Driving query...

Hello. Does anyone else have a fear of being pulled over by the police while driving? When it comes to my anxiety, driving is definitely not one of my good areas and I think the fear of "freaking out" if I were pulled over makes it even scarier. lol..I should make it clear that I try to obey all traffic laws and I am not a criminal. Any thoughts or advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

P.S. - More info about me in the "introduce yourself" forum.

i worry about driving, especially motorway driving. I dont like the fact that i cant get off when i want to...i have to wait for the next junction. I too worry about having a panic attack and losing control of the car.

Rockwell ans Jj
For years the only symptom that didn't leave me was driving in particular areas. I didn't fear crashing but when In a severe panic I have what feels like an uncontrollable urge to pull the car off the road. Have I ever done it? NO!. I am now going to treat it like any other symptom let it wash over and keep moving.
Most people with Panic attacks are the best drivers, I mean just how many times have you been stopped by the police?
What will happen if you are pulled over, NOTHING more than a ticket.
While driving play the music loud something that you can either sing too ot get so absorbed in that your not thinking about anything else but the music.
Lisa

Any fears related to driving are very common - most are the simple fear of crashing or an incident- this is not a far cry from this common fear. please do not worry - you are not alone - they are many like minded people here with the same fears. say hello and have a chat with them!

Thanks folks for your responses. I do get out and drive as often as I can, even if it's "just to drive" so I can practice being relaxed while doing it. I guess I'd recommend doing so to anyone else with a fear of driving. Best of luck to anyone who has the same problem.

I wouldn't drive for years during my anxiety years, now you can't keep me out of a car! This goes, if you remove the core of the disorder, everthing becomes so easy again!

Charles

I am so glad to hear that I'm not the only one that has driving anxiety! For so long I thought it was just me. Driving never used to bother me, then through the years, it went from having nightmares that somthing happened when I had driven somewhere, to afraid to drive out of my small town. I had my very first attack in my car, thankfully I was parked, my arms went numb, my heart raced, It was hard to breath. (I thought I was having a heart attack, my Doc said it was an anxiety attack). Then a few years ago, I was under EXTREME stress, when I was driving down a very familuar road, I suddenly didn't know where I was. My Doc told me that this was my brains way of saying ENOUGH and it shut down, and I had to go on Zoloft as I was on the last step to a nervous breakdown. Now I am afraid to drive in traffic for fear of having an attack and causing an accident, or that my brain will shut down again and there will be nobody to help me, just like that day. I have been feeling so alone, I am so glad that my cousin told me about this site.

I have all the same problems with driving you all describe, especially during heavy traffic. I usually dont drive the free way for this reason, and also because I have to wait for exists to get off if I feel out of it. My biggest fear is getting into an accident. But for some reason seeing an officer on the road helps me feel calmer, I have sped up or slowed down to drive behind or beside a patrol car, it makes me feel safe. Once I did get pulled over for speeding (i didnt know this cop was around) and I just told him the truth, ie: there wasnt any traffic, the wind felt good in my hair, a good song was on the radio, and I was excited about something, Im sorry I siad, that was stupid of me. He laughed, told me I wasnt stupid, and let me go. I would just say to think positive about the patrol cars, the cops (most) are the good guys, and are there to protect you.