Question:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – <snip Mary, I really identified with your fear of highway driving. I’ve had it for years and years. All those cars going fast and switching lanes and all of that, I am shaking right now just writing about it. I will go 20 miles out of my way on back roads to avoid even a little stretch of highway. Actually, I have only had a highway driving phobia for the past 10 years or so and am in my early 60’s and have been driving since I was 20 years old and could drive anywhere in Toronto which is busy busy traffic everywhere and on any highway. Used to drive to Buffalo, NY lots of times which is about a 2 hour drive from me. Not now though. The 401 highway which crosses the top of Toronto is one of the main routes from Montreal to the US border and filled with big rigs, which have increased dramatically in the last few years due to NAFTA and increased trade between Canada and US. So its the trucks I think that cause me to feel intimidated, especially when you have a smaller car, especially when you pass them or they pass you. I have a Chrysler Neon. I never used to worry about passing trucks on the highway, till that one time 10 years ago and after that, I avoided the highway. I still drove everywhere in the city and on the not quite as busy highways (with no nervousness till two and half years ago when I had a vertigo attack while driving) and thats when my city driving phobia started. I went to two neurologists and ear specialist and they all said it was due to inner ear problems. I have had it twice since, but luckily not when driving. I am nervous when other people drive me too. Just terrified. I look out the side window too, and keep saying BE CAREFUL!!!! My sons HATE for me to say stuff like that, but I can’t help it. I am so afraid of being in a car crash. I can’t say I feel terrified. Most of the time, I don’t allow myself to consciously think about crashes, though its a half thought which I realize could get out of control. I try hard not to say anything when in a car with someone else, because it can make the driver anxious or annoyed, but I must admit, I try not to drive with someone else at all unless I have to. It makes me feel less nervous to drive myself than when someone else is driving. But long before I had any phobias of any kind, I felt a bit nervous when others are driving. Its not that unusual for people with good nerves to feel that way. You feel when other people are driving, that they don’t see things that you do. Funny thing though, two years ago I took a trip to Scotland since I am Scottish by birth and my friends husband and son and some others drove me in their cars to various places, and I didn’t feel as nervous as I do here when other people are driving. I think its because the cars are all smaller there and roads are narrow so cars don’t go as fast as here, and there are no SUV’s to block your vision. Just delivery vans or small trucks. I think its the open spaces, wide highways and fast traffic on the highways here which bother me here, and with city driving, its the cars around me that make me feel closed in, especially SUV’S and vans because you can’t see past them or over them. My mom and my mom’s mom never even learned how to drive. Mom especially was always afraid of even riding in a car. I think she transferred some of that to me. It could be. My mother never learned to drive either and was happy to let other people do the driving and had no phobia whatsoever about it. She also often travelled in planes and didn’t bother her at all. Not much did. The only phobia she had was of bees and wasps which a lot of people have. That transferred to me, but funny enough not till I was older. She had fears and anxiety like most people do,but no anxiety or panic attack symptoms. She was very laid back. I can’t believe it, but I’m about to have a panic attack just from writing this. I have to go and take some Xanax quick. Sorry Sally. It must be bad. Most times, I don’t take any medication, as I am so sensitive to many drugs, though once in a while I take a quarter of .25 mg Xanax. as needed. I mainly only get anxious in certain situations. I work on my own version of CBT which sometimes helps but I have to keep working on it. Do you do CBT ? Do you drive at all? Mary
Mary, Yes, I drive. I know alot of the backroads of my town (Columbus Ohio) and I can go alot of places without being afraid. If I have to go downtown, I ask one of my sons to take me. At one time I had a CBT therapist that helped me alot, but he left, and I don’t have one now. My current therapist is leaving, and I told her to give me to a therapist at the Counseling Center that specializes in CBT. I hope she does. Sally — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My mom and my mom’s mom never even learned how to drive. Mom especially was always afraid of even riding in a car. I think she transferred some of that to me. It could be. My mother never learned to drive either and was happy to let other people do the driving and had no phobia whatsoever about it. She also often travelled in planes and didn’t bother her at all. Not much did. The only phobia she had was of bees and wasps which a lot of people have. That transferred to me, but funny enough not till I was older. She had fears and anxiety like most people do,but no anxiety or panic attack symptoms. She was very laid back. I can’t believe it, but I’m about to have a panic attack just from writing this. I have to go and take some Xanax quick. Sorry Sally. It must be bad. Most times, I don’t take any medication, as I am so sensitive to many drugs, though once in a while I take a quarter of .25 mg Xanax. as needed. I mainly only get anxious in certain situations. I work on my own version of CBT which sometimes helps but I have to keep working on it. Do you do CBT ? Do you drive at all? Mary Mary, Yes, I drive. I know alot of the backroads of my town (Columbus Ohio) and I can go alot of places without being afraid. If I have to go downtown, I ask one of my sons to take me.
