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Panic attacks and driving

5 replies

nc6754 · 01/09/2024 15:36

Need to speak to my GP tomorrow but wondered if anyone here knows what will happen.

I suffer from long term depression/anxiety and take 150mg sertraline (although I'm ashamed to say I do forget to take it fairly often, think this is MH related).

Around 2 years ago I had (what I think was) quite a severe panic attack while driving. Managed to pull over- sweating excessively (feel it dripping down me), faint feeling as though I would pass out, numbness up fingers, arms, legs. Young son who was in car with me called ambulance and was taken to hospital. Also had slightly low blood sugar so hospital never said definitively it was a panic attack but I've always felt it was. Just told me not to drive for a month.

I do suffer from panic attacks- usually once every month or so. It's usually in the night, or before work.

Today I had what I think was another panic attack while driving. Same symptoms as previous time, and actually coming up to the location of the first incident. I managed to clock it was coming on as I could feel the tingling and numbness coming up my hands, and pulled over in the next lay-by.

I now feel terrified to drive and wonder if I even should be driving or be allowed to drive? I worry what could happen even though it's been twice in the space of a couple of years. I have children (single parent) and commute to work too... I'm so worry and scared and also worried and scared I will now lose my job and not be able to take my children to school.

I just don't know what happens in this scenario, many thanks for any insight or advice

OP posts:
TFthatsover · 01/09/2024 15:44

I went through something similar, had a random panic attack while driving and it happened again when I later passed the same spot a few months later. It's like I reminded myself of the attack and it brought on the start of another one.

I now carry a packet of mints with me and at the first sign of feeling a bit hazy, I pop in a mint to distract myself from going in to a full panic. I have driven past that spot a few times now and I don't associate it with the attack anymore.

Growsomeballswoman · 01/09/2024 15:46

Have you tried propranolol?

nc6754 · 01/09/2024 15:52

I know it's only twice in 2 years but I'm worried if I should even be driving at all, what if I have an accident and hurt someone or my children?

OP posts:
isthewashingdryyet · 01/09/2024 15:53

This may be rather blunt, but surely you now know to only drive when you have been on your medication every day for a month, and have eaten a good meal before you set off ?

If you can't take your meds properly and don't eat regular meals, then you just should not be driving

nc6754 · 01/09/2024 16:06

Yes I was expecting some blunt responses which maybe I need.

I have issues around eating too, related to MH.

I can be fine for absolutely ages then go through a period when I struggle and lose weight.

OP posts:
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