always give me a weird look. I often feel like I am going to "blow up" if I don't get off the road. This is better now but in the summer I was absolutely freaked about the problem I as usual force myself to just get around. I do take a mild and I mean very mild sedative when I feel really scarred. The doctor gave it to me and it really helps , but trully the only thing that helps me is being able to discuss it with people that know and understand without fear i will be judged. The other thing that helps me telling myself that I can do this!!! I feel so helpless sometimes I have to just force myself to do it even if I have to pull over every 5 minutes I don't care. I also avoid always the freeway because I don't want an accident and I havn't mastered driving in wide open spaces yet. Also the trmendouse speed I have to drive on the freeway just freaks me out. I know the routes well wherever I have to go and I try to leave really early dso If I do freak I won't be late. I thank you for writing this I don't feel so alone.

for 21 år siden 0 +0 / -0 2

hi heather! i relate to completely,driving is my biggest panic getter. and it doesn't matter if its no sholder,bridge,freeway,or two lane roads,they all get me. The cell phone advice i would try. i invested in one and i use it now and then when those darn panic attacks get a good hold on me, it seems to help me just knowing that someone is there and knows where i'm at. good luck

for 21 år siden 0 +0 / -0 8

Odd, I am exactly the opposite. I could drive through a desert with no problem but put me in a tunnel or on a long bridge(especially a very high one) and I'm done for.

for 21 år siden 0 +0 / -0 11

Hi Heather I really empathize with you, at least on a smaller level. I also have a fear of driving. I have major issues when I can't find a shoulder - just in case I need to pull over. But, to this day, driving the same way to work and back - I have never needed to stop and pull over. I wish there waas a quick and easy fix for this, I know that it all sounds silly, but when I saw your post I see that I am not alone.

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