Alright, I need your help

[stcooper24]

I need help...For about 2 years how I have had a very strong fear and anxiety about driving on the highway. (no tramatic events have occured and I used to be able to drive all over fine and never felt this way)

This only happens when im driving on the highway or at a speed probably over 40 mph's. I feel very light headed, I get an 'outta body feeling". The best way to describe it to people is that when I am driving on the highway I get a strange and trippy feeling like I am driving forward but everyone around me is going backwards or that I am stopped...its a very strange feeling which causes me anxiety and my palms sweat, heart races and i usually have to pull over.

This is taking over my life! and I can no longer drive on the highway which causes alot of issues living in chicago. I am wondering is this an anxiety attach?? or is this something else?? I dont feel fear or anxiety until the other symptoms come on but I dont know if something is wrong with my brain...eyes or what! please help!

[MRLEWIS]

I know exactly where you are coming from, just check out my post.   I had no idea why driving on the highway started to bother me either but it did.   I avoided the highway at all cost, but knew that I had to beat this thing because driving is something that i always loved to do.  What i do is just get out there on the roads that bother me most(with a friend), and when the anxiety hits, I just deal with it until it goes away instead of running away ( like i use to do).   Being that I have someone with me it helps me to deal with it better. The next step is having someone follow me in their own car while I get on the highway and drive to a predetermined place(that is always further than the last place I stopped at before) and if/when the anxiety attack hits, I will pull over deal with it and then get back on the road and finish.  Soon i hope to be doing it all on my own like i was before it all happened.  With me its about facing this thing head on and refusing to let it beat me.  Some days will be better than others, but I will no longer avoid the highways anymore.  You can beat this thing just like i am doing, and there is nothing wrong with taking baby steps.  

[stcooper24]

That makes so much sense...I just dont know how it ever started and how to make it stop. Its a very defeating feeling because I try to relax, listen to music and distract myself but it only works for a minute or two. It makes me feel like somethings really wrong with me but it makes me feel better knowing others feel similarly.

[SassyLassie]

What you are experiencing is anxiety, and the anxiety over driving on the freeway is bringing on the symptoms you are describing. I don't like it either, and I get really light headed, sort of feel "unreal" and like I will loose control and go off the road. I hate it.

It is a form of anxiety attack, and even though you are not having an attack when you start out driving, your sub-conscious is very anxious and this in turns brings on those horrid feelings. It is not your brain, your eyes can be affected by the anxiety, but other than that, they are probably fine also. For peace of mind, you could tell your eye doctor and have him run some simple tests to see if you get the same feelings.

I am lucky, I live in a small town, but, if I want to go anywhere, I have to take the Interstate, and if it involves going to Seattle, forget it, I will have my fiancé` drive me.