Hi ,
I am really suffering from panic disorder while i am driving,i got very anxious and stressed and start feeling the symptoms and i saw multiple therapists and nothing helps . I under everything about deal with panic while driving but the symptoms was so bad.
Hi Asool ... I am sorry to hear you've had to go through this. Is this situation affecting you often ?
Yes , it happens very often recently.
I did therapy before and right now i started with new one. All of them said that i have to face my fears . Its very hard to face my fears alone by my self and exposure thats why i was looking for group therapy so i can get help and more support and practice.
I was involved in a car accident because of a drunken driver. It took a lot of nerve to get back to driving. I was also experiencing a lot of anxiety while driving but then I realized it came from other stressors in my life. My mom has anxiousness for driving for her own reasons (she was never involved in an accident) and she doesn't drive at all.
I know that driving can be very stressful sometimes and things can get overwhelming really fast ... With this being said , I make the invitation to reflect upon what does driving mean to you? Are there other ways you can manage moving around without having to drive? Analyzing the different factors that involve the area of mobility in your life could be helpful to come to peace with this activity. For me , driving meant having the freedom/independence to be able to move more comfortably and faster between places. Thinking about driving as a tool for me changed the way I felt about it when I "had" to do it .
My mom chooses not to drive and that's the solution that works for her. She sometimes gets a little limited but she always figures it out. As said what works best. Driving or not driving has no moral value. It's just a tool.
See what works for you. Try things out and don't give up. Facing your fears is tough. But letting your fears run your life is even harder. Design your life in a way that serves you 🌸
thanks for your message...
I really appreciate your time & support ,yes i do! the driving means everything to me . I cant do my things without driving . i have little issues related to driving makes me feel anxious. I used to drive since 1995 until now . i never had a car accident (thx God) and i am very good and professional on driving.the problem is i feel more comfortable while i am driving with someone beside me or talking over the phone .most of the negative and scary thoughts comes to my mind before start the driving makes me feel anxious and stressed and ends with panic attacks during the driving and i stopped my car beside the street to take some breath . yesterday i couldn't be able to drive my car to work and i let my husband to drive me to work. I am trying to use the tools and techniques that my therapist teach me before.
1.accept the panic attacks and the symptoms
2.practice the mindfulness and visualisation (imagination)
3. Affirmations
4.exercises bc it increases the dopamine and reduces the cortisol which it helps me to be more happy and relaxed.
4. Breathing techniques.
maybe a podcast and/or calming music? perhaps the podcast would give you the feeling of someone talking to you 
maybe hanging a special item on the rear view mirror to remind you you're gonna get through this?
I recently stopped my vehicle at a crowded intersection of a shopping center. I had slept in and only just left the house 20 minutes prior. I was in a very relaxed state of mind. The way the cars were coming from every direction and were zooming past, it threw me off. I didn't realize I was in an area that attracts a lot of people, whether because it was close to a highway, or the particular shops and restaurants there, I don't know. But their driving behavior just seemed so wild. Without putting much thought into it, I just turned on my hazard flashers at the stop sign. I figured they would go around? Instead I was stuck there for like 7 minutes, which is a long time in that scenario. A guy even came up to me and I automatically put my hand up like leave me alone, due to other trauma I've experienced, but to my surprise when he walked away he did not act dominating or strangely. I realized I should've told the guy that I mentally couldn't move vehicle, and he probably would've helped me. Driving home I realized the extent of my anxiety disorder.
All I know to do for now is AVOID. I've been doing curbside grocery pick up. I'm not suggesting this is great advice, just sharing how I've navigated it. My issue is more the crowds.
Anyway, it could be soothing and grounding to have that podcast or comfort item or mood music. Take care.
Hi Asool ! I'm glad to hear your appreciation for the message, that is very sweet of you! I think you have some great ways to manage your anxiety while driving , it just takes some practice to do them in a way that prevents you from being anxious in the moment of driving. I consider this a huge win, you stopped your car on the side of the road to breathe! Even though getting anxious is not and ideal situation you reacted in a very appropriate manner and created a safe space for you and others . You deserve to be safe while driving so it was a very smart move to remove yourself from trafic until it was better.
In my opinion, some feelings of fear might be hard to remove from one's life... but if you learn how to live with them and find the tools to manage the situation then that's amazing !
