subject: Panic Attacks Driving - What You Should Do Should You Have A Panic Attack On The Road [print this page] Off the road panic attacks are lousy enough, but panic attacks driving can be absolutely terrifying. Your whole body is acting out and making it difficult to respond to your surroundings when you need to the most. It is far from a pleasant feeling, but there are precautions you can take to make the ordeal easier, should you run into it.
First, you should be aware of your general thoughts patterns and anxiety levels. Notice if there are things in your life that tend to raise your anxiety levels or trigger panic attacks. This can give you the critical heads up you need to get off the road and calm down before the brunt of the attack hits.
The next thing you should do is get off the road or stop. If the situation is bad enough don't be afraid to use your emergency blinkers to help. Keep in mind that you aren't going to die from a panic attack or from embarrassment, but you may from a car crash if you lose control.
Once you're off the road, it's no different from a regular anxiety attack. That probably doesn't make you feel any better, but the dangerous part is done with. Try to break the cycle in your head if possible. Generally you end up going over the same frightening thought or idea over and over, faster and faster, revving up. If you can stop it mid-cycle you'll find a modicum of control and it will go easier.
Some recommend using soothing music as an aid. This may or may not help you during the actual panic attack, but it will do wonders in the aftermath, helping you to calm down, get a grip, and move on.
If you have panic attacks driving, you may also want to keep a cell phone available as a sort of "safety blanket." Knowing you can have someone to talk to to calm you down, let know what has happened, or even rescue you helps tremendously. Even if you never actually use this option, it will make you feel better to know that it is available.
