river_one
12-04-2008, 04:40 PM
Rich,
I want to thank you for making this information available. I have been suffering for at least 8 years. Before that I drove for 12 years with no difficulty. My situation be came so unbearable that I give up, just stopped driving, made excuses, found ways to get by and felt awful.
Recently I got a new job opportunity, and knew that if I didn't shape up this opportunity would be lost. I wasn't sure if I still had the problem because I hadn't tried driving for over 5 years, I needed to renew my license then I rented a car and found that basically nothing has changed. On the open road I just couldn't pick up speed, I felt terrified that I might lose control. I've been driving almost every day for the past month. I encourage myself knowing that at least I am doing, but on the other hand I feel really bad about myself driving so slowly. I know that I am a good driver, I mean that I have full control over the car but still have trouble picking up speed and not getting panic attacks.
The other day I started reading a book by Lucinda Basset that I had picked up a few years ago and not really read though. Then I did a google search and started reading her website. Her description lead me to do some research on agoraphobia and Wow, that seems to describe what I've got. I panic for no reason on the open road and fear that I will be in a trapped situation that I can't get out of, like driving fast and something unexpected happening, or having cars (or trucks) moving faster than me approaching from behind and being afraid that I won't be able to get out of the way.
The day after this realization (that my phobia has a name) an amazing thing happened. I drove and didn't feel terror or have a panic attack and for the first time in years picked up speed without trying to force myself. That was yesterday, today again I drove and felt much better.
On Lucinda's website forum I learned about the www.drivingfear.com (http://www.drivingfear.com) program, which I just purchased and downloaded. I am really glad I found these sources and I hope that I will be able to totally overcome my driving issues.
Thanks,
I want to thank you for making this information available. I have been suffering for at least 8 years. Before that I drove for 12 years with no difficulty. My situation be came so unbearable that I give up, just stopped driving, made excuses, found ways to get by and felt awful.
Recently I got a new job opportunity, and knew that if I didn't shape up this opportunity would be lost. I wasn't sure if I still had the problem because I hadn't tried driving for over 5 years, I needed to renew my license then I rented a car and found that basically nothing has changed. On the open road I just couldn't pick up speed, I felt terrified that I might lose control. I've been driving almost every day for the past month. I encourage myself knowing that at least I am doing, but on the other hand I feel really bad about myself driving so slowly. I know that I am a good driver, I mean that I have full control over the car but still have trouble picking up speed and not getting panic attacks.
The other day I started reading a book by Lucinda Basset that I had picked up a few years ago and not really read though. Then I did a google search and started reading her website. Her description lead me to do some research on agoraphobia and Wow, that seems to describe what I've got. I panic for no reason on the open road and fear that I will be in a trapped situation that I can't get out of, like driving fast and something unexpected happening, or having cars (or trucks) moving faster than me approaching from behind and being afraid that I won't be able to get out of the way.
The day after this realization (that my phobia has a name) an amazing thing happened. I drove and didn't feel terror or have a panic attack and for the first time in years picked up speed without trying to force myself. That was yesterday, today again I drove and felt much better.
On Lucinda's website forum I learned about the www.drivingfear.com (http://www.drivingfear.com) program, which I just purchased and downloaded. I am really glad I found these sources and I hope that I will be able to totally overcome my driving issues.
Thanks,