Paranoid in traffic

[Mozxanax]

With all the symptoms of anxiety that are perplexing, I now find that I have some kind paranoid complex when driving. I get the panic feelings at times but I thought I had learned to deal with them. But the past couple years the feelings that I'm transparent and defective seem obvious in public. If I pass a police car or worse, one gets behind me while driving I feel like I appear guilty or look suspicious. It's gotten where I clinch up and my chest tightens, my blood pressure raises and I feel like I'm gonna die. I know these sound like paranoid thoughts but I swear I've passed policemen who suddenly seem ypto be following and observing me. I feel transparent and guilty, ugly, dirty and guilty even though I'm doing nothing but something like driving my dog to the vet. Does anyone have these feelings while driving? Feelings of being noticed  in a negative way and feeling naked and guilty even though you've done nothing wrong? I'm at my wits end. A love of my life, my little Dachshund just had spinal surgery and I need to have a lot of strength and energy to care for her when she comes home from hospital but I'm so run down and tired. If anyone  experiences anything remotely similar please respond. I don't wish this on anyone, but I can't help feeling lighter knowing I'm not alone.

[Mozxanax]

Yeah, I know most people tense a bit when a policeman is behind or nearby. Like you said, my feelings are more extreme. I used to only have the panic feelings, the need to drive in right lane, nerviness with trucks, lights and busy traffic. Also the dizzy feeling with long stretches of clear roadway and big horizons in view. I think it can't get worse and then it's compounded with another issue. I wouldn't harm a fly, but I feel guilty and uhly, and defective for all to see. I'm tired and almost worn out. I made it to the vet today to pick up my other Dachshund Oscar. We had to board him while we made the trip north for Chloe's surgery. I didn't want him to spend another day boarded so I pushed mysel to drive and retrieve him. A woman came in while I was waiting for thevstaff to bring Oscar to me...she was a mess hoping she could get her dog in sooner. She wasn't sure that he might not have to be put down. I spoke to her calmly and saw the hurt in her face. I wanted to hug her and say something comforting. I didn't except show care and concern in my voice. I think I'm a soft heated person that's been criticized and judged so much that I also have a dark shadow side that's very angry and sometimes hateful because of it. No, I'm not a saint, far from it, but I don't understand why I've fought all these years to end up aging with nothing better but actually worse. Anyway, I'm driving home and surevenough a state police car is behind me from a traffic light wait up to an exit onto the freeway. I thought he would follow me for miles, he did pass me and move on down the road but I was so tense I had bad chest pain and felt exhausted even after I got home. Do I have an aura that attracts thisbeverytime I go out the door? Omg I'm sick of it. I'm glad to hear youve got a handle on your experience. And even though yours isn't as extreme, you're description of looking out in rearview etc. Helps me feel somewhat less cray or cursed with a postit on my forehead that says suspicious. Thanks for reaching out.

[Jerry_NJ]

You symptoms are much stronger than mine, and I share the nervous feeling when a police car is behind me.  If I pass one at a corner I watch the rear view mirror to see which way he turns, hope not behind me, if yes I keep track of him in my mirror until he exits or I exit and he doesn't.  I of course give mover than 85% of my attention to what is ahead and on both sides, but I watch the police car.

Bridges, especially high ones with flimsy looking guard rails make me nervous.  Still less symptom-wise than you describe.  Heavy traffic with lots of big trucks, 18 wheel trucks, make me nervous and on a three lane I prefer the right hand lane but will pass if that lane is too slow  That said I pick a time to pass when I don't have big trucks approaching from behind.

This has been a "problem" since about the age of 30, guess when I was younger than that I thought I'd live forever anyway.

The only way I can lead a normal life is be careful but go ahead and do the driving I need to do...I can even enjoy driving when the car and road feel smooth.  

I think we have to face our fears, and "stare them down" but always have an escape plan.  I am always ready to slow down and pull off the road and stop, but thankfully I have never had symptoms bad enough to cause me to do that.  But that is a good reason to drive in the curb (right hand) lane, easy to escape traffic if necessary.

I think many people have difficulty dealing with driving because of fears rather than a lack of driving know-how.