Surviving John

After a series of panic attacks triggered by a traumatic event, Sarah no longer drives her car. Her workplace is two miles away but she prefers to walk instead. Simply thinking about driving makes Sarah feel scared and apprehensive.

Daily life has changed for Sarah. Sometimes when she crosses the road she feels a fear deep inside her and feels her heart pound. Sarah was a careful and self-assured driver before but now she has zero confidence. She is afraid of a having another accident.

She notices that panic attacks start to happen even not driving. Sarah feels angry and frustrated at how the incident has affected her life. Thoughts of worry plague her even though she realizes how irrational her worries are. This inevitably impairs her work and social relationships.

Post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD for short can develop after a traumatic experience. This can be a situational experience or an emotional one such as losing a loved one. A sufferer might experience terrifying flashbacks of a traumatic event.

A loved one of PTSD sufferer may see their partner’s personality change completely. Often the family of the sufferer experiences immense strain and are at a loss. Social interactions and situations are usually avoided by sufferers. There is a possibility that sufferers may develop a phobia of people more commonly recognized as social anxiety.

People with anxiety disorders often suffer from sleepless nights. They are likely to feel stressed and anxious and overly cautious. In Sarah’s case she avoids getting into any vehicle and always crosses at a pedestrian crossing.

A traumatic driving experience isn’t the only cause of panic attacks while driving however. There are a number of reasons why panic attacks might occur, including fear of having an accident. The mind is able to vividly imagine and instill fear on its own. Negative associations become reinforced when we excessively worry and focus on something that we fear.

Sufferers may find them losing confidence and fearing something that never used to be a problem. The mind is a powerful thing and can make mental associations both negative and positive. A driver might experience panic attacks for a number of reasons. These include;

- Having to drive fast.
- Driving on a busy road.
- Having a driver cut in front of you.
- Getting beeped at.
- Driving long distances.
- Driving in the dark.

All of these experiences can create feelings of anxiety and fear which can grow. Eliminating negative behaviors and beliefs can be done quite easily with therapy. Learn how to overcome your fears today. Click on the following link: anxiety and depression.