panic agoraphobia – obsessive compulsive disorder anxiety – panic attack driving
panic agoraphobia
Panic attacks can have a significant impact in your life and can even interfere with your work and social relationships. They can range from mild to debilitating preventing you from going out and doing the things you normally did. They can also place a dent in your self-esteem. It is important that you know how to control panic attacks. If you want to conquer your panic attacks here are some tips on how to control panic attacks
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It is estimated that 2 to 6 million Americans suffer from panic attacks or Panic Disorder. How can they be treated
A Panic attack is a very serious illness however it is very possible for you to overcome this illness and live a normal life. A Panic attack is a medical condition and if you are experiencing it often you should seek medical care in order to provide you with proper treatment either behavioural or with medications
Panic attacks can be terrifying especially when experienced the first time. For no known reason you will experience overwhelming fear. You feel like everything is spinning out of control and there is nothing you can do to stop it. Panic attacks can give you the feeling you are going to die. You might even think the tightening in your chest and the breathing difficulty is a heart attack
Panic attacks occur when the anxiety levels soar beyond the tolerable limits resulting in pulsating heart beat nervousness dizziness lack of breath sweating etc. Medications can never be used to treat them as they just offer a temporary mild relief from the physical symptoms and do not treat the root cause. Further medications and drugs tend to be addictive and cause more anxiety than the panic attack itself
Panic attacks are more common in daytime. Studies show that 90% of panic attack sufferers go through their ordeal within their busy hours. Ordinarily that will be within office hours where the stress level is at its peak level
Are you or any of your loved ones or neighbor suffering from frequent panic attacks? If so do not despair. It may surprise you to know that tens of millions of Americans currently suffer from panic attacks and anxiety disorder
Driving You Crazy: Driving Phobia And Its Treatment
It’s a surprise to most people – including those that suffer from it – that driving phobia is one of the most common phobias.
This is because it’s a hidden phobia: sufferers are embarrassed by it so they go to great lengths to accommodate and conceal their fear. And they think they are alone. But they are not. Their condition is well understood by phobia specialists and their symptoms, avoidance patterns and responses are very similar to those of other silent sufferers.
WHAT IS DRIVING PHOBIA?
Driving phobia is an irrational fear of driving, of being or feeling out of control whilst driving, causing dread, panic and avoidance. It is rarely skills related – most people with a driving phobia are good, competent drivers. They are usually normal, well-balanced people who once drove happily but are now anxious and panicky when driving or else don’t drive at all.
WHO IT AFFECTS
A driving phobia is like getting a puncture: it happens to lots of people, it can happen to anyone and it makes driving very difficult or impossible.
And it’s very frustrating for sufferers because a part of them – the conscious, rational, thinking part – knows that they are good drivers and these situations are non-threatening. But they nevertheless find that when they are on certain roads or in particular driving situations, another part of them (the irrational unconscious part) drives out rational thought and fear floods in.
Experience shows that it is the more imaginative, creative or artistic people who are more prone to developing driving phobias. This is because phobias have a lot to do with the misuse of the imagination. So it can affect all kinds of people, irrespective of their driving skill.
THE CAUSE
Driving phobia can be caused by a traumatic or unsettling event (such as an accident) but is usually caused by something much milder (like overtaking on a freeway, being stuck in a jam or going over a high bridge) which normally would be okay but at the time the individual was perhaps a lot more stressed that normal (background stress levels raised by other things like tiredness or financial, work or relationship problems) and this tipped them into a mild panic attack. The irrational mind (which is also responsible for survival and instincts) creates a pattern of this event and matches this to future times and places, triggering the same kind of panic response again and again. This builds into a phobia.
So driving phobia is linked to different things for different people – to driving on wide open roads like freeways (most common), to expressways, small roads, hills, high roads, bridges, flyovers, particular routes, junctions, to maneuvers (especially overtaking), to being boxed in by heavy traffic, to being close to particular vehicles (usually large or high-sided ones) or to being limited to a particular speed. It often starts on freeways and spreads to smaller highways or expressways, then to smaller roads, restricting the routes, speed and distances that can be traveled.
SAFETY BEHAVIOURS & AVOIDANCE
Sufferers use numerous safety and avoidance strategies to accommodate and control their embarrassment and panic.
As more and more routes or situations are avoided, the sufferer’s world starts to close in. Energy and time are used in planning and driving alternative routes. They may have to drive at times when the roads are clear. Partners and friends may have to drive instead or have to take over en route. Excuses are made to avoid giving people lifts or traveling with friends and colleagues. Jobs and invitations may be turned down. People and situations are manipulated. Freedom and independence are diminished.
Over time such “solutions” interfere so much in life that they actually become part of the problem. At this point – and it can take years for someone with a driving phobia to get to this point – the sufferer acknowledges that they can’t change this themselves, and seeks professional help.
TREATMENT FOR DRIVING PHOBIA
There are now effective, pain-free, scare-free and drug-free treatments available for driving phobia, indeed, for any phobia.
The most remarkable of these is the Fast Phobia Cure which rapidly, reliably and comfortably de-conditions the patterns that drive the phobia. Using the Fast Phobia Cure most phobias – even extreme and long-standing phobias – can be eliminated in a matter of minutes.
Other common phobia treatments include the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) which can provide effective and fast relief, and Cognitive Therapy – designed to change the way you think about driving – is also useful but often involves exposure therapy and is more long-term.
Guy Baglow is a leading phobia specialist and founder of the mindspa phobia clinic ( www.phobiaclinic.co.uk ), the UK’s leading specialist private phobia clinic in Harley Street – a world centre of healthcare excellence in London – where driving phobics of all kinds (including rally drivers and police drivers) have overcome their fear in as little as a single session. An online clinic ( www.phobiaclinic.net ) has downloadable treatments including the Fast Phobia Cure and The Driving Phobia Cure ( phobiaclinic online | driving phobia ).
Are Your Panic Attacks Driving You Crazy?
Road trip is one of the most enjoyable activities that you can have by yourself, with your friends or with your family. A long drive can give you a time to reflect about the future while you listen to your favourite playlist. Too bad, panic attacks would sometimes surface at the worst time… while you are driving. This kind of situation evokes much panic since a car is an enclosed place. Making you feel stuck, pushing your agoraphobia to take place. The perfect time where you can actually say that your panic attacks are driving you crazy.
People who experience panic attacks dread this kind of situation. However, we can’t avoid riding a car or even driving a car on our own. Life still goes on despite panic attacks. Here’s a help for you to avoid your panic attacks from getting in control of your life. At first, set the mood. The best way is to prepare a playlist that includes your favourite songs. The songs can reduce the stress you experience during driving. Also, we tend to sing to our favourite songs allowing a good outlet to release adrenaline and burn energy. Grab something to nibble on while you are driving. The best things to have with you during the drive are berries or sliced fruits.
Yes, it is enticing to smoke while you are driving but the nicotine will only increase the possibility of your panic attack. So, a huge no for smoking! Another tip, forget about the action that’s involved while driving the car. Enjoy the scenery. Breathe the good air. Don’t you ever start a silly race with a fellow driver for this will just entice adrenaline rush. Also, racing can be very dangerous. Lastly, take your mobile phone with you, this will provide you a sense of security. Cell phone allows you not to worry about help when you experience an panic attack.
Simon Crabb has successfully battled with panic attacks. He is now in control of his condition, instead of it controlling him. He enjoys sharing his experiences, treatment reviews, and triumphs over panic through blogging. Visit his site about his experiences with panic attacks to grab free tactics on how to reduce stress, panic and anxiety.
