Anxiety Support Group
Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...
I have driving anxiety over going to new places and long distances.
I wanted to share my progress as I am doing better with it.
Back in June I posted about how I have never driven trips that far, less than an hour. That trip I did in June was 3 1/2 hours and I did well. It Was challenging but I did it and it gave me confidence.
And this week I had to drive a 2 hour trip to somewhere new For a special event and I did great.
I do breathing exercises as I am driving which help calm me. I do the positive self talk, I tell myself I am doing a great job, that I can be proud of myself and everything is fine and going well.
And now I am going on another 3 hour trip tomorrow To see my husband. He is working away. And I am taking my dog with me too. I am The one who suggested the trip and my hubby is really happy about it. I am excited rather than being overly anxious. I use a navigation system now and it has been a tremendous help to me and has given me confidence that I can do these trips to new places.
I wanted to share my progress as I am doing better with it.
Back in June I posted about how I have never driven trips that far, less than an hour. That trip I did in June was 3 1/2 hours and I did well. It Was challenging but I did it and it gave me confidence.
And this week I had to drive a 2 hour trip to somewhere new For a special event and I did great.
I do breathing exercises as I am driving which help calm me. I do the positive self talk, I tell myself I am doing a great job, that I can be proud of myself and everything is fine and going well.
And now I am going on another 3 hour trip tomorrow To see my husband. He is working away. And I am taking my dog with me too. I am The one who suggested the trip and my hubby is really happy about it. I am excited rather than being overly anxious. I use a navigation system now and it has been a tremendous help to me and has given me confidence that I can do these trips to new places.
Have a safe trip and enjoy visiting your hubby:-)
I just wanted to say I did it! I am back home safe and sound. Huge relief! Lol
Oh my... Going up there the traffic was bad. I don't know why the road was so busy but I couldn't even get into using cruise control it was just too busy. It was busy the whole time. Why on a Sunday? Don't know maybe people were going North for some reason.
There were some moments I got stressed. Especially when I had to find a bathroom and go off route. and also my dog was not happy. She was crying a lot. I now know She doesn't travel well. she didn't lay down to sleep the whole time. She was quiet at times but then started back up. I gave her some herbal stuff that did zip. So I pulled off on an exit to find a place to go and then of course you have to find your way back onto the highway.
So yeah the Anxiety Kept going up but I handled it. I also had periods of feeling calm as I was driving. Freeing. so it wasn't constant. I reminded myself to breathe.
And it was so great seeing my husband. We had a nice time. I was sad to come back.
Today driving back was a breeze. Sooo nice. Cruise control. Hardly any traffic. I gave my doggy a Benadryl which is ok. Vets says its ok for dogs. And she was a bit calmer. She still would not sleep or lay down. And would occasionally whine. But she did like putting her head out of the window.
I use a doggy seatbelt restraint so she was safe. I had the window half down.
With the driving I did really well getting into the correct lanes with those multi lanes and following the directions on my navigator. You still have to pay attention with those things but I was really getting the hang of reading the road signs for the different route And road numbers.
Man those things are a bit confusing especially near Cities but I did it.
So yeah anyone who has driving anxiety take it from me you can do it.
If I can do it because I have had it bad.
It took me three times to pass my driving test years ago. I have been in car accidents too as a passenger and as a driver.
It still will not stop me. I will not allow anxiety to rule my life!
You CAN do it!
We CAN do it!
YES!
But I'm glad my post is giving you encouragement. And it's great for me to read this again and to remind myself I did that.
I haven't done a long drive since then because husband is back home and have had no need to go. But I did fly out to my son last year and I rented a car. Driving a new different vehicle is also another anxiety thing for me.
So 5 years on drive that post of mine I'm still ok with driving. More confident in traffic.
I still get anxiety. But is manageable.
I hope you can gain ground too and get better With the driving.
Congrats on getting help and making changes. That is awesome.
I think doing what we can and being pro active is the only way to get things done. Continue challenging ourselves. Otherwise our world can become smaller and smaller.
I have been doing better with the social anxiety too.
I just give myself challenges and do it. I met up With a group of people recently. It was for an art project. They were Total strangers to me but It was ok, you know.
I always am relieved when I get back home but I do it.
I'm 52 by the way.
We can keep on growing and moving forward.
You can do it my friend. Make 2018 your year to improve and kick the anxiety in the rear.