Friday, July 24, 2009

Panic Attacks while Driving

By Gordon Dalwood

You may have been driving for decades and never had a problem and then it happens without any advance warning. You begin feeling dizzy, find it difficult to breathe and you're filled with dread which becomes even worse once you think of the possibility of losing control of the vehicle. You may be having a panic attack and after having this happen to you, you might fear driving again.

While some may tell you to overcome this fear by confronting it and driving more frequently, this only works if your panic attack was caused by a fear of driving. The best way to handle this is to learn how to deal with panic attacks while driving so that you can be better prepared and feel calmer while you drive.

If you have not experienced a panic attack you might not recognize the clammy hands, shakes, and mounting terror as a panic. Your anxiety may be brought on by worrying over your safety on the road, a car breakdown in the middle of nowhere, or getting trapped in traffic.

If you feel a panic attack setting in, stop driving. Pull over and breathe deeply until you start to relax; you're not going to be able to drive safely while having a panic attack.

A panic attack may take a few seconds or a few minutes, so take your time until you have calmed your nerves. If there's a bottle of water in the car, take a sip; dehydration can turn on those nasty attacks. If you have had those spells, be ready for future attacks. Always have your prescribed medication handy. Pop a pill and wait for the attack to subside. A bottle of water on the ready is a smart way to ease your way out of those attacks if you sense the familiar symptoms. Brown paper bags should be always available. You'll need this to regulate the amount of air you breathe in. Lastly, relax. Don't fight the attack. Ride with it.

Preventing those attacks is better than a pound of cure. To avert panic attacks, take vitamin B complex as part of your preventive regimen. This vitamin family is recommended for people who are stressed out. Since Vitamin B complex is water soluble, there is no harm in taking the vitamins daily to supplement your diet but ask your doctor for the correct daily dosage for your age and gender.

Always follow the recommendations of your physician and make sure to attend any one on one or group therapy sessions consistently. The support that being around others who suffer from panic attacks provides can be invaluable.

A word of caution - don't drive alone. Always have somebody with you or let somebody drive for you if your panic attacks are frequent and severe. Having someone with you may allay those fears that bring on those panic attacks.

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