Support NeoGAF

[balladofwindfishes]

If you're not driving, then perhaps a distraction (a portable game, book, etc.) for when you're in a car can help? Something that you can engage in enough that your surroundings melt away. Eventually, once you subconsciously realize that being in a car is no different than being in any other enclosed space, you may be able to relax a bit without any distractions.

I tried this with my phone a few days ago and it seemed to just make it worse. I was looking up directions and got a horrible feeling from it.

I used to use my phone constantly when bored in the car, with no issue.

This seems like a valid theory. I remember one time as a child i became terrified of the "emergency" buttons in my great grandmother's assisted living apartment. I was afraid even getting near them would set them off somehow.

It went away with time, but it appeared for no reason.

One time as a kid, I grew afraid of things being plugged in while I slept. I was afraid it would burn the house down at any minute.

 

[Vossler]

Sounds like anxiety -- can literally strike out of nowhere. Talk to the Doc, and also just breathe...has happened to me multiple times.

 

[PeskyToaster]

I just fall asleep while riding in the car (not driving) seems to work.

 

[sgjackson]

it's good that you realize you need help and are making an attempt to find it, but a gp is likely unequipped to get you the help that you need and you should definitely try to find a psychiatrist. if it's untenable to find one in walking distance, there's no problem with going to a family member or trusted friend and saying "i need help making this happen" so they can assuage your social anxiety in setting up meetings and help you get there.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

Do you think a therapist or psychologist might be sufficient? They couldn't give me medication, but finding a psychiatrist is proving to be difficult, even going outside walking distance.

I don't even have weird insurance, so I don't know why it's so hard to find someone to take my insurance, but it's the difference between a 300-400 dollar bill per session and a 50 dollar bill per session.

I kind of wanted medication, though. I think I need it.

 

[br3wnor]

I dont’ think you said in the thread, but is there a reason why you don’t want to get a license/car?

If I’m understanding correctly, you live alone but get rides to work from your parents? It would probably be most convenient for everyone involved if you were able to get a license and car. Personally, I HATE being a passenger in cars and while I don’t get panic attacks, I do get a little nervous and feel out of control, I feel 100% stress free when I’m the one driving. (If you have a medical issue that prevents you from driving then I apologize, but your life would probably be a lot easier if you got your own ride)

**Therapists are great, I was able to get over my own anxiety issues in college solely through a therapist, no medication or anything, just a semester of having a medical professional to listen to me and give me advice on how to improve my symptoms. Never had any issues since.

 

[Fenderputty]

What state do you live in? If you can get and legally use pure CBD powder (THC is what actually makes you high) that could help your anxiety. Since you don't get high on CBD you can function at work or doing any other daily activity.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

I dont' think you said in the thread, but is there a reason why you don't want to get a license/car?

If I'm understanding correctly, you live alone but get rides to work from your parents? It would probably be most convenient for everyone involved if you were able to get a license and car. Personally, I HATE being a passenger in cars and while I don't get panic attacks, I do get a little nervous and feel out of control, I feel 100% stress free when I'm the one driving. (If you have a medical issue that prevents you from driving then I apologize, but your life would probably be a lot easier if you got your own ride)

**Therapists are great, I was able to get over my own anxiety issues in college solely through a therapist, no medication or anything, just a semester of having a medical professional to listen to me and give me advice on how to improve my symptoms. Never had any issues since.

I umm... well, I have anxiety about learning to drive. I tried once and didn't like it at all and never went back. I don't trust myself to not let my mind wander while I drive. I have a habit of getting so lost in deep thought when doing mundane tasks that I have to be snapped out of it by a noise or someone saying my name. When alone, on particularly uneventful days, I can sit and just stare at a wall and suddenly two hours has passed if my mind is particularly active that day. I also look at everything when driving (as a passenger) in new places, and my mind wanders to what those restaurants might serve, or who lives in those houses, and little stories I make up for it all.

There's no diagnosed medical reason why, though. I just don't trust myself to pay attention and am very afraid of just being in control and having nobody else to blame if something went wrong.

What state do you live in? If you can get and legally use pure CBD powder (THC is what actually makes you high) that could help your anxiety. Since you don't get high on CBD you can function at work or doing any other daily activity.

New York

 

[Vicetrailia]

I think you need to start driving, so you feel like you're more in control. That should stop it.

 

[Fenderputty]

New York

If your job doesn't test, I would look into this. You should be able to get this through medical avenues. As I said, CBD powder doesn't get you high. So if you have concerns about that, feel better. It's probably better for your stomach and overall health than some pill anyway (if it helps that is, find what helps)

 

[krazykei]

Maybe car/motion sickness? Try asking to sit in the front. My sister gets it pretty bad and she dreads having to sit in the back of a car. We mostly defer the front seat to her and it seems to work. If you have to sit in the back, look out to the distance instead of inside the car or things that are nearby.

 

[Zyae]

Sounds like a panic attack

 

[balladofwindfishes]

Felt like doing an update, given how poorly this week has been, and it's been a few weeks since I made this thread.

I was doing really good for a week and a half since I made this thread. I thought I was almost back to normal. I could go to and from work with no issue. I ran errands. Visited my grandparents. Life was mostly normal, as long as I had the ability to sit in the front. Then Friday, I felt... weird. Not really panicky, just "off" and the ride home from work (and some errands) left me just wanting to be home. There was no real panic, just discomfort and a need to get home.

Saturday I was a wreck in the morning, but I knew that. I had to ride in the back seat and I still have no tolerance for that. I ended up taking a Xanax and enjoying my day.