Well, good that you still drive whether backroads or not and good that you can go a lot of places without being afraid. After I had the vertigo attack a couple of years ago, I didn’t drive for a few weeks and felt I would never be able to drive again, but then I felt I might lose my independence, so my need for independence became stronger than my fear of driving. It was still tough and I could only drive along the street and back at first, but gradually I drove further and for longer. There are still places I can’t drive that I could before so I am still working on that. I still feel faint at times when driving, especially when stopped at traffic lights but I do it anyway and think well, I have to drive and can’t worry if I feel faint. I just try not to think about it when driving. A lot also depends on how I feel physically and mentally on any given day. None of my children live nearby, so I am pretty well on my own about driving, but even if they did I need to drive as long as I am able. My one daughter works fairly close to me, so I could get her if I had to. The bus and subway are not far, but when I got the driving phobia, it seemed to extend to buses as well. Its the feeling of not being able to control. I guess I could go on the bus if I really had to but I don’t want to, especially not in the summer. The heat outside can make me anxious. At one time I had a CBT therapist that helped me alot, but he left, and I don’t have one now. My current therapist is leaving, and I told her to give me to a therapist at the Counseling Center that specializes in CBT. I hope she does.
I hope so too Sally. I found I could do a lot for myself by reading Anxiety and Phobia workbook by Edmund Bourne and try to practice what strategies work for me. Its very good and has been very helpful to me. It may not be as good as a good therapist skilled in CBT, but these kind of therapists are very scarce here with long waiting lists, and to tell the truth, I don’t have the motivation. Also, I have other health issues to deal with. I manage fairly well with my own tailored to me CBT program and that is OK for me. We do the best we can with what we’ve got. Keep driving Sally, and I will too 
Mary — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This past Fri., on my return from Toronto, I got caught in heavy traffic, 16 lanes barely moving. To me this is akin to being burried alive. I began scanning the far right emergency lane which was 4 lanes away, then realizing that it would take forever to cross those 4 lanes. Usually at that point I’d have reached for the Benzos and in doing so, I’d have set off a PD attack. I began examining the vehicles around me as a distraction, the model, big or small car, whether or not they had their windows open (it was 90 degrees) windows open….no air-conditioning. I read all the signage on the trucks, there were 2 SUV’s with American plates, they were filled with lawn chairs, camping equipment etc., tried to figure out where they had been, where they were going. It worked. 40 minutes later the traffic was up to speed.
