any tips welcome

[Skzluv2599]

so I’ve been struggling with anxiety lately where I go in a car and get almost car sick and have stomach aches. I also get panic attacks. The most troubling thing right now is the stomach aches because I get so much fear that I’m literally gonna poo myself when I’m out. It’s so hard to deal with it. I don’t think I actually would but because now I’m scared of that I can barely go out without feeling my stomach hurt. I am going to take the ibgard tablets has anyone tried it? When is the best time to take them? Also does anyone know how to deal with this?

[LoveforAll41]

Skzluv, feel free to tell me to buzz off here or ignore what I have to say if it is wrong. I am sorry that cars have become such a source of anxiety. I think it is definitely good to have some anxiety around driving, it will keep you aware and engaged. It can be a dangerous activity. That being said it is required for many of us to drive. We must have an amount of anxiety that is beneficial not detrimental. Have you been in a wreck or anything recently that would make you more anxious while driving?

I love Dr Burns work and he, along with many other therapists, believes exposure therapy is the way to go for anxiety. He tells a story of when he wanted to work on the set crew of a play and would be up high in the rafters but had a fear of heights. His teacher had him stand on top of a ladder for as long as it took for his fear to diminish. Is there someone that could go for a drive with you and support you as you let this anxiety was over you and realize that it will be okay? Perhaps you could take some pepto bismol before 😜

[designguy]

You might check out the DARE Anxiety youtube channel, they have great information about dealing with panic/anxiety and I think they have some videos on anxiety and driving. They even have a book available and I subscribed to their phone app for a while. Their approach is simple and proactive and is about learning what is really going on with panic/anxiety and how to constructively deal with it. Anxiety/panic is in reality a paradox and the more we struggle, fight or deny it the more it persists so the solution is to learn how to deal with it differently and stop struggling with it. Meds can also be helpful at least temporarily.