@sandytoes14 @littleonefmohio Please forgive me for not replying sooner. I have been dealing with extreme fibromyalgia pain and side effects from taking prednisone.
I too have a hard time riding in the car and keep my appointments as close to home as possible. What has been working for me is sitting in the back seat listening to a book on tape or music using earbuds. I also dab my wrists and collar bone with lavender essential oil.
There have been great responses by other members that I'm going to try also. The B vitamin sounds promising.
I truly hope your panic eases so that you may enjoy the time with your grandbaby.
Jen
How do you deal with your anxiety when your in the car? I started experiencing these episodes about 6 years ago when I was pregnant with my daughter. I am 42 years old, my job requires a lot of driving and my kids are in all kinds of sports. I have stopped driving on the freeways and the past week I've noticed driving in certain local areas are becoming difficult. I don't want Xanax or ativan. I pray a lot and cry a lot about this. What helps you.
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Parus
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@me2a How do you deal with your anxiety when your in the car? I started experiencing these episodes about 6 years ago when I was pregnant with my daughter. I am 42 years old, my job requires a lot of driving and my kids are in all kinds of sports. I have stopped driving on the freeways and the past week I've noticed driving in certain local areas are becoming difficult. I don't want Xanax or ativan. I pray a lot and cry a lot about this. What helps you.
@me2a I can no longer do the things you have shared. I have no answers but can grasp the angst and it hurts. You are not the only one. I can no longer even ride in a car on the freeways. I tried and had to pull over and park my car. I will never try this again.
Do you know what brought this about??
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thankful
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Joined: Apr 27, 2016
@me2a How do you deal with your anxiety when your in the car? I started experiencing these episodes about 6 years ago when I was pregnant with my daughter. I am 42 years old, my job requires a lot of driving and my kids are in all kinds of sports. I have stopped driving on the freeways and the past week I've noticed driving in certain local areas are becoming difficult. I don't want Xanax or ativan. I pray a lot and cry a lot about this. What helps you.
@me2a– Many years back my initial panic attack occured as I was driving over a bridge that I had drove over many times prior and it seemed to come out of no where. I literally felt the bridge getting narrower as I drove over to the point that I felt like I was being crushed.
That was start of what became a long list of "no goes" for me and I was terrified. After seeing a Psychiatrist for several sessions he put me on 1mg of Klonopin. That was the beginning of taking back my life. It began slowly and initially would only drive if my wife was in the car. It took awhile, but I can do all those things that I had checked off my list now. I have been on that same dosage for over 25 years now and have never felt the need to increase my dose. When I fly I take with me a extra half of a pill in case I get very anxious, and over the years I believe I've only taken the extra half dose 1 time. For me just knowing I have it with me is often enough. Same goes for driving (even over bridges) or other things that were on my list. The more I did the more my confidence increased. Thats my story! Don't let fear control your life! Jim @thankful
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Merry, Volunteer Mentor
@merpreb
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@thankful– Oh, you brought back more memories for me. I lied @pearlybaby. I have had more than one panic attack. My husband use to run a sport fishing charter boat for offshore large fish. I hated heights and if I started to walk down the dock without thinking about what I was doing I'd stop and get down on my knees so that I wouldn't fall off. The air, sea and sky would all meld into one. Someone always came and helped me, but it's terrifying.
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@thankful @me2a– Many years back my initial panic attack occured as I was driving over a bridge that I had drove over many times prior and it seemed to come out of no where. I literally felt the bridge getting narrower as I drove over to the point that I felt like I was being crushed.
That was start of what became a long list of "no goes" for me and I was terrified. After seeing a Psychiatrist for several sessions he put me on 1mg of Klonopin. That was the beginning of taking back my life. It began slowly and initially would only drive if my wife was in the car. It took awhile, but I can do all those things that I had checked off my list now. I have been on that same dosage for over 25 years now and have never felt the need to increase my dose. When I fly I take with me a extra half of a pill in case I get very anxious, and over the years I believe I've only taken the extra half dose 1 time. For me just knowing I have it with me is often enough. Same goes for driving (even over bridges) or other things that were on my list. The more I did the more my confidence increased. Thats my story! Don't let fear control your life! Jim @thankful
Thank you, I will see my doctor about going that route. It's a crippling for me as I can't seem to figure out what is causing the anxiety. I tried psychotherapy and it didn't seem to help me. I tried the super mom approach and it has failed miserably.@thankful
@parus @me2a I can no longer do the things you have shared. I have no answers but can grasp the angst and it hurts. You are not the only one. I can no longer even ride in a car on the freeways. I tried and had to pull over and park my car. I will never try this again.
Do you know what brought this about??
I'm sorry to hear that, I haven't experienced any life changes except for the birth of my daughter. Nothing seems to bother me as I am not depressed or never had any family member discuss any anxiety related issues. However, I do have fear of heights and yet I fly about 4x yearly without any incidence.
lioness
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@merpreb @thankful– Oh, you brought back more memories for me. I lied @pearlybaby. I have had more than one panic attack. My husband use to run a sport fishing charter boat for offshore large fish. I hated heights and if I started to walk down the dock without thinking about what I was doing I'd stop and get down on my knees so that I wouldn't fall off. The air, sea and sky would all meld into one. Someone always came and helped me, but it's terrifying.
