Remedies Medicine Blog

Panic Attacks while Driving – someone else driving that is

It really just started this past six months. When I am riding with my husband and he is driving I get those dizzy, faint, heart palpitations, chest pain and shortness of breath. Mostly it happens when we are driving on the freeway. People line up going 80 mph with only a few feet between cars. There is literally no place for anyone to go if someone makes a mistake. It is highly dangerous. It never bothered me this much before. Maybe it is an aging thing. But I just cannot function at all in this situation. I start yelling at him to slow down and get out of the fast lane train of cars.

Oh my gosh…effective treatments for panic disorder are available. I haven’t been to our family doctor, and I don’t know that I need a mental health professional. I am not really open to popping a pill everytime we drive this highway. By the way, I have no other problems except for this. Once you start on medication you cannot stop taking it abruptly. And there are probably many side effects. I am not one for taking medication for things. My system is sensitive to drugs. One time I was given a powerful pain medication after my rotator cuff surgery. I only took one pill. I drove to the doctor appointment and back. I still have no recollection of going, coming back or anything that happen while I was there. Yes, I was driving myself.

I have learned that stress management techniques can help calm me when needed. I found this ebook that has been a real help in becoming educated about panic attacks and help me succeed in therapy. Actually they have private coaching where I have been able to discuss my problem with qualified professionals. I am learning to prevent the panic attacks instead of just how to cope with them.

This situation has been very embarassing for me. My husband really gets mad at me when I yell. You have to know…then you understand the fear. I am not completely there yet, but I am much, much better.

Sharon