Another Panic Attack Question

Tell him to use a different way to go to work. For a very very very long time I was not able to do heavy traffic, if is much like claustrophobia. You feel like the other vehicles are closing in on you and you are trapped. The only way he is going to get his confidence back and feel good about driving is to change what he is doing. I stayed completely off the highways and drove regular streets in large cities for years. Now I see the hectic struggle many drivers do every day and am glad I have no strong desire to be one of them again.

The meds can help but his panic is coming from some trigger. I have issues with being out of town on the highway because my dad died in the Arbuckle Wilderness.

I always drove in the lane that was closest to the curb and avoided intersections where I would be trapped and could not make a right turn on red if I needed to get out of where I was. Left turns were impossible so I would go through store parking lots and other avoidance behaviors. It was odd to some but after a couple of years I was able to go back to driving by myself on the high way as long as I have my phone and could talk on it the entire way, I had a head set that fit well. I was a much better driver when I was talking too. I would find myself daydreaming if I was alone in the car and not chatting. It is no different that driving on a road trip with your best friend in the front seat except you don't have to look at them or use your hands to make a point...lol.

Definitely he needs to go see a counselor - a doctor who can also prescribe anti anxiety meds. Often anxiety is triggered by an event or culmination of events. For me, my dad almost died, I lost my job and ended a relationship. It felt like my life was falling apart and I started having panic attacks for the first time in my life. It was awful. Yes, I've had that experience in heavy traffic. I can tell you now from 7 years of experience that being tire definitely exacerbates the number of anxiety attacks I have. Sleep is extremely important to me. But I am also on a low dose of Lexapro. There is actually a family history of anxiety issues for me. But prior to these events seven years ago, I was fine. I still can't fly, but most other situations I can handle, unless I don't get enough sleep. If your husband isn't getting exercise, add that to his list. Enough cannot be said for exercise to help with anxiety/depression issues. I would say at that time I was very close to a breakdown. But by talking to a counselor and getting on some meds, I now lead a very normal life. My med does not make me sleepy at all. I have had no side effects whatsoever.

Just be there for your husband, let him know that you did some online research and you read that it is very common for someone after having a traumatic experience to start having these anxiety attacks, but that the best way to deal with it is to talk to someone and to see if he needs to go on meds. Also, be sure to let him know how important sleep is when you're having this issue - encourage him to get in bed early. And if he doesn't exercise, this would be a great time to encourage him to join you on a daily brisk walk. Let him know everything is going to be OK. These attacks are VERY scary - you feel like what's wrong with you, you're scared, you hate to tell anyone, you feel like you should be able to control it. But let him know that is NOT the case. This is VERY common and very easily resolved, but he just needs to take some steps and you'll help him along the way.

You can always talk to your general physician and get a referral for a therapist. What you don't want to do is just get a prescription for a medication. He needs to work through the feelings of what are causing this in addition to possibly taking a medication.

I had one a couple of hours ago. I haven't had one in a loooong time but my best friend called to tell me her father passed away this morning. We had been expecting it but I had high hopes and LOTS of prayers hoping he'd last until Thanksgiving.

It is one of the weirest/ scary feelings you'll ever have. I can USUALLY talk myself out of them but today the only thing that helped was crying and then going for an hour long run. I'm still shaky now but feel better than I did earlier.

Oddly when I went into labor I didn't have one. I thought for SURE I'd either have a panic attack or a RAGING migraine during the delivery. Instead our son opted to get stuck and ALMOST need a c-section. Ahhhh kids, gotta love 'em!

It may be something like PTSD from the accident where his friend died. I would definitely find a doctor for him ASAP. It shouldn't take but a day or two to find one.