Panic attacks when driving (motorways)

[Concordia]

Hi.
sorry this is a really long post.
Have been driving for oh, nearly 20 years but about two years ago when i was pregnant with DD had a bad experience driving on motorway, basically really exhausted, late night, slowed down to 20mph nearly asleep. frightened self, came off motorway looked for hotel in south yorkshire for me and DS (2) everywhere shut as it was 11pm?! drove home on A roads, six months later exhausted again, 3 month old DD and DS now 3, dissolve into major panic attack as soon as try to drive on motorway (don't think i'd driven on a motorway inbetween)
now, DD is 19 months, i still can't drive on motorways, have tried, feel the panic welling up. have been to counselling trying to look at underlying problems. sometimes panic now comes on other roads, a roads, dual carriageways, esp if it is wide or dark.
struggle esp with roads with lots of lanes, they really frighten me.
can't go and see my friends who are mostly 200 miles away very easily. very reliant on DH to drive. feel it is limiting my life.
recently gave up work to be a SAHM, one reason was i have a lot of driving in my job and was struggling.
in the past have driven a lot on motorways (lived in different parts of the country) with no problem.
Anyone else got over this?

I had a panic attack on a motorway about eight years ago - the only one I have ever had. I'm a long term driver too - nearly 30 years. It was horrible and inexplicable. Had to turn off road, find rail station, dump car outside and catch train home.
I was in such a state on the train that the guard phoned ahead for a paramedic; he was waiting on the platform for me when we pulled into the station. He was really helpful - explained what was happening and showed me some breathing techniques.
DH had to go back to get the car the next day.

I would advise you to have a few refresher motorway sessions with a driving instructor - they will have dealt with this before and should be able to help you.
Good luck.

Hi Concordia,
I struggle with the same thing. After a really big bout of anxiety I couldnt do public transport or long journeys - especially motorway or city driving.

I found that going first thing in the morning when I'm not tired, when I've eaten and when I don't have time to worry about the journey really helps. I also avoid busy times - I'm fine if there are no other cars on the road!! Maybe just test yourself with one or two junctions at a time and get your husband to sit in with you? I've also got a favourite cd with positive songs on that make me feel good that I play in the car to try to keep me positive and distracted from the panic.

I also have something called a peppermint diffuser from Origins (in Debs, House of Fraser etc). It's about £12 for a small plastic box that you pull open when panicked and stressed and you breathe in the peppermint smell to calm you down. I have that on my lap in the car so if I come to road works or a big queue (hate them!) I can just take a couple of deep breaths.

I don't like busy roads or motorway driving and limit how much I do, but I can do essential journeys - 3-4hours round trip - once a month for work.

book a few driving lessons with an instructor to take you on motorways . to get confidence back.

you could also do advanced driving course.

Have you thought of hypnotherapy? CBT

I'm in the same boat. Been driving 28 years aswell. Its ironic as I have always loved driving but it started after I had ds.

I really wanted to give up driving but after hypnotherapy I am wanting to try again though not sure I will drive on a motorway again.

Have you anxiety about anything else? I had a lot of stress last year and I think this is just a symptom of this as I have had panic attacks flying aswell.

Avoidance is a big part of this. On a positive note I have saved a fortune on petrol.

My mum has panic attacks on motorways. She often feels better driving with someone in the car. It's comforting for her to know that should she panic, there is someone there to take over and she won't be stranded.

Agree with perhaps getting a few lessons with an instructor. Dual control does make you feel much safer IME.

I think CBT is one of the best treatments for anxiety and panic attacks: your GP should be able to refer you if it is affecting your life badly but might be a long waiting list. There are various books that can help though can't remember the names but the strategies are all pretty much the same: containing the anxiety, rationalising it, refocusing it on something else, managing the physical symptoms. If you want to get better you can but it takes work and support...

I have this!! I was driving all over the place on motorways and one day I had an horrendous panic attack when I froze behind the wheel thinking I HAD to stop or I would passout behind the wheel. dd was in the car and she was only about 5 or 6 yo. I really freaked me out but I made the rest of the journey in one piece and had to drive home the same route the next day. I was absolutely terrified and have shied away from m/w's ever since. It got to the stage where I too was terrified about dual carriageways, wide 2 - 3 lane roads, roads where I could not stop if needed (even though I never do stop). It is pissing me off that I am capable in every other way but this stumps me every time. I will happily follow this thread until I find a cure!

well done snowkitten for doing the rest of the journey. i stopped at the services, came off and then went back home on A roads never making it to my destination.
Thanks everyone for your advice. i had been thinking anyway about doing a motorway lesson to raise my confidence. We actually live a good 40 mins drive from the nearest motorway so it is hard to just 'pop out' with DH to drive a junction or so on the motorway on a quiet sunday morning.
the peppermint diffuser sounds interesting and more practical when driving than my mothers suggestion of a paper bag in front of my face!
i keep thinking i am going to veer off the road and not stay in the lane, and feel as if i can't see (even got my eyes tested afterwards), also have problems gripping the steering wheel due to sweat! i much prefer little country roads and will happily speed along them even though i know in my head they are statistically more dangerous than motorways. The width of the road seems to be some kind of problem.
I did have a difficult time around DD's birth with lots of hospital stays and was also left totally alone for around 7 hours overnight having been induced (DH had gone home) in the induction suite and had a bit of a breakdown there. i think that kind of triggered some general anxiety of which this seems to be the most obvious manifestation.
i have had some self help books on cbt for panic and anxiety out of the library. they seem to help me drive for say 10 -15 mins but i can't keep it up to drive 200 miles i suspect, at least at the moment. i feel that the techniques kind of keep a lid on it, if i work really hard at them, but some are a bit incompatible with driving too. I have had some success with things like rationalising and thinking that i have never veered off and crashed before so why should this time be any different, but i can't keep it up for long.
I might be more inclined to try hynotherapy.
I have been trying to avoid caffiene and get more sleep which i hope will help too.