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Original poster

To ask if anyone has advice for sudden crippling driving anxiety.

87 replies

InAPickle12345 · 19/10/2023 17:50

Really need some help after the day I’ve had.

I’ve always loved cars, always loved driving. Been driving since 17 with my own car, have driven the length and breadth of the country, a day off always involved jumping in the car, driving and exploring for hours. But the last 6 months I have been developing a serious driving anxiety.

Started with not being comfortable on motorways, then progressed to being really nervous coming into bends and now if I see an open road in front of me my body goes into panic. Roads in my locality that I drive often are completely fine.

The last 2 ‘long’ drives I’ve had to do have been horrendous, and frankly dangerous. Any bend, unevenness, or a wide stretch of road in front of me has pretty much brought on a panic attack. Hands sweating, legs shaking, chest thumping and feeling like my vision is about to go.

The first was after a weekend away, and lots of drinks, so I just put it down to being hungover and fragile. I had to pull in 3 times, once for 40mins, in the space of a 1 hour journey.

Today I had a two hour journey that I had to do for work, I was about 30mins into it and it began. Had to pull in, gathered myself but was on the verge of a panic attack for the whole journey there and back. I’m home now and my heart is still thumping and I have a terrible headache.

I have a certain amount of driving to do for my job and I’m a single Mum so I NEED to tackle this.

So as not to drip feed, I've suffered from general anxiety through the years but with medication and counselling I pretty much overcame it.

I was also in a couple of car accidents, 1 serious when I was 14 and another not so serious when I was about 29. I'm 35 now.

Has anyone overcome this? How do I do this? Counselling, hypnotism, medication?

All advice welcome, I really need to get on top of this.

OP posts:
brainexplorer · 19/10/2023 19:53

Find an EMDR practitioner. My money is on that car accident at 14 being responsible. It's a weird age to go through trauma - not an adult, not a kid. It can be really confusing to experience an out of control event like that and the brain can hide PTSD for a long time.

Nomoreminecraftplease · 19/10/2023 19:54

How old are you? I developed this as part of my perimenopausal symptoms. It really is a thing and I had no clue that it was a symptom of the menopause. Read davina mccall menopausing. Its mentioned in there. Could it be that?

Piratesue · 19/10/2023 19:56

Sorry if this has been mentioned, I went through this a while ago. Went onto HRT for peri menopause and I've been fine since

Nomoreminecraftplease · 19/10/2023 19:57

Piratesue · 19/10/2023 19:56

Sorry if this has been mentioned, I went through this a while ago. Went onto HRT for peri menopause and I've been fine since

Same

70sDuvet · 19/10/2023 20:01

I have had this. I got lessons again from a driving instructor. Just 5 and it boosted my confidence and I'm back in complete control.

It was after a bad motorway crash- not my fault and I was physically unable to drive for 2 years but after that time I couldn't think about getting into the car again.

Also using satnav even when I know where I am going takes that bit of mental thinking away and I can concentrate on the other bits better.

Blarn · 19/10/2023 20:08

As a fellow sufferer or lifelong anxiety, I would say your suspicion that this is how your stress is coming out is correct. I am nearly 40 and only learned to drive in the last year. A few years of antidepressants sorted out my anxiety and depression and neiher has returned to anywhere near the same level. I always assumed I would be awful at driving so why bother!

I have had quite a stressful couple of months and I definitely have found myself more aprehensive when driving, especially anywhere new. What helps me is keeping count of how many bad drivers I see, it makes me think that no, I am actually good at this! That might not help for everyone but it does me as my worry is that I will make a mistake, not that other people might. That's out of my hands.

Blarn · 19/10/2023 20:10

And also, what PPs have said about propranolol stopping the physical symptoms is true, they can be great to help with things like this.

Original poster
InAPickle12345 · 19/10/2023 20:46

sweetpeaorchestra · 19/10/2023 19:50

Hi, I have this too and unfortunately haven’t tackled it so it’s become quite a debilitating part of my life.
E.g., I now can’t even drive near motorways.

I was in a bad accident with a drunk driver but cracked on fine after that. It was when lockdown stopped me driving I suddenly developed all the anxiety, then you feed into it.

What helped is propanol as others mentioned, and EMDR therapy. I’m hoping when I can afford to resume this and pay for some practice lessons, I might get back driving long journeys again!

Even if there’s not one specific trauma, EMDR - poss like hypnotherapy - rejigs your memories and responses, and ultimately takes the power out of the thing that causes anxiety.

Good luck OP, so many of us out there (and many with no accidents but common as women get older). I wish rail services were better and cheaper so we were less dependent on cars incidentally, but I think the sooner you tackle it hopefully the quicker you can nip in the bud (unlike me!)

I'm so sorry to hear this @sweetpeaorchestra it just limits life so much, I hate that we're dealing with this. I just can't get over how out of the blue this is.

I'm gonna call my GP first thing in the morning, I absolutely need to get a handle on this. I've been home for nearly 3 hours and I'm still not 100%, this stress can't be good for the body.

OP posts:
Original poster
InAPickle12345 · 19/10/2023 20:48

brainexplorer · 19/10/2023 19:53

Find an EMDR practitioner. My money is on that car accident at 14 being responsible. It's a weird age to go through trauma - not an adult, not a kid. It can be really confusing to experience an out of control event like that and the brain can hide PTSD for a long time.

Thanks @brainexplorer, I've used therapy on and off for 20years and have been in a really good place, but maybe it is a bit of a subconscious thing? We crashed on a wide open road, coming round a bend and rolled for about 400mtrs, and open roads and swooping bends are definitely a trigger for this anxiety now.

