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

Primrose

Have you been honest with your driving instructor about your driving lessons panic attacks? Perhaps part of your fear revolves around seizing up in the lrocess and if you were able to talk him/her about your anxiety they might well be able to help you with your fears. I doubt you will be the first learner driver to suffer with this problem. I personally would be honest about it. Just concealing it will add to your stress. Practice deep bresthing exercises regularly during the day to try and calm yourself and stick with it, however had it feels. Being able to drive is a huge skill that long term will improve your life and enable you to widen your independence and horizons.

1234catlady

Yes my instructor knows about my panic attacks both in everyday life and when driving. He has been supportive but I don't think he realises how bad they are and have been. I think he just thinks its a case of learner driver nerves whereas I have full on PD and agoraphobia so its not just the fear of driving getting to me.

Shelly_P

hi OP, i quit driving because i had panic attacks nearly every time i got in the car. if i wasn't having an attack i was breaking out with a stress rash. once i zoned out completely and froze up at the wheel, i was pretty much asleep. it was really dangerous and i've never got behind the wheel again. for a while people were pretty harsh on me not driving and i felt bad about it but then i realised that my mental health should take priority over the rather classist assumption that everyone should drive. if you feel like driving makes your mental heath worse, don't feel like you have to do them! always just do you.


congrats on trying to get help with this, i hated CBT as well and medication wasn't for me, but i eventually found a balance between the two (low dosage, different therapist) and am mostly fine now.