So my question is pretty basic and I've seen numerous posts on this topic. My anxiety started about 4 years ago and l had a nasty panic attack in the car on the freeway. l took meds for a few years but have been off them for two as l felt like meds were just masking what is/was really bothering me. l go through spurts of when my anxiety seems to be more heightened, such as this time of year. If you have car anxiety, how do you cope or deal with it? l know it is all in my head but that is so much easier said than done. The simple task of driving down the street, all of a minute and half to the store, bothers me! It is one of those stupid thoughts that ''something may happen and no one will be able to help.'' l know that too may sound odd but it is a lot more common than people think . Whether or not you suffer from anxiety, any suggestions are greatly appreciated!

I've heard of the rubber band thing where a person wears one on their wrist and when negative thoughts come up, you snap it. The snap is supposed to signal you to literally snap out of it and remove the negative or fearful thoughts (fearful thoughts of nothing).

Happy Monday ligans!
O and l know that l associate the car with my anxiety, which is why l asked this question. Some people have their triggers or know what sets them off. I am not going to give in and never drive again as that would be succumbing to my anxiety.

The rubber band thing helped me with anxiety, although l was in a lil pain. BIG RUBBER BAND lol. & it is safe to do, not bad at all, because l started doing this when l was in my first psychiatric hospital.


i pinch myself & cant stop moving when im anxious, & the rubber band saved me from some pinch induced cuts & scratches!

for the anxiety though, l have recently started deep breathing. it really helps to calm me down, regulates the oxogyn, so l dont end up having a panic attack. try it out next time u feel uneasy :)

well im 34 & never even attempted to drive a car at all cuz im so scared of it
but lately ive had anxiety do to a serious new health problem Ihave..and im trying to figure out why everyday at 6 pm in particular its worse! how l cope is l drink half a glass of wine. never more than that but still l dont wanna bealcoholic or drinking wine everytime. l did notice that garlic (buy fresh & crush it yourself) made me feel sooo amazingly calm andpeaceful that l wondered why anyone would take anti anxiety drugs! it was that good! almost euphoric just so calm & peaceful
ur breathe & skin however may stick for 4 days haha.. l was using thegarlic everyday..until l got tired of taste & smell but try it once..you have to eat a whole clove!

Valium. plenty of valium.

First off it is real not imagination but reality. yes u need to try to face these fears off but u ont be able till u sit down & figure out what it is that is scaring you. l have anxiety attacks when l am in an unknown position or times l can not control. l went to the store the other day & l wet in the store by myself & l did not know where the other went & l had forgotten where we parked. l did not see her when l walked to the store she went to & l went crazy, l finally found her & she said l would not leave u & l said that l could not remember whether car looked like & l had been left before as a excuse.

Negative emotions (like sadness, stress, anger, etc.) causes ur Serotonin production to be low; when ur Serotonin level is low, u r more prone to getting Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Depression, etc.

Medication like Antidepressants (SSR l - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) helps to boost Serotonin level.
But there r natural ways to do it without medication. There is this strange herb called ''St John is Wort'' - it is said to be more effective than Prozac. No, it is not for mild depression only & ignore those sayings. In fact, it does help anxiety & panic-attacks as St John is Wort works like prozac. Other natural ways will be exercise, diet, more exposure to light, etc.

The problem is that, even if ur Serotonin is balanced. u have that ''learned behavior'' in ur mind. You need to break that initial cycle to destroy that learned behavior - Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) does this. A technique that u can use without CBT will be Distraction. There r several other techniques to help cope them!
Ok, to use Distraction: Firstly, try to..

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