Anxiety While Driving.

 

I'm not ashamed to tell you I have had anxiety while driving. And I know how this horrible fear of driving affects every area of your life. Here's a typical scenario:
I remember clearly an episode once when I was driving on the interstate around Atlanta, GA. It was around rush hour, and traffic was particularly bad. Other cars and trucks were weaving in and out of lanes, tailgating, and speeding. New lanes were added all the time and the general flow of traffic was about 80 mph.
I started to feel anxiety. My palms were sweating, my heart was racing, I was tense and on the verge of tears. I was clearly having an anxiety attack brought on by driving. Of course, anytime you have 3000 ton trucks coming at you at 80 mph you are perfectly entitled to feel a but nervous, but that is not the same thing as a full-blown driving anxiety attack.
There are many different definitions of anxiety and panic attacks floating around, some with slight variations. Most define anxiety and panic attacks as feelings of fear, dread or tension without there being a threat or clear justification as to why you are feeling these things. As a psychologist once explained it to me, “Anxiety is irrational fear”.
It is important to keep this in mind, and not jump to the conclusion that you are having anxiety every time you feel nervous or stressed, even when you are driving in heavy traffic. In certain traffic or driving situations, some fear and even anxiety may be justified.

But the physical and emotional symptoms of real anxiety while driving are always much more severe than just nervousness. There is always a physical and/or emotional reaction to the driving involved in the fear and tension experienced.
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