For what it's worth
To my senses, panic attacks are so solidly connected to my anxiety that I don't see the need for a second group.

Anyhoo. . .

Posilutely I can relate. It's normal-for-me and I believe it is an easily verifiable fact that a panic attack behind the wheel can be lethal to both myself and people around me. When I get hit with a full panic attack while driving, I pull over and ply therapy tools until I regain my full senses.

Audio books are my favorite preventative. They provide me a gentle distraction from my anxiety without distracting me from driving safely.

I agree at least in my experience panic attacks and anxiety go hand in hand. Although I have not had a panic attck while driving . I do worry about it for the reasons arfie said. If it did happen I would pull over too. I have to really force myself to do things that make me anxious or panic and overtime they become far less debilitating. What once was so scary for me becomes managable. I think thats called exposure therapy? For example I was terrified of having a panic attack at work but I forced myself to go to work everyday and I had a few at work they came and went and I realized once it was over I was ok and eventually they came less and less. also I couldnt stand to be out shopping or to be in wide open spaces but I did the same thing and forced myself and each time was less intense. It took a couple of weeks/months but eventually the fear died down. Im not saying I never worry about those things now. However I know the awful anxiety and panic attack will pass and I will be ok. I did CBT too mostly because I like to have a dialog about rationalizing anxiety. Its way easier to rationalize with a therapist when your not having a panic attack . I find it hard to rationalize during a panic attack because I cant concentrate but once I calm down I will ratinalize my intrusive thoughts and write them down too . This also helped me become better at rationalizing during an episode over time. I also would share my irrational fears no matter how out there they were like my fear of floating away or becoming a serial killer.

Here's the thing. Anxiety is natural. Which makes panic attacks 'natural'. That step is important to helping find the key to calming the anxiety that approaches a panic moment.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy Treatment Plans often have a specific assignment that provides the key - and if you follow it through, you'll be able to push your self past the 'panic' button moment. It takes a lot of work to do this.

Exposure is one of the easiest methods to figure out how to remain calm-using whatever tools you are already comfortable with and to add to it.

Best wishes as you find your better balance.

Driving is a series of tasks put together in a specific tool, with changing scenery and active motion.

It took me a long time to get comfortable driving until I approached it step by step and worked out the routine that allowed me to find calm in each part.

The panic attacks I’ve had are directly a result of anxiety. Fortunately I’ve not had a panic attack in several years. My brother started having panic attacks out of the blue, many years ago, when driving on the express way and long distance driving. It started about a year or so after getting diagnosed with cancer in his early 20s. He survived the cancer but the panic attacks about and while driving never really subsided 100%. He takes medication which helps but sometimes he still finds himself rendered paralyzed at the thought of driving.

My experience with panic attacks is once I knew what a panic attack was and that I wasn’t dying, it became easier to get in front of it, so to speak, so that the affects were minimized and I could gather myself a bit before it completely escalated.

I isolate a lot so I understand, I’m easily triggered.. when I was reading about your fear of driving my first thought was have you tried hypnosis therapy?

I have something similar. I have more panic attacks when someone else is driving. I also have them in a lot of traffic or when someone cuts me off. I know mine stems from a few major accidents in which I was a passenger, I have permanent disabilities as a result of those accidents and one was so bad, I have nightmares about it.

I take meds for my anxiety and my doctor thinks I will always have some fears and reservations. If your attacks are related to an accident you might try EMDR. Grounding techniques also help.

https://www.therapistaid.com/worksheets/grounding-techniques.pdf

Hi, Long time no see... Sometimes when I am having anxiety over a specific event or activity...it helps to to write down what thoughts I am having to determine what bad thing I am expecting to happen. it's like following the thread. and seeing where it leads......what if _________? and then answer the question and see if it leads to another...
what If...i'm driving and I get a flat tire. ( what's the worst that will happen here and what action will I take if it does happen?) not sure if that makes any sense. Driving for me is peaceful time where I am the one in control and can decide where I am going. How does it make you feel? anyway, hope that helps some

My first post, hello everyone! I'm 42 and dealt with panic & anxiety since age 9, for the first 20 years I drove a car, it was where I felt the most comfortable. Then there came a point where I had to be the driver, then I could only be the passenger. At the moment I can only be in the car alone, and it's not good. I have no idea what triggered this but driving and being in a car is definitely my worst trigger, so I feel for all of you.