Panic Attacks while driving

[Ih8going2work]

In November 2021, On the day of my brothers funeral, I was involved in four car chain reaction accident that totaled my car ( I wasn't at fault). After the accident, I was driving without any issues whatsoever until February of this year when I had my first panic attack while driving. I've asked my psychiatrist to up my dosage and prescribe me something that I can take everyday for general anxiety disorder but nothing is helping. I've done breathing exercises, biting on a lemon wedge, chanting, and nothing is working. I'm looking into going to a hypnotherapist to see if they can help.

Has anyone else had this issue after a car accident?

[Agora1]

I do believe in hypnotherapy for many issues. I had it myself for general anxiety

and still use it to this day. There are some things in life that we just don't have

control over... Good Luck in finding a hypnotherapist who can reprogram your

mind. Be open to the suggestions. xx

[Ih8going2work in reply to Agora1]

UPDATE: I did about three sessions with the hypnotherapist and after the first session I was able to drive myself to appointments. I also started using a portable TENS machine while driving to distract my mind from the thought of panic attacks. My doctor prescribed me Prozac and now with everything that I have tried I am able to drive about 40 mins from the house. I did have a small panic attack that lasted for about less than five minutes but I was able to continue onto my doctors appointment

[Agora1 in reply to Ih8going2work]

Ih8going2work, you should see the big smile on my face right now.

Oh I'm so happy for you. Hypnotherapy has done wonders for me as well.

And once you are programed, you can continue on your own .

As time goes by, more doors will open for you. I'd say "you've got this"

Congratulations xx

[Superzob]

This sounds like a form of PTSD. We are used to getting a reaction immediately after (or even during) an event, but I understand from a management course I attended that a stress reaction can occur as much as 5 years later. Presumably, there will be some treatments available for this condition but, until then, I suspect you may have to restrict your driving.

[Ih8going2work in reply to Superzob]

Wow, I never really thought about PTSD, I just assumed it was just panic attacks. I don't go about my day thinking I'm going to get into another accident. I do however have strange dreams about my car not being parked where I parked it and taking it to the mechanic to get fixed only for the mechanic to lose the car. But I've always had dreams about not being able to find my car even before the accident, actually I've had that dream with all the cars I've owed lol. I have been able to drive by myself just only within a certain radius of my house. I did go to the hair dresser and I was extremely nervous and once I got on the highway I had to call my BF to help me the rest of the way (10mins). But after the appointment, I was able to drive home without any issues (I didn't take the highway home).

[PropertyOfJesus in reply to Ih8going2work]

Try asking your doctor to put you on an antidepressant. Because, some “antidepressants” are used by doctors to treat *anxiety* and panic attacks! Even if there’s no depression involved. Sertraline is one medication that, although it’s technically called an antidepressant, it can drastically reduce anxiety and panic attacks . And if you find that med. doesn’t help you, there are others your doctor or a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse can prescribe. Along side of a longer-acting med. to reduce/prevent anxiety and panic attacks, ask to be given a prescription for a benzodiazepine. It’s a class of medications that can immediately stop (treat) a panic attack! Ativan is a medium-length benzo., so it’s a good start. (if you do not have frequent panic attacks or if they don’t last very long, then a shorter acting one might be enough for you.)

Please ask for at least a benzodiazepine, so so you will know that you have some thing in your pocket that you can take will stop a panic attack immediately, and just will prevent you from constantly worrying when your next panic attack will happen, and it can prevent situational panic attacks. The quicker you get your anxiety and panic attacks under control, and have the ability to stop them immediately the quicker you’ll get over having them because you’ll no longer have to worry if there will even be a next one because you’ll be able to prevent it. Good luck, and God bless you!

[Ih8going2work in reply to PropertyOfJesus]

Thanks. Prior to my accident, I was on Xanax but my doctor stopped prescribing it to me because she didn't want me to become addicted to it but I still have some leftover lol. I was prescribed prozac and that seems to help, I do have smaller panic attacks that go away in a few minutes. I have seen a hypnotherapist and I think that help a lot. I am able to drive more and longer distances now. I still haven't returned to work yet because I want to make sure that I am fully over this. My commute to work is over 40 minutes and I have to cross a bridge. I also drive with a portable TENS unit (muscle stimulator) that I use to help me concentrate on the muscle stimulator and not thinking about having a panic attack.