LJ Hi LJ, Just dropping in. I live in Toronto and I presume you are talking about the 401. Its the only highway I can think of with parts of it being 16 lanes. Were you west of Yonge heading west, or heading east from Yonge?. Its so much busier on the 401 in the west end and I am glad I live in the east end. I haven’t been on the 401 for about 10 years when I developed a mild phobia when driving in a severe thunderstorm and felt my car swaying when next to a big transport truck. That put me off highway driving. I could still drive everywhere in the city till two and a half years ago when I had vertigo when driving and developed a severe phobia, which is still there but not as bad as it was. After that I tended to stay in the inside lane when possible, in case I need to get get into the side. I too try to distract myself looking at other cars and stores – anything at all. I don’t know how you drive with no air conditioning. I wouldn’t be able to drive at all in the summer without it. I’m not kidding. I need it because of the heat and it helps control my feelings of faintness which comes and goes when driving. And just the thought of being on the highway is enough for me, never mind blocked lanes and no air conditioning. You got through it, which is the main thing. Good for you. Mary — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This past Fri., on my return from Toronto, I got caught in heavy traffic, 16 lanes barely moving. To me this is akin to being burried alive. I began scanning the far right emergency lane which was 4 lanes away, then realizing that it would take forever to cross those 4 lanes. Usually at that point I’d have reached for the Benzos and in doing so, I’d have set off a PD attack. I began examining the vehicles around me as a distraction, the model, big or small car, whether or not they had their windows open (it was 90 degrees) windows open….no air-conditioning. I read all the signage on the trucks, there were 2 SUV’s with American plates, they were filled with lawn chairs, camping equipment etc., tried to figure out where they had been, where they were going. It worked. 40 minutes later the traffic was up to speed. LJ — Hi LJ. That sounds like a really anxiety provoking experience for you. I am so glad you got through it okay. Actually for me, I have a terrible phobia about driving highway, and it would be more scary for me to be in 16 MOVING lanes of traffic!! Oh man, I don’t think I could do that at all. I’d have to close my eyes and tell whoever was driving to be careful and let me know when we were off the freeway. Sally
Hi Sally, whether 16 lanes or 4 lanes, I don’t do highway driving. It never used to bother me in the least till about 10 years ago when I was caught in a thunderstorm and downpour of rain and couldn’t see 5 inches in front of my car. I don’t know why I developed a highway phobia as I had driven under such conditions before. I was thinking of what you said above about closing your eyes. When I am in a car where someone else is driving (whether on the highway or not) I close my eyes a lot of the time or look out the side window. I don’t look ahead or I think the car might crash or they are going too close to other cars, but I’ve always thought these things to some extent when other people are driving. I took a taxi from my house to the airport two years ago, which is about a 40 minute drive on a busy highway. The whole way, I didn’t look at the traffic ahead even once and the taxi driver chatted to me which was good as it distracted me, and taxi drivers drive back and forth to the airport all day, so I felt a bit more confident. My daughter says when I go in a car when someone else is driving, I should put one of those black eyeshades you tie around your eyes to keep out the light. I think I feel better when I myself are driving, but not a lot. Mary — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
This past Fri., on my return from Toronto, I got caught in heavy traffic, 16 lanes barely moving. To me this is akin to being burried alive. I began scanning the far right emergency lane which was 4 lanes away, then realizing that it would take forever to cross those 4 lanes. Usually at that point I’d have reached for the Benzos and in doing so, I’d have set off a PD attack. I began examining the vehicles around me as a distraction, the model, big or small car, whether or not they had their windows open (it was 90 degrees) windows open….no air-conditioning. I read all the signage on the trucks, there were 2 SUV’s with American plates, they were filled with lawn chairs, camping equipment etc., tried to figure out where they had been, where they were going. It worked. 40 minutes later the traffic was up to speed. LJ
Well done! Philip — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
This past Fri., on my return from Toronto, I got caught in heavy traffic, 16 lanes barely moving. To me this is akin to being burried alive. I began scanning the far right emergency lane which was 4 lanes away, then realizing that it would take forever to cross those 4 lanes. Usually at that point I’d have reached for the Benzos and in doing so, I’d have set off a PD attack. I began examining the vehicles around me as a distraction, the model, big or small car, whether or not they had their windows open (it was 90 degrees) windows open….no air-conditioning. I read all the signage on the trucks, there were 2 SUV’s with American plates, they were filled with lawn chairs, camping equipment etc., tried to figure out where they had been, where they were going. It worked. 40 minutes later the traffic was up to speed. LJ
