Scared to Drive ?
 

It has been 6 months since I was rear ended and I am doing better now than I was , I still have migraine headaches, but my neurologist has been treating them and I think I have been improving. My dizzy spells are not quite as frequent although I still have them. I find I cant exert myself physically like I used to , I have to pace my self. The one thing I find I am having a great deal of anxiety with is driving. In fact since my accident I have not hardly drove a car at all. Primarily because of the topomax, but also because my vertigo. The antivert has helped a lot with the dizzy spells. But I find I get a real case of nerves when I have to drive now , I always considered myself to be a good driver but now the idea of getting behind the steering wheel really causes me to have serious anxiety. I have not really discussed this with my doctor. Has anyone else experienced this?

Thanks so much.

Driving
 

I have some anxiety when I drive, not as much as you describe. I realized quickly my response to stimuli threw everything off and adjusted my driving.

People probably get impatient but I feel better to take a little extra time than risk an accident.

"the idea of getting behind the steering wheel really causes me to have serious anxiety"
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Confused IT Guy: I can well relate. I also was rear-ended ... 3+ years ago ... and I find that my anxiety/PTSD re: driving --- as well as even riding in a car --- is still something major that I struggle with daily.

The prospect of either driving or riding at high-speeds, e.g. over 35 mph, on busy 4-lane highways, and on the interstate roadways, is just not something that I can feel comfortable doing.

Particularly, given the exponential growth/proliferation of the use of Smart Phones in these past 3 years!! Aiyeeah! What a setup for disaster.

(The at-fault driver, who rear-ended me, was talking on his Blue Tooth cellular phone at the time! Imagine all these people nowadays talking on face-to-face videophones while driving!! Arrghhh!)

I know it is something I need to come to terms with but I find myself having a moment and it takes a lot to cope with it. I don't like being rushed and you are right the 4 lane roads cause me to get very anxious on. Honestly I am not sure what to do , because that is a serious road block to my being able to return to work as my employment is a very long commute from home. I am just very worried. I genuinely and seriously dread having to drive more than a mile or two away from home and even then its like you said I am not very comfortable driving more than 35 or 40 mph.

IT,

Do you have any areas where you can drive with light traffic loads? Getting back into the discipline with minimal traffic can be a way to ease back.

Do you have a rehab driving clinic in your area? Driving rehab therapists can be helpful.

I do not drive just any day. I have to pick my good days. I also consider the traffic and other conditions. I try to avoid commute times.

If you can, try going to your job earlier that the commute rush.

Either way, it is important to understand when your focus is good and bad.

MY biggest concern is the welfare of others.

I learned that I do better is a car with lots of feed back to the driver. I can not drive my wife's car. I lose track of the fact that I am driving. I am too easily distracted. The power steering gave out and I was able to drive it home 120 miles because it had steering feedback. She could not handle the manual steering. It worked fine for me. I needed the effort.

I have a 4x4 Isuzu Rodeo that keeps my focus on driving. I have the automatic transmission disconnected so I have to shift it by hand. Modern electronic shift automatic transmissions have a disconnect that allows them to be manually shifted. It is the 'get home' mode.

It can be some tough decisions. I went for two years without driving at all. I even sold my car. Now, I drive only a few thousand miles a year.

Be safe.

My best to you all.

Even without PCS, I wouldn't drive. Too expensive to have a car, and a likelihood of being wiped out in a random accident.

Not a matter of being scared, but cautious and realistic.

I've done public transit for my entire life.

Some people might be in isolated areas, which would make it tough, though...

I sure wish we had public transit where I live.
 

I would certainly opt to use it.
The Bay Area is certainly excellent in that.
So it was also where I lived most of my life, my 'former life'.
I sure miss being able to hop on a shuttle and just go.
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IT Guy I am much the same.

In my IT consultancy role I used to travel 40,000 miles and as a sideline I used to teach advanced road skill to the public and security forces.

