DRIVING and panic attacks

lisha · Silver Member Joined: 24 Jan 2001 Posts: 254

Hi, I’ve been going to work by my car for almost five years. Anyway, the trouble appeared when I started getting panic attacks. They showed up suddenly, without previous warning. I am afraid what could happen if I was in the car during the attack. What should I do? Should I stop driving at all?

antuna · Newbie Joined: 21 Apr 2005 Posts: 12

Hello! I also have panic attacks and it doesn’t stop me from driving my car when I’m going to work. Most people probably think that this is irresponsible behavior, but I don’t have a choice. I have to earn some money because I have three kids to feed at home. Fortunately, I never had a panic attack on the road, but I am a little scared when I drive through the fast-moving highway traffic, or when someone is cutting me out. If it ever happens to me, I really hope that I will be able to function and control the car, for my sake, and for the sake of others. The good thing is that I usually know when I’m going to have an attack, so I can be prepared to slow down or to stop a vehicle. I start feeling dizzy, and I’m trembling, sweating and shaking. I never use medicines that have strong sedative effect and I never drink coffee before driving.

Alime · Newbie Joined: 07 Nov 2007 Posts: 1

I had a panic attack in my car about a year and a half ago and now I can't drive on my own. It sucks and I feel like my life is going down hill, because I went off of Zoloft and paxil. I'm now taking 200 mg of Zoloft and I still can't drive on my own. I hadn't had a panic attack for a year and then I happened to have the worst panic attack of my life while driving in my car alone. Now I can't leave my boyfriends side and I'm scared to be without him, because I was hyperventialting in my car for and hour and a half alone. I thought I was dying and I layed in bed for days with agoraphobia. I didn't want to go upstairs to talk to anyone or leave the house. I just want someone to help me get rid of these panic attacks. Don't be afraid to drive, but you never know when a panic attack will hit you. I wish I knew someone who knew what I was going through, so maybe I could help them or they could help me. My boyfriend is leaving for the first time in a year and a half to go to Colorado and see his family and I'm not going. I am so scared to be alone, and I'm afraid I will freak out while he is gone. I am so scared. He is leaving in about 14 days and it is the only thing I can think about. I'm even scared to stay at my moms house which is about 20 miles from my house. I'm so scared. I'm so scared!

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I WOULD LOVE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT YOUR PROBLEM. EVEN IF IT'S JUST KNOWING THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE WHO EXPERIENCE THE SAME. AND......WE DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY THESE THINGS HAPPEN. WOULD LOVE TO SHARE MY STORY. WRITE BACK.

TONER

Bravesman_10 · Newbie Joined: 02 Jul 2008 Posts: 2

I started getting panic attacks about 3 and a half years ago. I am 23 years old it started one night at a friends house. I ended up going to the hospital and they couldnt find anything wrong. Well over the last 3 years my panic is so bad I cant drive. I get to the end of the road in our development and my chest tightens up and I cant talk my brain is like frozen. My friends have kind of left me hanging and dont understand it. I just feel like my life is going down hill it seems like it is getting worse. I am constantly nervous I can never think right it literally feels like something is eating my brain. My house use to be my safety zone now it seems like that isnt even working. I have been on every medicine in the book and nothing seems to work. Everything scares me I mean everything! My girlfriend has stuck by me and I couldnt imagine life without her. I just need some help or advice from someone with the similar problems. I feel like I am alone, but am
I?

DRIVING and panic attacks

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