Your experience is reminiscent of something similar that happened to me. About two years ago I was heading on the 401 eastbound enroute to Highway 400. For most of the trip traffic moved fairly well – until I hit a construction zone just east of Mississauga. Cars were backed up for miles, and moving very slowly. As luck would have it, I was close to the middle of the bunch-up. For a late spring day it was unusually hot and humid. This, and the smog from nearby vehicles, conspired to help trigger a nasty wave of anxiety bordering on panic. Like you, I felt trapped, unable to escape. The world seemed to be closing in on me. Then those "what-if" thoughts came flooding in. Thoughts like, "What if I get sick from the smog, or the heat, can’t breathe and start having heart or respiratory trouble? Traffic is so badly jammed up that there’s no way an ambulance could get in here." With some difficulty, I managed to get a grip on myself and realized that if I turned on the fan and opened the vents, some of the discomfort would dissipate. It did. I also realized that I was stuck for now, and there was nothing I could do but wait for the traffic to start moving again. In about twenty minutes, that’s exactly what happened. Not too long ago, I made an interesting observation about my own problems with panic. The common denominator, or trigger, is a feeling of being unable to escape a situation I perceive to be noxious or really disturbing. A classic example of anxiety-provoking noxious stimuli is a visit to the dentist – you’re stuck in the chair, you have to stay still, and you have to keep your mouth cranked open for what seems like the longest time, your breathing feels a little restricted, and the epinephrine in the local anesthetics doesn’t help matters, either. Sometimes physical stress that seems hard to cope with can be a trigger. Like more vigourous exercise than I’m normally accustomed to. Steve — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi, Sally, "I really identified with your fear of highway driving. I’ve had it for years and years. All those cars going fast and switching lanes and all of that, I am shaking right now just writing about it. I will go 20 miles out of my way on back roads to avoid even a little stretch of highway." ***I hear you loud and clear. I think I know almost every back road in my safe zone which isn’t very big to begin with…ugh! I wish I had the nerve/guts to get in the car and go without even thinking about it. Some days it’s enough for me to just get to work. This is the one part of my anxiety disorder that totally frustrates me the most. smiles, Elise
I agree. It is totally aggravating especially when I used to be able to drive anywhere a few years ago and now am restricted to driving mainly in the area where I live. Two years ago I could drive anywhere in the city, but not now. I can most places in my area that I want to go to. I stay in the inside lane as much as possible which makes me feel less anxious. So if I need to stop and get into the side, I can. But sometimes I end up in the middle lane due to road construction and I do everything I can to distract myself from getting anxious which causes me to feel a bit faint, so I usually put the air conditioner on higher and blast my face with cold air, or fiddle with the car radio – anything that distracts me and breaks the anxiety cycle. By that time usually the traffic is moving again and I get into the inside lane again as soon as its safe. I can’t go to some of the places I used to, but I am going to take the plunge and go a little further afield one of these days, but not right now, the weather is too hot -92F today, and what if I had to get out of the car? Best not to think of that Mary — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
<snip Sally, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Sally, whether 16 lanes or 4 lanes, I don’t do highway driving. It never used to bother me in the least till about 10 years ago when I was caught in a thunderstorm and downpour of rain and couldn’t see 5 inches in front of my car. I don’t know why I developed a highway phobia as I had driven under such conditions before. I was thinking of what you said above about closing your eyes. When I am in a car where someone else is driving (whether on the highway or not) I close my eyes a lot of the time or look out the side window. I don’t look ahead or I think the car might crash or they are going too close to other cars, but I’ve always thought these things to some extent when other people are driving. I took a taxi from my house to the airport two years ago, which is about a 40 minute drive on a busy highway. The whole way, I didn’t look at the traffic ahead even once and the taxi driver chatted to me which was good as it distracted me, and taxi drivers drive back and forth to the airport all day, so I felt a bit more confident. My daughter says when I go in a car when someone else is driving, I should put one of those black eyeshades you tie around your eyes to keep out the light. I think I feel better when I myself are driving, but not a lot. Mary Mary, I really identified with your fear of highway driving. I’ve had it for years and years. All those cars going fast and switching lanes and all of that, I am shaking right now just writing about it. I will go 20 miles out of my way on back roads to avoid even a little stretch of highway.
Actually, I have only had a highway driving phobia for the past 10 years or so and am in my early 60’s and have been driving since I was 20 years old and could drive anywhere in Toronto which is busy busy traffic everywhere and on any highway. Used to drive to Buffalo, NY lots of times which is about a 2 hour drive from me. Not now though. The 401 highway which crosses the top of Toronto is one of the main routes from Montreal to the US border and filled with big rigs, which have increased dramatically in the last few years due to NAFTA and increased trade between Canada and US. So its the trucks I think that cause me to feel intimidated, especially when you have a smaller car, especially when you pass them or they pass you. I have a Chrysler Neon. I never used to worry about passing trucks on the highway, till that one time 10 years ago and after that, I avoided the highway. I still drove everywhere in the city and on the not quite as busy highways (with no nervousness till two and half years ago when I had a vertigo attack while driving) and thats when my city driving phobia started. I went to two neurologists and ear specialist and they all said it was due to inner ear problems. I have had it twice since, but luckily not when driving. I am nervous when other people drive me too. Just terrified. I look out the side window too, and keep saying BE CAREFUL!!!! My sons HATE for me to say stuff like that, but I can’t help it. I am so afraid of being in a car crash.
