[cookfan56]

Hi everyone, I've had severe depression all my life but occasionally something works for awhile. Right now nothing is working (meds, therapy, exercise, light box, vitamins) I get depressed just typing out everything not working. Last December I was in a very bad accident, a jerk speeding hit me very hard, pushed me across three lanes of traffic, up over a hard curb and almost into a tree. However, since I was making a left turn, he was not ticketed. But he was joking around with the cops afterward which led me to see that he knew the cops and that's why he wasn't ticketted.

Anyway, for a full year my fear of driving has escalated. I am almost afraid to even get in the car, and I am a mom who constantly has to be driving. I also live in a huge metropolitan area where traffic is some of the worst in the country and have no way of moving. My husband is gone 13 or so hours a day and he helps alot in driving when he is here but can't that much.

But my chronic depression came long before this, it's just that this new anxiety/phobia/whatever is making the depression so much worse. As I've said the therapist doesn't help at all. I already take mild anxiety drugs and they help minimally. Has anyone out there gone through this and made it through? It has also made my depression in the house much worse, I sit on the couch for hours each day and can't even make myself do housework.

i don't really have any advice for you (i'm not really much better myself!)

but i do hope you find something that works for you eventually

[polar_bear1]

I have fear of driving but only coz I get panic attacks under the wheel... sometimes out of the blue..
I sometimes find the car a comfort zone and drive slowly threw the neighbourhood. But I can´t drive with anyone in the car- have a 6 yr old and I can´t even drive her to school

Only advise I have: don´t push yourself, but try to step into the fear- what´s the worse that could happen ? and is it rational?
take care

[Vincent52]

I had a fear of driving that really changed my life for a lot of years. I became a recluse. My family hated going anywhere with me because I was such a mess. I was a 35 year old father of 2 at the time.

What I had to do was get out of the house. I reccomend getting a job or doing some voulnteer work someplace. When I am working and focused on somthing, I feel better. And it is a confidence booster.

I stopped going to talk therapy. I found a p doc that specialized in GAD. He put me on a diet (I was 20lbs under weight), showed me how to use progressive relaxation, and I got on some meds. I started attending meetings once a week.

I started light exercise. I started taking short car trips. I would take the bus to the store (I have a huge fear of busses). Sometimes it sucked bad. But sometimes it was fine. Still is, but my fear is almost gone. Its manageable. I drive without much problem anymore.

It does take a while. Once I got my meds right and started getting active, my unreasonable fears started to go away.

Take care.

[foxtastic]

I'm younger but I completely feel you. 20 and I have driven all of about ten times, each time I was scared out of my wits and when something would make me panic, I would freeze up (NOT what you want to do while driving). Lately I have been taking small steps at a time, driving my boyfriend to work because it is a straight back road to get there, or practicing in empty parking lots. I think the best thing you can do is take baby steps like I am. First things first, look over your states driving manual again- I know it sounds stupid but the more you know about driving and the laws abiding to it the safer you will feel on the road. Practice driving again by going only short distances or where there's not too much traffic, you're certainly not going to want to be on a traffic-jammed highway if your still nervous, it takes time to conquer a fear and if you can't handle it yet then don't. Lastly, keep in mind that if your driving skills are up to speed, then you have the same risk as ANYBODY else on the road, maybe even less of a risk since I'm sure you're going to be more cautious then the average driver. What happened to you can happen to anybody, and yes, it is terrifying. You just have to drive defensively and be alert and again, take one step at time. And don't get frustrated if it takes a while, because EVERYTHING takes time to heal, and you have been through quite an ordeal. I'm absolutely sure that with time you will continue to make progress, maybe only a little, but still progress, and before you know it you'll be where you want to be. I'm not a doctor by any means, just offering what I think would be best. I hope you conquer your fears and good luck!

[internettie]

I could have written most of your post myself. I had an accident in 1993 (yes, that long ago) and my anxiety about driving has gotten worse every day since then. I've just lived with it until now and honestly just let it get worse. I give in to the anxiety and don't drive much anymore. But today I made a phone call and I'm going to a mental health facility tomorrow for help. I don't want to be stuck in the house all the time. I haven't even been able to go grocery shopping. A friend has been doing that for me. I miss getting out and seeing people, even people I don't know. LOL I also struggle with depression and of course anxiety and not getting out just seems to make both worse.

I think the poster above has some good suggestions. I think doing just a little bit at a time that you are somewhat comfortable with would help. I'm going to try to do driving on my side of town where I feel comfortable then branch out once I feel I can. It stinks not being able to just go where you want or need to go. I haven't seen my therapist or psychiatrist because I'm so anxious about driving. That sure doesn't help me out.

Somehow we can beat this. I don't have the answers but I know they are out there. Keep searching and wanting this to change. I have faith that you will find the answers you need and will drive happily once again.