any hope?

[k3ishab]

Had the worst panic attack i ever had back in February while driving , had to pull over thought i was going to die . Ever since then haven't be able to get a car for long . Is there any hope for me or is this going to be my life ?

[Agora1]

Hi K3ishab, there is always hope. This will not be your life forever. It's only been 4 months since that happened. Although the longer you wait to get back to driving, the harder it may become. Since it's not the car itself you are afraid of but the "what if" you get a panic attack again. It's no different then people who experience their first panic attack in a store. For months on end, they fear the store it happened in. Until we rationally think about how panic works, we continue to fear something that is not the cause.

The panic came from our own mind which is with us no matter where we are, even in the safety of our own home. Before getting back to driving, you need to start learning more about the mind/body connection as well as finding methods of relaxing as you are driving which will cut down the adrenaline rush immensely. Reading Dr. Claire Weekes book on Help & Hope for Anxiety will give you some smart tips on handling panic attacks. What they mean as well as accepting that they are not harmful.

So again, the answer is you will not fear this forever. Small steps in getting back will in the long run give you the confidence and achievement of having won over this anxiety monster. Don't let it win, you are strong, you can do it.