I can’t say I feel terrified. Most of the time, I don’t allow myself to consciously think about crashes, though its a half thought which I realize could get out of control. I try hard not to say anything when in a car with someone else, because it can make the driver anxious or annoyed, but I must admit, I try not to drive with someone else at all unless I have to. It makes me feel less nervous to drive myself than when someone else is driving. But long before I had any phobias of any kind, I felt a bit nervous when others are driving. Its not that unusual for people with good nerves to feel that way. You feel when other people are driving, that they don’t see things that you do. Funny thing though, two years ago I took a trip to Scotland since I am Scottish by birth and my friends husband and son and some others drove me in their cars to various places, and I didn’t feel as nervous as I do here when other people are driving. I think its because the cars are all smaller there and roads are narrow so cars don’t go as fast as here, and there are no SUV’s to block your vision. Just delivery vans or small trucks. I think its the open spaces, wide highways and fast traffic on the highways here which bother me here, and with city driving, its the cars around me that make me feel closed in, especially SUV’S and vans because you can’t see past them or over them. My mom and my mom’s mom never even learned how to drive. Mom especially was always afraid of even riding in a car. I think she transferred some of that to me.
It could be. My mother never learned to drive either and was happy to let other people do the driving and had no phobia whatsoever about it. She also often travelled in planes and didn’t bother her at all. Not much did. The only phobia she had was of bees and wasps which a lot of people have. That transferred to me, but funny enough not till I was older. She had fears and anxiety like most people do,but no anxiety or panic attack symptoms. She was very laid back. I can’t believe it, but I’m about to have a panic attack just from writing this. I have to go and take some Xanax quick.
Sorry Sally. It must be bad. Most times, I don’t take any medication, as I am so sensitive to many drugs, though once in a while I take a quarter of .25 mg Xanax. as needed. I mainly only get anxious in certain situations. I work on my own version of CBT which sometimes helps but I have to keep working on it. Do you do CBT ? Do you drive at all? Mary — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
Hi, Sally, "I really identified with your fear of highway driving. I’ve had it for years and years. All those cars going fast and switching lanes and all of that, I am shaking right now just writing about it. I will go 20 miles out of my way on back roads to avoid even a little stretch of highway."
***I hear you loud and clear. I think I know almost every back road in my safe zone which isn’t very big to begin with…ugh! I wish I had the nerve/guts to get in the car and go without even thinking about it. Some days it’s enough for me to just get to work. This is the one part of my anxiety disorder that totally frustrates me the most. smiles, Elise – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am nervous when other people drive me too. Just terrified. I look out the side window too, and keep saying BE CAREFUL!!!! My sons HATE for me to say stuff like that, but I can’t help it. I am so afraid of being in a car crash. My mom and my mom’s mom never even learned how to drive. Mom especially was always afraid of even riding in a car. I think she transferred some of that to me. I can’t believe it, but I’m about to have a panic attack just from writing this. I have to go and take some Xanax quick. Sally — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
– The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This past Fri., on my return from Toronto, I got caught in heavy traffic, 16 lanes barely moving. To me this is akin to being burried alive. I began scanning the far right emergency lane which was 4 lanes away, then realizing that it would take forever to cross those 4 lanes. Usually at that point I’d have reached for the Benzos and in doing so, I’d have set off a PD attack. I began examining the vehicles around me as a distraction, the model, big or small car, whether or not they had their windows open (it was 90 degrees) windows open….no air-conditioning. I read all the signage on the trucks, there were 2 SUV’s with American plates, they were filled with lawn chairs, camping equipment etc., tried to figure out where they had been, where they were going. It worked. 