These days I drive very little and prefer to have another driver in the passenger seat with me. Recognising and reacting to hazards is now a problem and I need the passenger to keep an eye on me - it is almost like being a learner driver again

Hi IT Guy

My advice for what it's worth is:

1 - only drive if you are safe to, consider others first
2 - get out there if you can as it will really help you to regain your confidence and indepence - i find the following helped me:
a) start with a small drive, at a quiet time on roads you know, to somewhere you know. tell someone you are doing it, someone that can come and get you should you feel you can go no further. or perhaps have them in a car behind you so you feel as secure as possible?
b) start then building it up, but taking note of how you cope - if a 20 minute drive is too much, then limit it to 15 until you can do better
c) avoid rush hour
d) avoid motorways - I am driving now but still get very freaked out and fatigued on motorways, to the point I feel i have to pull over onto the hard shoulder and stop - so now I don't do that anymore

3 - small steps in the right direction, and a give yourself a reward each time you've moved towards your goal
4 - realise there will be set backs, you may be perfectly ok driving one day, but another it may be too much

Good luck

Since the accident I haven't driven. I'm terrified of driving and have nightmares about losing control of the car, brakes failing, somebody crashing into me etc. The most recent one was a couple of nights ago - I dreamed the brakes failed and I flew off a cliff.

I don't even like getting into a car with somebody. At every junction/roundabout I panic and think somebody hasn't seen us or the driver hasn't seen them.

It's just miserable. Though it must be especially difficult in America because everything is so far apart compared to the UK.

I had posted earlier that my poor periphral reaction time makes me unable to drive in the city or multi-lane highways. Early morning sunglare fatigues me real badly behind the wheel. To the point it can take me out of commision for 4-5 hours. Also, the constant light-shadow-light effect while driving in a wooded area seems to hypnotize me. I also could go for seconds down the road then not remember anything about what happened. I had to put about a 1.5 hour limit to any driving maybe a little more at night. Night driving troubles came from oncoming lights. Finally due to vertigo problems making me fall often my physician pulled my Drivers License this past week. PCS has caused my life to degenerate but I will not quit. Live how you can with this disorder. Dont quit living!

Not sure what the rules are in the US and Canada but over here in the UK we are obliged to notify the Car licensing part of the government that you have an impairment that could affect your driving.

Unfortunately their initial action is to suspend your license until you can prove that you are fit to drive. Failure to do so is classed as a very serious offense to the same level as drink driving.

However, we do have several specialist centres across the UK where you can get your abilities checked.

driving dilemma
 

I haven't driven since my accident {1-25-2012]. I can't process that quickly. Have you have had a neurophycological examination? They can help you see if you are ready. You can have a driving assessment also?

I haven't done that...but I also haven't driven. If they take it away how do you get it back? You don't have to take any test again do you?

I haven't done it either. What I plan to do (when I get some money) is to do the driving assessment test, then notify the DVLA (UK driving agency) that I have had an injury and have passed the capability test and are fit to drive.

Once your license is suspended you have to get a note from you doctor (or the capability test) that you a fit to drive. I can't see a doctor being comfortable in supporting a head survivor returning to the road because even if they may appear to have recovered the legal ramification if they are involved in an accident.

I believe a lot of people with be surprised how many notifiable conditions exist http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...tm?indexChar=A

I haven't done it either. What I plan to do (when I get some money) is to do the driving assessment test, then notify the DVLA (UK driving agency) that I have had an injury and have passed the capability test and are fit to drive.

Once your license is suspended you have to get a note from you doctor (or the capability test) that you a fit to drive. I can't see a doctor being comfortable in supporting a head survivor returning to the road because even if they may appear to have recovered the legal ramification if they are involved in an accident.

I believe a lot of people with be surprised how many notifiable conditions exist http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring...tm?indexChar=A

Blimey. Is there a condition on there that slmebody DOESN'T have?

Hi IT,
A lot of comments about driving here. Im thinking more about the fact you are suffering from distorted thoughts. When we have an accident, a place, a smell, something that reminds us of the accident, can trigger a panic attack (fight or flight mode).
This is completely natural. The thoughts and feelings you are experiencing are totally to be expected.

Accept it. Accept the fact you have changed.

What you do about the change is up to you, but you are different now and will never be the same again.

From tomorrow you have the choice of wether you drive or not.

If you do decide to drive tomorrow and you become anxious - allow yourself to feel the panic. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU PRACTICE THIS ON A QUIET ROAD. When the panic happens pull over, it will not kill you because it is a feeling.

Then in the safe environment of your parked car, let the anxiety come over you and feel it pass. It will pass because it is a feeling triggered by a surge of chemicals. Then drive some more. Eventually your fight or flight feeling will change. Your body will not respond the same way to driving anymore because new synapses in your brain will form telling you that driving is safe.

If however you are suffering flashbacks, heart palpitations to the point where you are in pain, shaking etc you may do well to seek help from a mental health professional who can assess you for PTSD.

Good luck. It must be your decision, don't let anyone tell you what you must do or not do.

Re: Mark's helpful suggestions for easing ourselves into driving