But why now after all these years 😭

OP posts:
Original poster
InAPickle12345 · 19/10/2023 20:50

@Nomoreminecraftplease I'm only 35 and Mom probably started at 56ish, she was probably peri for years before though. I mentioned it up thread that so many posters referenced menopause, I'll ask GP about a hormone check.

OP posts:
Tortugaa · 19/10/2023 20:51

I had this when I was under a lot of stress. I didn’t realise it was causing my driving anxiety until the stress reduced and then strangely the driving anxiety cleared up too. I think it is a subconscious thing, if you’re stressed your body is on high alert.

Original poster
InAPickle12345 · 19/10/2023 20:52

So glad you're okay @70sDuvet and feel back in control x That gives me another bit of hope and I'll add lessons to the list

OP posts:
Original poster
InAPickle12345 · 19/10/2023 20:56

@Blarn thanks for sharing and I'm definitely going to speak with the GP about maybe going back on my antidepressants and I'll ask him about the propranolol as well, maybe I should see if I can try the propranolol for a bit first before going back to the antidepressants.

OP posts:
Original poster
InAPickle12345 · 19/10/2023 20:58

Tortugaa · 19/10/2023 20:51

I had this when I was under a lot of stress. I didn’t realise it was causing my driving anxiety until the stress reduced and then strangely the driving anxiety cleared up too. I think it is a subconscious thing, if you’re stressed your body is on high alert.

Maybe I should get myself back to Pilates as well, I've been more sedentary lately because work has been busy but maybe that's not helping.

OP posts:
Neverhot · 19/10/2023 21:04

Op I've also experienced this, it almost felt like I had vertigo. It still happens occasionally and I'm too scared to go on the motorway as I just feel like I will lose control. Sorry no advice, but following as I would love to know how to tackle this also.

Original poster
InAPickle12345 · 19/10/2023 21:07

Well @Neverhot, this is my own list of actions so far if you'd like to try too x

◦	Call GP - Anti Ds and Propranolol, hormone check, blood check
◦	Look up Control System Practitioners/ Counsellors 
◦	Hypnotism 
◦	Can’t get the Coupe, buy bigger 
◦	Yoga | Pilates 
◦	Driving Lessons
OP posts:
Spudsanyway · 19/10/2023 21:09

This has been mentioned as a menopausal symptom, what is you age? X

Original poster
InAPickle12345 · 19/10/2023 21:11

On top of this!!!

Been seeing a guy for a few months and I told him this evening because I felt like I really needed to tell someone IRL... he made a couple jokes after this and never asked how I was. Im not normally precious but I might have to dump the guy 😂

To ask if anyone has advice for sudden crippling driving anxiety.
OP posts:
Original poster
InAPickle12345 · 19/10/2023 21:12

Spudsanyway · 19/10/2023 21:09

This has been mentioned as a menopausal symptom, what is you age? X

35... have addressed menopause a few times, interesting thought 👍

OP posts:
Sleepyallday · 19/10/2023 21:22

I’ve sent a PM with strategies I’ve tried

crystalize · 19/10/2023 21:34

I had similar years ago while driving on a motorway. Suddenly nearly passed out then went all weak and floaty. Was horrific, thought I would die.. there was nowhere to stop for 5 miles or so, was literally shouting to myself to stay alert!

It continued for a while and I had to start avoiding motorways. Eventually went on antidepressants for peri symptoms and it virtually vanished. Then started hrt - came off antidepressants after a year or so. I still get occasional anxiety just on motorways which really pisses me off as I love travelling. I try breathing exercises to slow heart rate which usually works. But that niggling feeling is always there at the back of my mind whenever I start a longish journey and it's shit. Think I'll get some Propranolol too.

Good luck OP... and yeah the new guy youre dating didn't even show any concern for you.. watch out there x

stillawip · 19/10/2023 21:42

I’m the same with driving long distances, OP, and for me I think it’s linked to various accidents/ motoring incidents in the past , but also my anxiety which I think brings on a sort of agoraphobia. So it’s not the actual driving that’s the problem, it’s the fact that the driving is taking me away from home, ie my ‘safe place’ . One thing I do find helpful tho, is to put the radio on loud & belt out some songs with it!! It distracts your mind and also breaks the panicked breathing pattern….

violetcuriosity · 19/10/2023 21:43

Neverhot · 19/10/2023 21:04

Op I've also experienced this, it almost felt like I had vertigo. It still happens occasionally and I'm too scared to go on the motorway as I just feel like I will lose control. Sorry no advice, but following as I would love to know how to tackle this also.

Mine feels like vertigo too.

Interestingly I brought this up at work once because i tried to disempower it and there were 3 other women who had the exact same issue!

Original poster
InAPickle12345 · 19/10/2023 21:53

@Sleepyallday Thank you so much, and sorry for being a div, but where do I find my PMs? 🙈 Do I have to be logged in on the site rather than the app? Sorry

OP posts:
Original poster
InAPickle12345 · 19/10/2023 21:57

@crystalize can I ask how old you were when this happened? So many people have mentioned menopause that it really has me thinking I have to look into it because this has come so out of the blue.

The propranolol seems to be working for some, I'll ask the GP when I see him for sure.

He hasn't even asked if I'm okay! He made a couple of jokes about the doctor blaming him and I just said I was going for a shower. If roles were reversed or that was my friend, I'd at least ask if they were okay 🙄

OP posts:
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