40 minutes later the traffic was up to speed. LJ — Hi LJ. That sounds like a really anxiety provoking experience for you. I am so glad you got through it okay. Actually for me, I have a terrible phobia about driving highway, and it would be more scary for me to be in 16 MOVING lanes of traffic!! Oh man, I don’t think I could do that at all. I’d have to close my eyes and tell whoever was driving to be careful and let me know when we were off the freeway. Sally Hi Sally, whether 16 lanes or 4 lanes, I don’t do highway driving. It never used to bother me in the least till about 10 years ago when I was caught in a thunderstorm and downpour of rain and couldn’t see 5 inches in front of my car. I don’t know why I developed a highway phobia as I had driven under such conditions before. I was thinking of what you said above about closing your eyes. When I am in a car where someone else is driving (whether on the highway or not) I close my eyes a lot of the time or look out the side window. I don’t look ahead or I think the car might crash or they are going too close to other cars, but I’ve always thought these things to some extent when other people are driving. I took a taxi from my house to the airport two years ago, which is about a 40 minute drive on a busy highway. The whole way, I didn’t look at the traffic ahead even once and the taxi driver chatted to me which was good as it distracted me, and taxi drivers drive back and forth to the airport all day, so I felt a bit more confident. My daughter says when I go in a car when someone else is driving, I should put one of those black eyeshades you tie around your eyes to keep out the light. I think I feel better when I myself are driving, but not a lot. Mary
Mary, I really identified with your fear of highway driving. I’ve had it for years and years. All those cars going fast and switching lanes and all of that, I am shaking right now just writing about it. I will go 20 miles out of my way on back roads to avoid even a little stretch of highway. I am nervous when other people drive me too. Just terrified. I look out the side window too, and keep saying BE CAREFUL!!!! My sons HATE for me to say stuff like that, but I can’t help it. I am so afraid of being in a car crash. My mom and my mom’s mom never even learned how to drive. Mom especially was always afraid of even riding in a car. I think she transferred some of that to me. I can’t believe it, but I’m about to have a panic attack just from writing this. I have to go and take some Xanax quick. Sally — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
This past Fri., on my return from Toronto, I got caught in heavy traffic, 16 lanes barely moving. To me this is akin to being burried alive. I began scanning the far right emergency lane which was 4 lanes away, then realizing that it would take forever to cross those 4 lanes. Usually at that point I’d have reached for the Benzos and in doing so, I’d have set off a PD attack. I began examining the vehicles around me as a distraction, the model, big or small car, whether or not they had their windows open (it was 90 degrees) windows open….no air-conditioning. I read all the signage on the trucks, there were 2 SUV’s with American plates, they were filled with lawn chairs, camping equipment etc., tried to figure out where they had been, where they were going. It worked. 40 minutes later the traffic was up to speed. LJ
Great story. My sister once got stuck in bumper to bumper traffic and the minivan in front of her had a DVD player and a screen facing the back seat. She got to watch an entire movie while she was stuck. Couldn’t hear it, but it did hold her attention. — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
::This past Fri., on my return from Toronto, I got caught in heavy traffic, 16 ::lanes barely moving. To me this is akin to being burried alive. I began ::scanning the far right emergency lane which was 4 lanes away, then realizing ::that it would take forever to cross those 4 lanes. Usually at that point I’d ::have reached for the Benzos and in doing so, I’d have set off a PD attack. I ::began examining the vehicles around me as a distraction, the model, big or ::small car, whether or not they had their windows open (it was 90 degrees) ::windows open….no air-conditioning. I read all the signage on the trucks, ::there were 2 SUV’s with American plates, they were filled with lawn chairs, ::camping equipment etc., tried to figure out where they had been, where they ::were going. It worked. 40 minutes later the traffic was up to speed. LJ Dear LJ, Being buried alive is a great way to describe being stuck in heavy traffic. Heavy traffic is a huge panic trigger for me. I feel so incredibly trapped. You did an incredible job in distracting yourself. I hopefully can remember this post of yours….. the next time I`m stuck in traffic. How was your trip to Toronto? I hope you had a good time Jackie ~*~I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster lately. The other <BR day my mood ring exploded~*~ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
I began examining the vehicles around me as a distraction, the model, big or small car, whether or not they had their windows open (it was 90 degrees) windows open….no air-conditioning. I read all the signage on the trucks, there were 2 SUV’s with American plates, they were filled with lawn chairs, camping equipment etc., tried to figure out where they had been, where they were going. It worked. 40 minutes later the traffic was up to speed.
