Driving Anxiety Tips

If you’ve been following me for some time, you know that one of the biggest things that I used to struggle with was experiencing anxiety and panic in cars (well, really all forms of transportation). And what it all really came down to was feeling as though I was trapped or not in control.

In cars, it was hardest for me when I was the passenger (which is why it was also hard for me to be a passenger on a bus, a train, an airplane, etc.). And when I was anxious, it was incredibly hard for me to share how I felt, and what I was experiencing. I felt embarrassed by it, and silly, and I thought that people would think that I was absolutely crazy if I shared with them what was going on inside of my head. So instead of sharing it, I’d try to suppress it and hope that it would go away, which never worked and ultimately only caused more anxiety and panic.

Here are some of the thoughts that I used to have:

- There’s no way out (especially when in traffic).

- What if I have to go to the bathroom?

- I’m going to pass out.

- What if I experience a really bad panic attack like I have before?

- I don’t feel good. Something bad is going to happen.

- If something bad does happen, there’s nobody to help me and I’m so far from home.

- Wha