its a common problem, you should have been breathing deep and slow and sitting relaxed and not tensed up, generally If you can, stop car, get out, checking the tyres is a useful excuse and take a Xanax or valium etc, dissolving it under the tongue is fastest
it also helps to grip and relax steering wheel ands to speak in loud voice or sing
don't be too proud to let bf drive, being too stubborn goes with the problem

I have had this happen and I always pull over till the attack is over. I mentioned it to my doctor years ago and he threatened to pull my license, so I have never brought it up again.

I guess it depends on how bad the attack is, when I have one I cant concentrate or focus so it is not safe. Only you can judge.

people don't crash from panic attacks although some do jump red lights as that cant bear being trapped any longer, maybe don't mention them.

Hi Sarasalt,

In my opinion, you did your best, and it turned out okay, Maybe for the future you'd want to discover for yourself why you felt it was so important for you to "remain in control" over the timing. Since your boyfriend probably knew how important it was for you to fit all those things into your schedule he probably would have made sure that you got to the airport on time. A relationship is a team, so it's okay to depend on him sometimes : ) However, I know in the moment you were feeling pretty bad, so you did the best thing you thought to do and it worked out okay. I would want you both to be safe if that ever happened again, and to me is seems that a person who is calm would have more awareness and control while driving. Since you know how everyone always says in a crisis "remain calm"....that is because when you are calm you sometimes can keep yourself safer, more effectively, just my opinion! I'm glad the medication helped though, and you were able cope with that panic attack! Good job I'd say!

My opinion is that you did the right thing. If your driving was unsafe you would have known and I would.imagine your bf would have insisted that you pull over. He would not allow you to risk both your lives as well as others. My thought is you wanted to remain driving and staying in control so that the anxiety wouldn't "Win". I have done the same. I have driving anxiety and insist on driving. I will always ask my husband if he feels I am driving safe and I always am. Surprisingly we are in control even when we feel we are reeling out of control. Wish you the best!

I was a professional driver with over a million miles. I didn't see it all but I saw enough. I wish I lived in a city or country with well-developed mass transit systems.

I can no longer drive any more professionally, or personally and it has cost me very much.

You were under immense pressure when you had your panic attack, but you persevered, even with the help of Xanax. In my experience, good drivers become overwhelmed by traffic and the actions of other motorists, especially those who are distracted or driving aggressively. My training taught me to drive for five: The vehicle in front of me, to the left, to the right, behind, and in my blind spot in front, otherwise beneath me.

I have driven through challenging cities, such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, Indianapolis, New York, and the worst for me was Phoenix. Breathe. Do not hold your breath. Breathe! Think Delta V. If another car hits you the impact would be like a five mile per hour collision. That's nothing. It's just a bump.

Concentrate on your lane and your lane only. Put on your blinders. The vehicles around you do not exist. The only existence that matters is the one with the yellow indicator below the signs. If somebody rear-ends you, think of it as an insurance holiday. Milk it for everything it is worth.

With all the aggressive and distracted drivers and assholes, when was the last time you had an accident? You've probably had hundreds of thousands of event free miles. But the time clock is ticking!

Or does it have to? You have been safe this long. What's to say it can't continue? Statistics? I've had graduate level statistics. You can "cook the books." Who's to say you can't stay accident free, given all the assholes, idiots, morons, and retards out on the road?

I find it commendable you were able to continue your drive to the airport, a bastion of driving anxiety.

You should be very proud of yourself.

I've been in similar situations and I understand how scary it can be. For me, I lose the feeling in my hands and feet. and my mind races like crazy. I get frightened by the feeling of losing control by not feeling the wheel or pedals. I get really bad going through tunnels and going over bridges. Only one time did I have to drive, I was alone in the car, Every other time I've asked someone else to take over. I freak people out when I start crying and can't talk. If you feel that you can control the car and your panic, by all means drive. Only you know if you are capable. Sometimes I ask the person/people in the car to talk to me so I can focus on anything other than panic.

I love your post. I experience same thing. I must be the driver or it makes me anxious. And yes I drive through my panic attacks. I feel like I'm running from my scary panic monster. I really wanna try to pull over get out and try to let the panic pass through me. But I feel like if I'm driving and moving I'm getting closer to my destination where I'll be ok. It's like running and as long as traffic is flowing I'll be ok.
I don't know why driving is such an issue for me. Feels so overwhelming. I also get more anxious if I'm alone. I don't want to be alone. Feel I need someone to hold on to or distract me when that impeding doom feeling and racing thoughts come

I can totally understand this. I have panic attacks on the highway a lot, particularly in high volume traffic.

I am a control freak, so I remind myself in the middle of the panic that I can pull off to the breakdown lane, or the nearest exit if the panic becomes overwhelming. I also find it more comforting to get in the slow lane and go 55 rather than go 80 in the left lane to get to the destination faster.

I am glad you posted this. I am now at the point where I avoid freeways and bridges altogether. Although a couple of days ago, I did call someone while using my hands free bluetooth device to call someone to help distract me while I got over the bridge. I want to get over this and be independent and feel self confident and I am not sure if just doing it in spite of the fear will help me in the long run? Maybe there are baby steps to overcome this. Like exposure therapy?

I have most of my anxiety, while driving. It is one of my major triggers. I can usually fight through it. No one has ever died from a panic attack, and I try to keep that in the back of my head. What I do, is try to divert my attention from the attack by turning on the radio, rolling down a window, and if I have time, I like to stop at a store, or even a gas station, and look around for a few minutes. That is usually enough to get me through. I found that the best thing for me, also, is to break up long trips, into steps. If I am on the highway, I tell myself, "ok, I can make it to the next exit" and so on. Step by step to not overwhelm myself, and I always get there. Then, once I get to my destination, I look at it as a victory for me. I stepped up to the challenge and overcame it. Every step through this is a victory and makes us stronger. God bless and good luck.

I know the panic attack while driving feeling all too well. It's an awful feeling. I actually don't think you necessarily did the wrong thing though. By maintaining control you, in a sense, told your brain and body who was boss and that you were going to continue on with or without the bad feelings.

I personally have a hard time not letting my panic attacks escalate, so I've had to pull over on many occasions. I tend to get really dizzy and disoriented when I have a bad panic attack... so I feel better pulling over until it passes.

I have had many panic attacks at home, none whilst driving, I think maybe it's because you are really focused on outside influences, stop signs, other vehicles etc. so your system is preoccupied, and of course you know within yourself you must concentrate on what you are doing, (self preservation) I guess.

I used to love to drive. Now I try to get out of it as much as possible. Just thinking about driving can send me into panic mode.

When I get panic attack while driving I just grit my teeth and head for home and then just fabricate some excuse if I was on my way to meet someone.