Excellent, LJ! I have used distraction that way, too. It’s why I have always taken books of crossword puzzles on flights. Any kind of "game" you can play with your surroundings helps a lot. Get your mind engaged, and it sometimes forgets to be panicky. I think you handled this perfectly. Bravo! xxoo Anne — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
Oh LJ, I’m so glad this passed for you! This is one of my all time nightmares, but real ones. I used to HATE it when I drove or was a passenger caught in traffic like that. I don’t have a car now, but some times we have friends who will drive us somewhere and when we get caught in traffic I start to panic. I do the same thing you did – look at the models, etc. It does seem to help, but I at times I wish I could jump out of the car and walk. Gee, you were in Toronto. You could’ve visited me. I’ll email you with our address in case you’re ever in the neighborhood again. {{{{{LJ}}}}} Di
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This past Fri., on my return from Toronto, I got caught in heavy traffic, 16 lanes barely moving. To me this is akin to being burried alive. I began scanning the far right emergency lane which was 4 lanes away, then realizing that it would take forever to cross those 4 lanes. Usually at that point I’d have reached for the Benzos and in doing so, I’d have set off a PD attack. I began examining the vehicles around me as a distraction, the model, big or small car, whether or not they had their windows open (it was 90 degrees) windows open….no air-conditioning. I read all the signage on the trucks, there were 2 SUV’s with American plates, they were filled with lawn chairs, camping equipment etc., tried to figure out where they had been, where they were going. It worked. 40 minutes later the traffic was up to speed. LJ
– The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
Hi, LJ, Great job! 16 Lanes of traffic, I think I would have freaked out but you did a great job using distraction… smiles, Elise
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – This past Fri., on my return from Toronto, I got caught in heavy traffic, 16 lanes barely moving. To me this is akin to being burried alive. I began scanning the far right emergency lane which was 4 lanes away, then realizing that it would take forever to cross those 4 lanes. Usually at that point I’d have reached for the Benzos and in doing so, I’d have set off a PD attack. I began examining the vehicles around me as a distraction, the model, big or small car, whether or not they had their windows open (it was 90 degrees) windows open….no air-conditioning. I read all the signage on the trucks, there were 2 SUV’s with American plates, they were filled with lawn chairs, camping equipment etc., tried to figure out where they had been, where they were going. It worked. 40 minutes later the traffic was up to speed. LJ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
– The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
This past Fri., on my return from Toronto, I got caught in heavy traffic, 16 lanes barely moving. To me this is akin to being burried alive. I began scanning the far right emergency lane which was 4 lanes away, then realizing that it would take forever to cross those 4 lanes. Usually at that point I’d have reached for the Benzos and in doing so, I’d have set off a PD attack. I began examining the vehicles around me as a distraction, the model, big or small car, whether or not they had their windows open (it was 90 degrees) windows open….no air-conditioning. I read all the signage on the trucks, there were 2 SUV’s with American plates, they were filled with lawn chairs, camping equipment etc., tried to figure out where they had been, where they were going. It worked. 40 minutes later the traffic was up to speed. LJ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
This past Fri., on my return from Toronto, I got caught in heavy traffic, 16 lanes barely moving. To me this is akin to being burried alive. I began scanning the far right emergency lane which was 4 lanes away, then realizing that it would take forever to cross those 4 lanes. Usually at that point I’d have reached for the Benzos and in doing so, I’d have set off a PD attack. I began examining the vehicles around me as a distraction, the model, big or small car, whether or not they had their windows open (it was 90 degrees) windows open….no air-conditioning. I read all the signage on the trucks, there were 2 SUV’s with American plates, they were filled with lawn chairs, camping equipment etc., tried to figure out where they had been, where they were going. It worked. 40 minutes later the traffic was up to speed. LJ —
Hi LJ. That sounds like a really anxiety provoking experience for you. I am so glad you got through it okay. Actually for me, I have a terrible phobia about driving highway, and it would be more scary for me to be in 16 MOVING lanes of traffic!! Oh man, I don’t think I could do that at all. I’d have to close my eyes and tell whoever was driving to be careful and let me know when we were off the freeway. Sally — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
P. 
oes this mean I still have GAD or :just PD, or is it possible to have both? You can have both disorders at the same time. Jackie ~*~The moment I let go of it was the moment I got more than I could handle. The moment I jumped off of it was the moment I touched down~*~