So I’m going on a four hour road trip and I get really bad anxiety in cars not to mention I’m sitting in the back seat which is worse for me
I don’t want to embarrass myself because the people I’m with don’t know how to deal with someone with anxiety what should I do to help contain my anxiety
Do nothing about your anxiety and go on that trip. Anxiety thrives on avoidance. It only learns to switch off when you go towards your fears. Why let some harmless thoughts and feelings restrict your life?
I tried to keep this message in my head and it worked the first hour but I couldn’t do it and I feel ashamed and embarrassed I just want to be normal and be able to sit in a car for a few hours
Keep doing it, keep getting in that car. It’s not the trip you fear, it is the feelings that yout might experience that you fear. To feel normal, you have to do normal things and take those feelings with you. Instead of thinking “what if” have an attitude of so what and care less about those feelings. Only by going towards your fears willingly with as much acceptance that you can muster ( not through gritted teeth) will you retrain your brain that there is nothing to fear and anxiety levels will gradually diminish until you know longer care about them.
Do you also get motion sick? I Hate back seats for that reason too...I use super low doses of Dramamine or similar otc meds help me...sitting in the middle so I can see out better...focusing repeatedly on distant objects till they are close...calm music thru ear buds if the driver isnt playing the stereo. Anyway hang in there!
How does motion sickness feel or what is that
I am okay when I am either driving or in the front seat i have no idea why I think it’s a control thing or when I’m in front I can see everything like where we are what’s coming up I can control the radio the windows if I’m driving I can control when we stop or how fast we go it sounds silly but I think that’s why I get like that bc in the back seats My view is limited my space is limited I just feel like I’m closed in when I’m sitting in the back
Distraction is I believe the best form of avoidance. Try reading, do puzzles, play I Spy with other passengrrs. All this might help to occupy your mind. Good luck and safe journey.
I tried those things but they didn’t work
Whenever I go on road trips with my family I bring headphones and a blanket I hide under the blanket pretending I’m sleeping the entire time while I’m just occupied playing some stupid game I downloaded to distract me, something with stupid amounts of tapping and complete uselessness but it always gives me a sense of relief, like it’s my world, the blanket seems very childish 😂 but people just assume I’m sleeping and it spares awkward conversation and I get really bad secondhand embarrassment no matter who is around me talking so I need the music 💁🏼♂️
I tried playing games but every time they would drive my chest would feel like it’s on fire and it would make me panic ..
I just feel embarrassed like we arranged the seating bc of me..
Where is your trip to?
Who’s it with, if you don’t mind me asking?
The burning chest and relentless heartbeat is the only thing that I don’t understand about anxiety.
Basically how I found to cope with this is don’t rub your chest don’t grab at it etc do your best to not acknowledge it. fiddle with something I always rub my index finger and my thumbs together for some reason ,listen to a song that you know extremely well. Touch and sound and finding a comfortable routine will get rid of this feeling everytime you repeat the routine for a while, try it out it might help if not I hope you find something that does❤️!
It was to Houston
And I took the trip with my girlfriend, her sister her sisters boyfriend and their kids
I didn’t have those problems until recently but I get this feeling that my chest is on fire and when I get that feeling I panic my hands get sweaty and I feel like the walls are closing in and I feel so scared
Thank you for your advice I will be sure to use it next time 💕
I am so sorry I’m just now getting back to you
Anxiety struggles
How does everybody feel about their anxiety and controlling it?
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