Long covid and driving phobias

Hi Kmoehl,
I haven't had the physical problems you have but I have had a fear of driving. I used to drive everywhere but since I'm older, (78) and traffic in my area has increased a lot, I'm scared of driving! However, what has helped me begin to get over it is necessity. My husband did all the driving and he was a very good driver. Three weeks ago, he died from lung cancer. I had no choice but to drive the car if I wanted to go grocery shopping or had an appointment. Luckily, the grocery store is only 2 miles from my house and I had no appointments. However, a friend needed to take her car in to be repaired and needed me to follow her there and take her back home and then to get the car. The place she was going was on a major highway that I hadn't driven on in 5 years! But I couldn't refuse because she had taken me to an eye appointment! So, I took her and drove on that major highway that absolutely terrified me! Do you know it wasn't that bad? I prayed about it and when I was actually there driving on it I relaxed and it became as familiar to me as it was 5 years prior. I would suggest you pray about this. God knows what you need and will be there for you. You may not want to start out with the long distance but you could work your way up to it.
Best wishes! I'll say a prayer for you.
PML

Hello I'm in same boat as yourself 2020 got COVID mine started with breathing because I've asthma then went to heart now the brain... On the driving I do short distance effects me in concentration if focus on something too long I get blurred vision ... As been a bus driver for 24 yrs I'm medically retired... You will get good days bad days keep the good side out ... Negative people keep away from as my brain would just shut down ....

I won't even try to drive. I know that the amount of concentration and focus required would quickly overwhelm me. I know I'll wear myself out and could lose focus. When other people's lives are in the mix, it's just not worth the risk. Thankfully, my wife has been wonderfully supportive. She already took care of most of the shopping and she's willing to take me to appointments and such. I was already pretty much a homebody, so this is just my homebody life dialed up to 11. I'm not saying it isn't hard, because it is... very... but we manage.

I went to occupational therapy for my long Covid brain issues. The clinic I went to has been using their “concussion protocol” treatment for LC brain issues. One part of it for me included using a driver simulator. It is a regular car seat with seat belt, turn signals, gear shift, brake and gas pedals, etc along with several large computer monitors. They have different scenarios you can “drive” through including city streets, rural areas, different weather conditions, close to a school, and much more. This was helpful to me. I am also going to contact my local 55 alive driving course and see if I would be allowed to take it due to my health condition, even though I’m not 55 yet. Hope you find something that will help you!

Wow..I thought it was just old age. I do have long covid with main symptoms being fatigue, brain fog and breathing isssues and muscular pain. I drive short distances but am afraid of longer trips???

I had this problem before getting covid but i could handle it.
Now when i am unsure of where i am going and how to get there I anxiety big time.

Same problem with me right after I had Covid November 2020 I was driving turning right on a red and I pulled out knowingly in front of somebody else it was like my brain wasn't right. ever since then I have high stress of driving and even more stress if someone else is driving. I try to overcome it but it's tough

This thread came at the right time for me. Longhauler since Dec 2020, and lately I have had days where I can't drive at all. I'm too dizzy and fatigued. Also, the concentration and constant input of movement light, sounds & decision making start to exhaust my brain. It feels like little bits of my life keep slipping away.

I so relate to this. I have been doing accupuncture to help calm my nervous system and met with a naturopath to check cortisol levels. Both have helped. I’m also seeing some other medical treatments and will post if those work. Sending you healing energies.

I have no advice on fixing your driving anxiety but I can tell you, from my experience, why it might be happening. For me my brain was so over stimulated by everything that the multi-tasking involved in driving was too many things happening at the same time for my brain to process. I knew it wasn't safe for me to drive and that made me anxious. I am self employed and single so working and driving was necessary but terrifying. I started only accepting small jobs locally and still avoid driving long distances.