Managing Panic Attacks While Driving
photo credit: Rodrigo_SoldonOne of the most difficult things you will have to do in your life if you’re afflicted with an anxiety disorder is a panic attack while driving. After all, it’s literally your life on the line when you let the panic take over the wheel.
The first thing you should do is to pull over a safe road shoulder until your panic attack passes. The average duration of a panic attack is usually 10 minutes, although it can be followed by another panic attack immediately after the first one.
If you find yourself in this situation, and you have no family or friends nearby who can come to your aid immediately, call your country or region’s emergency hotline. If you’re already diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or clinical depression, avoid driving as much as possible. You shouldn’t be driving especially if you’re under medication because you can put lives in danger.
To prevent panic attacks while driving, don’t drive in situations where you’ll be triggered to have a panic attack.
