You are merrily driving on the highway, having your window open, trying to hear the radio, when suddenly : Boom, it is there! The dreaded panic attack! You are all of a sudden encircled in a flow of high traffic on both sides, feeling unusually high or intoxicated with everything being unreal or surreal. You're dizzy, confused and just barely realizing what's going on. But you do know this : you have got a full-blown panic attack.
I know, because I've been thru it. Not everyone feels like you're right or drunk, there are a variety of symptoms that you can experience. Other symptoms that you could experience are :
Heart pounding Shaking uncertainty Dizzy Sick to your stomach Feel like you're dying or going crazy
These are all terribly common symptoms. We don't experience all of them at the same time. Some folk only experience two these, other different ones each time. I don't think there is an answer why is that.
However, it's good to grasp some of the causes of anxiety panic attack while driving, so you can recognize them. They'd help you, because after you recognize they're triggers, you are aware to what is happening to you. If you know what it is, you are no longer terrified of it, you are AWARE.
Driving an unknown vehicle Driving on an unknown road The pressure to overtake slow drivers Strong inbound traffic, particularly in a bad weather ( rain, mist, etc ) Signs reminding you of death on the roads ( seeing flowers, crosses along the road, commemoratives ) Crossing a narrow bridge
If, while driving, you're feeling the first signs of a panic attack approaching, don't panic! ( I know, quicker said than done ). Slow down, and pull over your car, if you can. If you cannot, because of the road circumstances, then make sure you drive slowly, don't fret about the other drivers honking on you. It's their problem, not yours. Open your window, take some unpolluted air, inhale seriously. If you have water with you, drink a bit. Make sure that you mostly have a pleasant, relaxing CD with you, that you already know and love. Familiarity is really critical to fall back to.
If you want to stop your panic attacks, you should read this: Panic attacks at night and this - Sever Panic Attacks Treatment.
