I have panic attacks when driving

I'm not sure if what I have you can help me with. I am 45 yrs, female, living with my significant other, and in the throes of perimenopause. I had my first panic attack whilst driving about 2 years ago. It was so severe I had to stop the car and get my friend on the mobile. It was only with her help that I was able to drive home. Now I can no longer drive, I lost my business ( had to travel for work) and I feel as if I am going mad. I went to the doctors and they prescribed zoloft and klonopin. Neither helped with my panic attacks during travel, actually the panic attacks were just as severe. I told my doctor and she looked at me as if I had two heads and just smiled. Needless to say, I walked away from the doctor and the medication. Also, at the time I was on the medication, for the past year and a half I went to a therapist. He also ignored the panic attacks while driving and said they would go away. Well, here I sit at home for the past two and a half months. I have trouble even as a passenger now. I am so grateful to David, my partner, as he is supporting both of us. Both of us would like to see me back 'in the saddle' as it were. I miss me. Please any suggestions?

This question was submitted by 'Brenda'

Mark says...

Hi there,

I'm sorry to hear how badly your panic attacks have been affecting you. Panic attacks are horrible, but I want to reassure you that people can and do overcome them. Many years ago I had a panic attack while public speaking, but later used hypnosis to overcome the panic attack and my fear of public speaking, and then went into a job where I had to present to large groups almost everyday! So I hope that gives you hope that you will beat this and get back to being you again.

In my career I know a lot of people who have experienced panic attacks whilst driving and I think it might be because stress is always a little higher when we drive (because we always have to be more aware or vigilant) so if we are generally a bit more stressed than normal, the extra vigilant stress of driving can have stress 'spilling over' into panic - if that makes any sense at all.

Firstly I suggest you read the article I wrote about panic attacks because I think you'll find it useful.

Secondly, let's talk about why these panic attacks are happening while you are driving. Where and in what situation we panic has consequences because the unconscious mind can wrongly assume the setting or situation of the panic attack is threatening and in future automatically have you feeling anxious just going into the situation in which you panicked previously. It's as if your unconsious mind is trying to be helpful by getting you fearing and avoiding the situation again in the future even when, consciously, you know it's not the situation or setting that is the threat.

Of course, the more you avoid a situation the more your unconscious mind assumes it must be dangerous (otherwise why would you be avoiding it) and the more it builds the fear for you. Like a guard dog being trained not to bark when it doesn't need to, the panic needs to be brought into line - still useful but only on the, hopefully very rare, occasions it is actually genuinely needed. We use hypnosis to approach situations via the imagination whilst being very calm as a way of re-tagging the situation (in your case driving or being a passenger) as non-threatening and so the panic can keep out in future.

It's also vital to learn how to 'switch off' panic once it kicks off. I recommend you use the following hypnosis downloads Stop Panic Attacks and and also Fear of Driving.

All the very best to you and let me know how you get on.