Stop the car and get out! If you physically can’t stop, you need to ground yourself by grabbing gum or a mint, shuttling the music on or turning it on. Open the window or closing it. Turn your wipers on and spraying the window. But trying to get out of the car safely and walk around.

Driving anxiety is not in my own baggage car, but when helping anxiety stricken students through driving practice, I've gotten good results out of doing a few of my own therapy exercises with them before we get in the car and using gentle, calming aids while driving. The ones which work best varied with the student. They often had suggestions of their own. Go guys. The best soothing tricks are strictly personal. They include:

Pre-take off:
Run around the car until you feel calm.
Shadow boxing.
Stretch until your muscles relax.
Put on a dancing tune and jazzercise.
Put on a jammin' tune and play some air guitar.
Bounce a basketball until your rhythm is game.

While driving:
Humming while you drive.
Steering wheel tapping.
Soothing tunes on the CD player.
Audio bible.
Letting their favorite stuffed animal ride in their lap.
Keeping their bouncing ball in the seat next to them.
Suck a lollipop.

Continued support while you find what works for you, Philly.

i have had this. the best thing i did was to still drive, but to stop and give myself breaks. i did make sure to have rest. i needed to be sure to eat as i have hypoglycemia - yay/not. all the regular stuff a person would do to prepare to be as calm as possible.

i didn't take on any big drives. i mean i didn't commit to arriving anywhere. i did end up driving across country a few times after this issue arose for me. i took slow routes during the week days - things like that.

but first, i practiced. little bits at a time. i have this thing i do when i tell myself - this is not the scary part. this is only practicing. maybe i only go and get a burrito from taco bell. which may be a big deal at first.

it tkaes as long as it takes xo