Sunday was fine. Didn't need to go out. Still kind of felt "weird" but with no reason to think it was anxiety, I just shrugged it off as maybe a cold.

The ride to work on Monday was fine. I still felt "off" but not really anything that concerned me. Again, just thought it was a cold.

Then I left work Monday afternoon. About an hour before I left, I knew something was seriously wrong and different. I couldn't focus, I was fidgety and that "off" feeling was getting a lot worse and much more noticeable. At this point I should have taken Xanax. I didn't. On the way home I had a terrible panic attack about 2 minutes from home. I could almost see my house. There was no traffic due to Columbus Day. We were driving a bit faster than normal because of it. We went around a slight turn to get on another road. I completely lost my mind and had to get home instantly, or I was going to break down. I got home and couldn't focus or do much of anything and sort of just rocked myself in a chair until I went to bed. It was the first time I had a panic attack in the front seat, the first time I had one on a car ride home, and the first time I didn't start feeling better once I got home. So I was very shaken by it.

At night I had the most crazy dreams. One dream felt like it was a month long, but was only 20 minutes. I was in shock looking at the time. Then I thought I was dying. I was ready to text my will to my mom (at 1am). My blood felt like it was on fire. My chest hurt. I was asleep, but not really asleep. I even got up to go to the bathroom, and came back to bed exactly the same. I think maybe I had a panic attack in the middle of the night. I eventually passed out, I guess, and woke up to my alarm and immediately called in sick. I missed two days of work recovering from Monday's attack, which seemed to linger into Monday night and into Tuesday. I felt awful on Tuesday, could barely stay awake or do anything. I just slept a lot.

I should have just taken medicine. It's why I have it.

I went back to work this morning and had a mini panic attack almost instantly leaving my street. Likely the initial shock of being in the car again. I was yelling at my dad "I NEED TO GET HOME NOW, I CAN'T DO THIS" but he just said "too late, can't turn around." Then it just went away after a few minutes and I've been fine all day. Until now I feel "off" again, so I'm going to take a pill, right before I leave. I'm not taking any chances.

I need to be less stubborn with taking my medication. Reading online, my piddly .25 mg dose of Xanax every few days if I need it, isn't going to ruin my life. Stories I've read are people prescribed 1+ mg a day on a daily basis, not as needed. My plan now is to use it when I feel "off" and get used to being in the car (again...) and ease off it and be more vigilant with when a big attack is coming, so I don't regress back several weeks. I hate needing two days to recover from a panic attack. I'm not always going to be able to do that. Sometimes work gets busy. Or there's an important meeting.

I haven't been able to find a psychiatrist. I'm just going to deal as best I can, until my physical next month and bring all of my concerns up at that appointment. I'm going to ask for a daily medication that will help stop attacks, rather than Xanax to treat them as they're happening. Mostly because "as needed" in my head is basically never, even in the middle of an obvious panic attack. I want prevention. Knowing I can recover from an attack with a pill doesn't really help me relax when in a car. I am bad at knowing when I need medicine. I have a high pain tolerance.

 

[Agent_ShortBus]

Ok I can't drive for more than 45 minutes straight before my mind wanders and I start to get a mild panic attack. When I travel to L.A. from San Diego I make multiple stops and just stretch for a bit. I used to just randomly feel weak when driving out of nowhere 3 years ago even though I love driving and never had an issue before. Over the years it's subsided but I honestly don't know what to tell you besides getting on anxiety meds.

 

[HawksWinStanley]

Sounds like me every time my wife is driving.

 

[Daingurse]

I would try to prioritize finding a psychiatrist, balladofwindfishes. It sounds like you really could use a daily anti-anxiety medication to help manage your panic attacks. I think waiting until next month to discuss this with your general is too long. Just from what you've described, it sounds like you need some relief as soon as possible.

 

[JB1981]

You need an SSRI not a Benzo. Can you try to define what you mean by off? Seems like you have classic anticipatory anxiety

 

[balladofwindfishes]

You need an SSRI not a Benzo. Can you try to define what you mean by off? Seems like you have classic anticipatory anxiety

Kind of tired, a weird feeling in my stomach, loss of appetite, a little tense, lack of motivation. Stuff I'd normally attribute to me about to get a bad cold.

 

[JB1981]

Kind of tired, a weird feeling in my stomach, loss of appetite, a little tense, lack of motivation. Stuff I'd normally attribute to me about to get a bad cold.

I know you have said you've been to the doctor but have you been to a clinical psychologist or just a GP? A GP will prescribe you Xanax and provide no coping strategies. A licensed therapist can help talk you through these issues. As someone who has personally suffered from panic attacks, I can tell you that everything you describe sounds like panic disorder.

 

[balladofwindfishes]

I know you have said you've been to the doctor but have you been to a clinical psychologist or just a GP? A GP will prescribe you Xanax and provide no coping strategies. A licensed therapist can help talk you through these issues. As someone who has personally suffered from panic attacks, I can tell you that everything you describe sounds like panic disorder.

I wasn't able to find a psychiatrist that would answer the phone, took new patients, took my insurance, and/or was in a convenient location, but I haven't really looked for a psychologist.

 

[Irishmantis]

GF had this exact problem but it ended being so bad she couldn't leave the house without having a panic attack

She can now while she still gets flashes, but unfortunately she's stuck on medication for life, I guess it's better than the former even though the side effects make her seem disinterested

OP I hope you find your answer, but my best advice is don't wait and expect it to just go away it could get worse, not saying that's your case just what I seen happen