Driving with Anxiety

If you have anxiety one of the most difficult things you can do is drive a car. For the most part I am completely capable of driving a car within city limits without any issue. But, sometimes I do get a little anxious behind the wheel. Especially at night and during trips further than 30 miles. Why 30 miles? Because drives that last longer than 30 minutes stress me out just a little. On at least two occasions I have driven more then four hours by myself. And during both trips I had more than just a little anxiety.

I would turn the radio up load and grip the wheel with both hands and take lots of deep breaths. The last thing I really wanted to do was stop. I just wanted to get home so that meant stopping for gas and that’s it. I would hum to myself and try to focus on the vehicles ahead so I wouldn’t freak out. The anxiety would also go up and down, up and down. It was like I was on constant alert and every minute was tense. But interestingly enough, as soon as I pulled onto my street I was calm all of a sudden.

That’s exactly how you know that this anxiety business is controllable. One minute your at IHOP and feeling very uneasy, and the second you make it to your car you feel better all of a sudden. It is a cruel mind game, but one that you have to learn to play. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to go anywhere and enjoy yourself. Now before I go on road trips I prepare myself with a little self talk. Just to reassure myself that I am fine and that nothing will harm me. You have to remind yourself because if you don’t your anxiety ridden imagination will somehow convince you that something negative will happen. Unfortunately, I can’t just let someone else drive because I have some serious control issues. I need to be at the wheel, because I simply don’t trust anyone else to get me where I need to go safely. And when I have to travel in a car as a passenger, I really have to focus all my calming energies to get through it.

When I really have to get calm I just force a Zen state. I tell myself that no matter what happens me tensing and grinding my teeth and so on isn’t going to help. I let go as it were. I let go and just say whatever. I am in this car and I have no control and I have to accept this. And every time I get through it fine. I admit that I remain somewhat uneasy, but relaxed enough to sit in peace and ride. That’s the key I think to adapting or even overcoming anxiety. You have to let go and just be calm no matter what.

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