@merpreb Oh Merry that has to have been a horrible feeling so glad your not having that anymore
faraway53
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@parus @me2a I can no longer do the things you have shared. I have no answers but can grasp the angst and it hurts. You are not the only one. I can no longer even ride in a car on the freeways. I tried and had to pull over and park my car. I will never try this again.
Do you know what brought this about??
I understand your fears totally, had many of these panic attacks in earlier years unfortunatly.
Highways, elevators, long walks with the dog in the woods, avoiding sociaal events..
What I learned is not never ever avoid these challenging circumstances!
I did just that for a long time and thus limiting my life and joy in life..
With help from some pills – not heavy stuff- I started to do these things again.
Costs a lot of accepting the fears and while knowing that the panic can strike again, still do it anyway….
OK not big challenges at first but gradually you pick up your life again.
The thing is to continue doing things that make you panic.
But please… do not close that door..by saying that you wont do that anymore..
Try getting real help, take pills or whatever and keep on going.
I don't want to oversimple your anxiety. Been there, done that believe me. It can really get to you, I know.
But fight it. Take back your life..
My two cents at least.
I wish you well.
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Merry, Volunteer Mentor
@merpreb
@merpreb
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Merry, Volunteer Mentor
@merpreb
@merpreb
Posts: 1533
Joined: Feb 07, 2018
@faraway53 I understand your fears totally, had many of these panic attacks in earlier years unfortunatly.
Highways, elevators, long walks with the dog in the woods, avoiding sociaal events..
What I learned is not never ever avoid these challenging circumstances!
I did just that for a long time and thus limiting my life and joy in life..
With help from some pills – not heavy stuff- I started to do these things again.
Costs a lot of accepting the fears and while knowing that the panic can strike again, still do it anyway….
OK not big challenges at first but gradually you pick up your life again.
The thing is to continue doing things that make you panic.
But please… do not close that door..by saying that you wont do that anymore..
Try getting real help, take pills or whatever and keep on going.
I don't want to oversimple your anxiety. Been there, done that believe me. It can really get to you, I know.
But fight it. Take back your life..
My two cents at least.
I wish you well.
@faraway53– Good afternoon. I thoroughly agree. It's like falling off a horse and not getting back on
lioness
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@merpreb @lioness– Not sure how i would react now as we don't have the boat any longer and I don't walk down docks anymore either!
@merpreb I wouldn't why bring something back that you have overcome now
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glum101
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@me2a Thank you, I will see my doctor about going that route. It's a crippling for me as I can't seem to figure out what is causing the anxiety. I tried psychotherapy and it didn't seem to help me. I tried the super mom approach and it has failed miserably.@thankful
A behavioral therapist might suggest exposure therapy, which you can read about, make an appointment and emphasize the havoc pertaining to work, and transportation of children. Very positive to speak up, and all those tears are a credit to your perseverance. Driving is a privilege; you are setting a great example of that and I’m so glad I saw your posts. My Mother never addressed her fear of driving and missed countless opportunities to participate in her children’s activities. I remember delivering Girl Scout cookies in a taxi, at the age of nine! We lived in the country so I was ashamed of my embarrassment, but grateful for my Fathers taxi cab solution. Soon she could no longer leave our property. She never sought help. I admire your fortitude.
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Merry, Volunteer Mentor
@merpreb
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@parus @me2a I can no longer do the things you have shared. I have no answers but can grasp the angst and it hurts. You are not the only one. I can no longer even ride in a car on the freeways. I tried and had to pull over and park my car. I will never try this again.
Do you know what brought this about??
@parus– Good morning! Some nasty weather headed our way but should clear up by tonight. It's not below freezing. After you pulled over in your car, how did you get to where you were going? This happened to me a lot during my "panic years". I'm calling it that because you and @me2a reminded me that I actually had quite a few. They also consisted of dry heaving, a lot. Do you want to be able to drive on the highway? I can see, with all the crazy drivers out there, why anyone would be fearful of driving on the highway, but I do believe that you are talking about a different type of fear.
Parus
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Posts: 1936
Joined: Jul 14, 2017
@merpreb @parus– Good morning! Some nasty weather headed our way but should clear up by tonight. It's not below freezing. After you pulled over in your car, how did you get to where you were going? This happened to me a lot during my "panic years". I'm calling it that because you and @me2a reminded me that I actually had quite a few. They also consisted of dry heaving, a lot. Do you want to be able to drive on the highway? I can see, with all the crazy drivers out there, why anyone would be fearful of driving on the highway, but I do believe that you are talking about a different type of fear.
@merpreb
My 2 sons came to rescue me. Terrible for them to see their once strong mother reduced to a wimp. I can remember sitting there with traffic screaming by, trucks shaking my car. I will never try that again!! Fear is a terrible thing.
Will not be going back to PT. There method is force things. I now know there is no help. At least I know I tried. I am fed up with being bullied.
Lots of wind today. The Ides of March looms.
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@lisalucier
In reply to @sadamma4
@sadamma4 – thinking of you. How are you doing?