[Ocean Swimmer]

When I'm cycling I can even get scared to be in a car as a passenger.
Last 2 years I've avoided driving. I'm a safe driver. Had only 2 accidents in over 35 years.
I drive a Porsche. But also have a jeep cj7. In Ca we live near the beach and I do love going down pch in a convertible. Last time I was home I had a bad anxiety attack after driving to grocery store. I managed to go in but ran thru throwing things in the basket till I couldn't take it anymore.
I was ok once I got outside. But scared to drive for 5 days after.
Does this happen to you?

[st0psign]

I'm an aggressive driver, been in a lot of accidents, and even more close calls. its not good. and I get road rage like crazy, I hate other drivers. I hate driving at all even more. I try to avoid it as much as possible.

[Ocean Swimmer]

Gosh. That's tough to handle.
I used to commute to work-3 hrs per day in LA traffic.
When I'd get off freeway in heavy traffic I'd be scared of getting car- jacked.
But only once drove recklessly. I was manic and drunk. Put my foot down on gas and took car as fast as it would go. I'm really lucky nothing bad happened .
Sorry you feel such rage at others. Is it something your Theripist could work thru with you.

[emgreen]

Originally Posted by Ocean Swimmer

I drive a Porsche.

You shouldn't be driving one of those! Hand over those keys, right here...

[CloserToTheMid]

yes! it's very scary for me. I'm reckless and furious.

[Shadesofdark]

Anxiety is my problem driving normally. Of course when hypo there are other concerns .

Before diagnosis I would manic drive a lot. I would weave in and out of traffic because everyone was moving slow. Got 2 tickets in like 2 weeks when I was manic. I don't drive anymore and am very nervous being a passenger. I've had this on and off since childhood. I used to beg my parents not to go on the freeway and they would lie because they had to.....and then we'd hit the freeway and I would ball up on the floor of the backseat and cry. Nobody knows why. I still get panic attacks when I drive often. It's worse being a passenger, I trust myself but not when I'm unwell.

I went to Reno with my parents about 14 years ago and when we crossed this bridge and Donners pass I started having a panic attack and hyperventilating and my dad kept calling me ridiculous and my mom kept saying she can't help it......and I can't. Sometimes the panic attacks are worse than others but I haven't felt safe being in a car or any of my loved ones being in one for a long time. It's a problem and causes constant panic.

I resent that people are expected to commute so far just to live. So many cars on those freeways... I wish we had more local community, but that is Utopia and I'm told it's an impossible dream.

I believe this may be what's called Catastrophic thinking. There are a number of ways to approach this - I use CBT worksheets to deconstruct my fears and force myself to think more realistically regarding the most likely scenarios as opposed to worrying over worst case outcomes. A quick Google search for "Decatastrophizing Worksheets" will give you access to several.

I take out these worksheets in advance of undertaking the action or event causing me Anxiety. I truly find it helpful. Examples for me are successfully combatting my own fear of driving, walking in public, and doing my groceries to name but a few.

I know this is excruciating. Good luck.

Yes, it's irrational thinking and logically I know that but I cannot control my breathing issues, my head feels like it will explode, my stomach eats itself. Logically I know it's an overreaction before I got really bad again I thought I had it all figured out and logically I could handle it. But the. It happened again and again and I had no control. I take a benzo if I have to be a passenger and plan to start driving more but I have a paranoia of the police for many reasons I cannot go into here. I don't want to get pulled over and be accused of something because I took a benzo a few hours before or something. It's so stressful and I believe it's PTSD related. mixed with nature. My mom thinks my babysitter might have been in a car accident and I do remember my dad was an aggressive driver......and he drove with a beer in his hand when I was a kid. Who knows why my phobia developed or why yours developed. I also almost drowned at the same time I developed the phobia and it was once suggested by an armchair phychiatrist it was connected and I do believe she is right. The logical mind can have you thinking normal but the body goes haywire then brain can be effected if it goes on too long. Bridges are very hard for me. Maybe because major ones collapsed where I live after Major Earthquakes in my area several years back. I think it was traumatizing for a lot of people. I believe I'm an HSP (hypersensitive person). I read a book and it talks about how about 10 percent or so of the population is very effected by stimuli in either direction. Made a lot of personal sense for me.

[Ocean Swimmer]

Little by little.
Confidence builds.
I think I'm a sensitive person too.
I'm glad to read your story Elsa.