Driving is one of my only real triggers. I'm not consciously afraid of driving at all. I've never been in an accident or had anything traumatic happen to me in a car. I'm the only person I know with an anxiety disorder who has no qualms with going 90mph on the highway. Yet for some reason, I'll frequently have panic attacks while driving. And I get through it, honestly, by just gritting my teeth and dealing. Outside of telling myself I'm okay and I'll get there and it'll be over, there isn't much I can do. I just remind myself to take my time, and if I need to, I can pull over and calm down. I'm easily distracted and I tend to look around while driving. So I find it's better for me during an attack if I just look straight ahead and pay attention to what's happening in front of me. Sometimes opening a window is helpful, too.

Wish I had something more specific to tell you, but good luck. :)

What you explained is why we are all here. For some reason we get aprehensive when we think about what we have to do in the future and our bodies react by flooding us with chemicals that make us feel anxiety.

It is an amazing sndrome or whatever it is. I can look at an issue and be all logical about it, "I know that I am no more safe sitting home alone than I am in my car, or in a restaurant, or at the park", but as soon as I contemplate going out I start to feel anxious.

Sometimes I have to just get out and prove I can otherwise it gets worse.

Have you had a panic or anxiety attack while driving and are now having them when thinking about driving? That's what happened to me. I had a panic attack at a stop light, started worrying I could pass out and my foot slip off the brake pedal or something, and then got anxious for quite awhile each time I was going to drive.

I realized that I've never passed out from a panic attack, and that, if my foot did slip off the brake at a stoplight I'd bump into the car in front of me and feel embarrassed but at least wouldn't hurt anyone or be physically hurt myself.

Why do you fear driving more when alone? Are you better able to cope with driving if you have the distraction of someone being there with you to talk to? Do you feel the person would be of help if you got dizzy and light headed while driving? How long has it been going on?

If you drive less, it can get worse. Distractions can help. For now, if someone can't be with you while driving, maybe a hands free cell phone call would help.

I don't know your specific situation, and what has worked for me may not work for you, but I've been there. A couple of weeks ago I helped a friend move over 1500 miles by driving their rental truck for them, so I guess driving isn't a trigger for me anymore.

Hang in there, and good luck. :)

I have had driving anxiety for about 3yrs now. It started after I had an accident and totalled my car. I do not drive anywhere but in town now, and I cant seem to get over it. I can relate to getting anxiety way before I have to go anywhere. It really takes away my freedom. Last year I was supposed to go to an anxiety support group, and couldnt do it because I could not drive there. I am still trying to find something that will help me. I hope that you can somehow get over it and maybe you can help me. Happy New Year.

I dont get attacks but i start thinking to myself what if i cant make it or is there a place where i can turn around if i start feeling funny and rush home, like leaving your comfort zone far. And sometimes i get this weird rush feeling through my head like someone or something is telling me something not to go any further strange??

Something that helps me is to listen to tapes/CDs or Talk-Radio in the car. It is a good distraction.

It could be a book on tape or a self-help tape. Just listen to someone else talking besides me, inside my head!

I bought a decent one at Border's recently and I see it for sale on Target's web site for less than $10: Overcome Fear and Anxiety, While you drive"
http://www.efflearn.com/product_info.php/products_id/135

PS: If you have 20 minutes a day you can take to relax, I also have purchased mps downloads from:
www.HypnosisDownloads.com

These are fast. I conk out while lisening but am also able to wake up fast without feeling groggy. I am trying to do 1-2 per day since I have had a setback...along with Xanax, counseling, and an hour walk everyday the weather agrees.

i am so scared to get my license. i did driver's ed when i was 16 and was only mildly anxious then. then it got really bad for several years and now my anxiety is mild again.but i can't see myself going and getting my license. so good for you for even having it.

Major issue with me and it's weird how it first came on.

I always LOVED to drive and especially through mountains, over bridges, in cities, etc.

One week I drove to Florida and it was business as usual going over the Smokies in Tennessee from IL to FL. A week later, no problems and when I hit Mont Eagle pass... it hit me big time. No real trigger or at least not significant one. Just all of a sudden terrified of doing something I always loved to do.

The biggest deal of all is that you have lost your freedom in life. You don't partake in activities you enjoy, you often stay only within a comfort zone... i.e. you are not living on your terms.

I am looking into treatment options and if I find one that works... it looks promising... I will be sure to share.

Wow, I just joined today. This is so weird, I've never met anyone who understood my fear of driving, and now here are all these people describing alot of the feelings I struggle with every day. I also hate being home alone...more so after dark. I know it's silly, but i just don't feel safe at night when i'm alone. It's strange, I got my license at 16, and drove all over the place for about 5 years...I guess i never really liked driving, but i wasn't afraid of it. I use to commute 1 1/2 hours each way to work 5 days a week. Now I won't even drive to the grocery store 4 miles down the road.
Recently, it seems to have evolved into a total fear of riding in cars, even when i'm with my husband. Every time we come to a stop light i tense up, and get a knot in the pit of my stomache, and my heart races.

I have the same problame I cant evan drive,I get sick to my stomacke and I start to feal light headed and I cant breath. I have tried to drive but I just cant make it out of my driveway.My husband takes me every where and I wish I was not like this at all .

well i have a issue of driving highways. to many cars i worry they will hit me or vise versa. i sometimes take stops and just try to breath. music really helps me.

I haven't driven more than a few times in 3 yrs. Before that I had driven for more than 30 yrs. No highway driving but at least I could drive to lots of places.. Various problems, too winding of roads since we moved, the van is too big, I don't feel comfortable. I thought I was going to start driving again this summer but hasn't happened. I finally got a job ,but its 20 miles away and hubby has to drive me there .Its really been crazy!

I'm the same way - I don't drive yet but I used to practice with my dad & fiance. Every time I got behind the wheel, I started to panic. I am terrified to drive at all now, I can't even bring myself to get my permit. I just want the fear to go away. I wish I knew what to tell you hun, just try and keep calm, with alittle practice, you can do it! Good luck and remember keep calm and try to relax. Maybe work on some breathing exercises before driving??

i dont like driving and never have, i get the dizziness alot which in turn makes me panic more and i am gripping the sterring wheel until my hands are white,
all i can do is some deep breaths and try and relax in my seat a little. I usually have some sweets in my car aswell that seems to help" ones that you cant swollow" or that worries me aswell.