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"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
_______________________________________________

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.