This owl hung out in our tree for a week.
I had a panic attack last week. It was while driving home from the eye doctor with my husband. He had his eyes dilated so I was the driver. It’s a road I take several times a week. Nothing out of the ordinary.
But then I turned left too soon and found myself in a construction zone with cars rushing around me. I struggled to get back on the road and my husband told me when to go. I couldn’t see. It was a blind rush back into traffic.
After that, I tried to calm my breathing. My hands were shaking and sweaty. I don’t like the drivers in Arizona. They are way worse than California drivers. I ended up pulling off into a parking lot and taking a moment to collect myself.
When I tried driving, I panicked again. I haven’t had a panic attack in at least five or six years. I only have them while driving. I felt so bad about myself. My husband, thankfully, was very supportive and told me I was doing a great job. But I still had a low opinion of myself.
Then I saw an article on well-being called, “How to Calm an Anxious Mind” by Gregory Jantz, Ph.D., founder and director of the mental health clinic The Center: A Place of Hope in Edmonds, Wash.
He gave a list of strategies to regain peace:
Intentionally limit information intake
Choose to be thankful
Go against the frantic flow
Stop procrastinating
Set aside time for stillness and silence
Make a small change to alleviate big stress
Steer clear of negative people
Take a nap
Unplug for awhile
Write in a journal or notebook
Retrain your brain with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Stay connected to friends and family
Maintain activities that replenish you
Express yourself creatively
I like this list and there are a few areas I excel at and other I need to work on.
Do you suffer from anxiety or panic attacks?
From the list, what can you improve on?
I’ve had panic attacks while driving. It’s the absolute worst. Then there is the fear of it happening again and feeling like a complete loser. Not to mention worry about being late. It’s been a long time since it happened. I had to start slowly driving again because I didn’t want to be that person who never leaves the house. It was a long and grueling process but I did it.
A psychologist friend told me the best way to stop a panic attack is to suck on sour candy. But I haven’t had the opportunity to try it out. I hope it never happens again to either of us.
That’s a thought. I may keep sour candy in the car. Yes, I keep driving too. I don’t want to be house bound either. I’m sorry you’ve gone through it too, but you’re lucky it hasn’t been for a long time.
So sorry this happened EA. I don’t think I’ve ever had an actual panic attack but I know they can be debilitating. Glad your husband was there with you.
Thanks. I was getting panicked writing about it. I thought it might help to write about it.
I don’t normally get panic attacks. If I had to improve, it would be the negative people one. It’s become hard to avoid negative people
You’re lucky not to get panic attacks. I’m getting better at avoiding negative people. But I don’t live where you do. I’m next to a nature’s preserve.
Yeah. That’s a lot better for avoiding people…😉
It’s the family members who are difficult.
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Oh my goodness, Elizabeth. You did the right thing, of course by getting off the road. Anxiety and panic attacks seem to be so common these days – for so many people. There are loads of resources but one simple technique that I often recommend involves mindfulness and nature – focusing your attention on what you can see, hear, smell and feel to create a sense of calm. The whole idea of ‘being’ rather than ‘doing’. I wish you well. I especially love Dr. Melanie Greenberg’s “The Stress Proof Brain”. Take care, my friend! 💕
Thank you for your concern and advice. I’ll take a look at “The Stress Free Brain.” Yes, I’ve been working on mindfulness ever since that episode.
Sending love…take care! 🥰
Thank you! 💕
Arizona drivers are the worst and we joke it’s because the state is mostly transplants so we bring together all the worst driving habits from across the country. While I haven’t had a panic attack, driving does sometimes make me nervous, so I can really empathize.
Every time I’ve been on the freeway, there are trucks going more than 100 mph! Then the other day driving up Pima, a truck pulling a boat trailer passed me in a no passing zone and then hit the shoulder and almost flipped the trailer.
Yes, I see craziness on the roads all the time. It’s scary out there!
It is!
I’m so sorry you had a panic attack. I understand how traffic can give you one.
Last night, I had one. I get them when I have bad migraines.
Sending you love. 😘❤️
Thank you. I’m sorry you had one, too! Fortunately, I haven’t had a migraine in at least 20 years… Knock on wood!
I’m so glad you don’t get them.
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Sounds like it was quite the experience. Wow, glad you’re doing better. Great advice. Choose to be thankful. Go against the frantic flow. They’re my favorite. I’m finding more and more that when others put me in stressful anxious moments . . . that I feel better when I go against the flow. Go with my heart. It doesn’t always work, but at least it offers me more grace!
I do like the advice. It’s good you go with your heart. I need to unplug more and limit my information intake. Also, keep up with my gratitude journal.
I’m sorry that happened to you. I’ve had driving panic attacks since Covid. It’s getting better now, but last time I had to drive in Houston I felt one coming on when I had to go on a high bridge . I fought hard in my head and thankfully it passed . I had a passenger who was talking to me so I tried to focus on their voice.
I went to a therapist over driving panic attacks five or six years ago. It didn’t help. But she told me the number one driving panic attacks were on high bridges.
I once read that there are people who have to drive across a very high bridge regularly that pay someone to get them across. I remember that one guy would lie down in the seat so he couldn’t see .
I can relate!
Oh, Elizabeth, this sounds so stressful. I’m sorry it happened. I can see why it would – that situation sounds like tricky! Love your response and your husbands. I hope that writing about it did help!
Thank you. I was anxious getting back in the car and driving again. Fortunately no issues!
That’s great!
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Oh I’m sorry you had this unpleasant experience. Yesterday I scraped my husband’s car while taking mine out. I was upset the whole day because it’s not a good feeling but in the evening my husband told me that it’s okay and not to think too much about it.
What a sweet husband. I did that once and my husband was just as understanding. We married the right men. 💕
He is very understanding. Thanks. You’re very right.
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I can totally get how traffic could give you (or anyone) a panic attack. You did a good job of dealing with it. I may have had such an event, but it’s not something I can recall now. Being out in the garden and watching birds and other critters takes me away from myself and issues.
Yes. I agree with you on being outside watching birds and other animals is so calming.
I leave early in the morning about 6:20 and the traffic in Florida is already in swing as more newcomers!
That’s early!
Yep, but the traffic is going on!! Tampa Bay is now a 24 hour city.
Wow!
But where we are is no more building.
That’s good. We are bordering a nature’s preserve with a National Forest next to it. So no more building by us either.