Panic Attack While Driving - How To Handle It

The commute today is an integral part of most people's lives. In some cases it is a chance to unwind after the fatigue from a hard day at work and in other cases it is a tension builder that adds to the frustrations of the day.

For the person that is prone to panic attacks it can be sheer hell. Just thinking of a panic attack while driving can add to the panic that is already there and bring one on earlier. If you have a history of panic attacks you should seek counseling. If you are at a place in your life where you can cope with them there are some steps you can take to alleviate the panic.

One of the most effective devices to avoid a panic attack while driving for me was a bio-feed back machine. It only cost me a few dollars from Radio Shack and could fit into my shirt pocket. I would connect the leads to my fingers before leaving work and listen for the ticking sounds as my tension started to build. I would record these happenings and then look for trends. This worked as a diversionary action to keep my mind off having a panic attack while driving.

What I discovered was that the alarm would start going off in the same places every day. These were not places of intense traffic tie ups but rather where traffic was moving smoothly. Further observation showed that it happened about two to three minutes before the traffic would come to a stop due to merging traffic. My body was anticipating the delay and starting to panic in response to that anticipation.

My next step was to create a consciousness around my thoughts leading up to and at the time of the bio-feedback alarm. What was going on in my mind, what thoughts were there that caused the rise of panic? Was there a thought pattern that automatically came to me as I approached the stalled traffic? Concentrating on this also provided distraction and kept the heart rate down.

The primary thoughts that were coming up were: "I might rear end someone," "someone might rear end me," and "I might be side swiped by someone merging without caution." Knowing this gave me the opportunity to create alternative thoughts and answers to the concerns. By thinking about them I could develop rational rather than emotional responses to the rise in tension.

Even with the best planning and attempts to create a rational experience out of a panic things did go wrong occasionally. Knowing that it is not rational to expect every driver to rear end you does not help when you look in the rear view mirror and see the idiot in the BMW bearing down on you in excess of the speed limit. I found at this point talking out loud, to myself, and reviewing my options, put me back in control and allowed the panic to subside.

I know this will not work for everybody. If you are the type person that is prone to a serious attack while driving seek help. It will work out best of you and the rest of us on the highway.

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