Should I cancel my driving lessons as my panic attacks have got a lot worse?

belfastgirl23

Be really proud of yourself. You're facing down something really scary and going for it. Bravery isn't doing things you find easy, it's doing things you find very hard! And just remember after you've done it, how fantastic you'll feel. For me, the more I do scary things the more I'm able to do them. And the more I stop doing them, the less I'm able to do them. The trouble with this kind of illness (if you want to call it that) is that it's the gift that keeps giving, the more you stop doing, the more things you get scared of. Good for you for sticking with it!

1234catlady

After talking with my counsellor today, I have decided to take a month or 2 off driving lessons. I'm still going to do the other things that scare me such as going on public transport, go into town etc so I'm still improving in other areas and hopefully build my confidence back up.

I can't drive my current car. I just can't take to it so I am thinking of selling it and getting another Kia like we had before which I could drive perfectly so I can go out and practice more before I go back to lessons as my counsellor said that will build up my confidence more and I agree.

suki1964

One thing I found helped me when I was getting so stressed while taking lessons was not to stop them, but to go back a few stages. We spent one lesson when I was in to much of a mess to contemplate a long drive around the test routes, just staying local and practising reverse and parallel parking. Stuff that I could do but because I was so stressed and panicky I was convinced I couldn't do I used to have 2 hourly lessons as the test area is 20 miles away so I just cut them to one hour for a while and stayed local until I was back on even keel and could contemplate heading into town

AbbieCadabra

have you thought about hypnotherapy at all? i've struggled with depression/anxiety/panic attacks for years, even after extensive CBT/therapy/medication (which helped to some extent but my regular patterns of behaviour came rushing back at times of stress). i started hypnotherapy about 2 years ago, just have a top-up session every 2-3 months now & it's been the only thing that has really helped me.

1234catlady

Yes I am currently trying hypnotherapy with my counsellor. Only had 2 sessions so far so its still early days.

gatita

I do feel for you as my daughter suffered the same dreadful panic attacks.
One day she could get through a lesson without too much trouble, and another day absolute terror at the thought of getting into the car!

She didn't want to start again on the road of anti depressants, she was on Prozac for years and it was almost the end of her. With a lot of determination on her part, and lots of support from us, she managed to stop them.

Someone mentioned Kalms........... she didn't have much faith in them, but agreed to try them. They take at least a week to start having any effect, but I have to say they DID help her without a doubt, and the bonus is they are not harmful.

Perhaps you could try them? I do hope you can find some kind of help soon.

pendragon_arther

1234catlady wrote: »

Yes I am currently trying hypnotherapy with my counsellor. Only had 2 sessions so far so its still early days.

I'm retired now but used to successfully use hypnotherapy, and CBT for those subjects not suitable to the former. Anyone can set up as a hypnotherapist so make sure the practitioner is a good one. The IAH is a good institute.

BTW someone who experiences panic attacks can experience the feeling they are either going to die or they will go mad. Neither is possible. One quick way to assist is teach yourself to control the onset of an attack is to control your breathing with deep inhalations and exhalations. Some people use a paper bag to breathe into to prevent hyperventilation.

Racheldevon

A few things I've found really helpful with my own anxiety is:
Counselling & exercise - which you're already doing
Mindfulness - see about local Mindfulness based Stress Reduction courses, or try something like Headspace - an app that does a free 10 day introduction, if you do sign up its about £3.50 a month, but you may benefit from the course initially where you have tutors you can talk to and peer support.
Acupuncture - but go for someone registered with the British Acupuncture Council
There are some hypnotherapy MP3s/CDs you can get by someone called Glenn Harrold, there's an anxiety one and a whole range, I find them very good.
Things like massage and shiatsu also helpful for me personally.

1234catlady

I don't know if this is because I quit driving for a wee while so that big stress is gone, or that counselling is working or it was just a fluke but yesterday I managed to go into town for an hour and a half and walk about all the shops, wait in queues etc which is something I haven't been able to do for over a year. Even driving near the town would give me a panic attack, let alone actually going into it.

asajj

1234catlady wrote: »

Yes I am currently trying hypnotherapy with my counsellor. Only had 2 sessions so far so its still early days.

I had similar issues with driving - not panic attacks but I have noticed it was making me very stressed / depressed. I'd definitely suggest to take a break.

I have had hypnotherapy in the past and it really helped me too. I haven't restarted my driving lessons but I now feel I can be more in control if I do.

Hope things will be better soon x