anxiety attacks

I would go to the doctor if I was you. Usually they prescribe people with anxiety problems stuff like Zoloft, but if you describe them as anxiety attacks then they might prescribe a benzo (Xanax, Valium, etc.) HOWEVER, since you say it only happens when you drive obviously taking an anti-anxiety drug before driving wouldn't be a good idea.

my (long) story

I had anxiety attacks pretty frequently when I was in my early 20s. In my case it was any time I ate in public (or with anyone but my immediate family). I think I was in a similar boat to you. I would try to hide it as best I could, excuse myself to the bathroom (a few times I HAD to go to the bathroom because I was going to throw up), try breathing exercises, etc. I think I did a very poor job of hiding it (well, I did the best I could), but no one really mentioned it. It was always a pretty panicked moment, like a fight-or-flight reaction I guess, and it was usually all I could do to not scream or bolt away.

In retrospect, I definitely should have gone to the doctor about it.

When it started getting better was when I was on a trip out-of-province with my mom. We were eating out and I was getting anxiety attacks just about every meal (and consequently was about to pass out from not being able to eat enough). I asked her out of the blue if she'd had any problems with anxiety and she said that she and my dad had had a lot of problems with it in the past. She took me to some hippie naturopathic store where she bought some weird hippie "stress relief" pills for me.

The pills were horrible tasting and gave me stomach problems and to this day I'm convinced they were nothing but placebos, but the placebo effect worked wonderfully for me. I would take the pills before I knew I was going to be eating out in public and I would have confidence that I wasn't going to have a panic attack. It worked maybe 80% of the time. Then one day, a couple years later, I ate out in public without taking the pill first, and nothing happened. I never took the pills again and I've only had maybe 2 or 3 anxiety attacks since then (in the past 5 years maybe).

I don't know what you'll get out of this story. I still wish I'd gone to the doctor about it when it was happening, and I wish I'd dealt with it as soon as I realized something was wrong (I was in denial about it for a while though and quite embarrassed about it). Maybe you'll be lucky like me and it will go away with time, but still I would recommend going to a doctor.

Re: my (long) story

Thank you so much for posting this!
I've had a couple of instances where I'd have to go to the bathroom because I thought I was going to throw up too, but because of my intense fear of it my mind wouldn't let me. >_<

I have to admit those pills would probably work for me, even if whatever is given to me are placebos since for me it's all in the head anyways. Thanks again, I'll probably be going to a doctor soon to see what we can do. :)

Re: my (long) story

No problem. Let me know if you have any other questions :)

The fear of vomiting is one I haven't heard before. Can I ask when's the last time you vomited?

Re: my (long) story

6 years ago.
Hahaha.

I word, XANAX.

I have tried everything and this has been the only thing that has ever worked. I tend to get panic attacks in crowded or chlaustrophobic places. Just having the little pills in my pocket stops me from freaking out. Then if I start to get tight chested or tingling hands I just pop one and problem solved.

Obvioulsy I wouldn't suggest this as a long term solution depending on the severity of your attacks.

Go see a psychiatrist to see if you can get some meds for the attacks. And see a therapist for the irrational fears.

If you can, go to a doctor and try to get prescribed an anti anxiety medication. For me, even knowing I had them made me get less anxiety attacks. I'm also an idiot who forgets to bring them when I go into situations that trigger my anxiety. Good thing my fiance is an anti anxiety drug himself. I just hug him really tightly and it usually gets better.

I think this is the fourth time this week I've posted a link to this book.

Talk therapy is the best way to deal with panic disorder and anxiety in the long-term. Meds can help you in the short-term. Been through it more than once, blah blah blah, just do it.