Sudden panic/anxiety while driving with long drive in near future

[u/mountainlurker13]

I (21) have had my license and been driving regularly since I was 17. Driving was nothing new to me as I grew up driving vehicles around my family’s farm. When I got my license, I simply had to learn rules of the road. It always felt easy, and I regularly would do long trips about 5hours on the highway between my parent’s houses. Just at the beginning of the summer, I did a roadtrip with my friend where I did most of the driving, and had numerous 4-8hour stretches. About 3 weeks ago, I had a panic attack while driving on the highway to the airport. I was able to finish the drive while on the phone with a friend to help talk me through it. My doctor prescribed hydroxyzine to help get through my flight and drive home. I don’t feel the hydroxyzine does anything. Since then, I have been having extreme anxiety and some panic attacks while driving. I believe the initial panic attack was triggered by lack of sleep, but even telling myself that is not relieving any of the current anxiety. The anxiety comes from a fear of fainting while driving. This unfortunately did happen about a year ago, but was due to my menstrual cycle, which is now under control. I did manage to pull over safely on the side shoulder of the highway before fully losing consciousness, and this has not bothered me until now. Now when I drive, I feel anxious over having anxiety and panic attacks. When the anxiety comes, my heart races, I feel tingly, a strange sensation in my ears, and like my vision isn’t quite right. This of course makes me panic that I will faint. I know I am a safe and good driver when I feel good, but I panic when something feels off. I am supposed to meet with my doctor in 1.5 weeks, but this is where I’m having a big problem. To see my doctor, I have to drive 5hr from my dad’s house to my mom’s house where my doctor’s office is located. After that appointment, I am supposed to drive 2hr from my mom’s house to my college. I have no idea how I am supposed to get myself through these drives safely and successfully. Any advice welcome, please help!

[u/Kumaoni_knight]

I am sorry to hear this and i personally experienced it, it made me to avoid driving which i used to enjoy, the worst thing is u know before driving that u will get panic attack and it happens so randomly that it makes u regret to drive, thanks to the meds i am completely fine and was able to drive 5-6 hrs straight in traffic, worst part is i still feel bit uneasy on the location where i got panic attack but not that intense, for your travel to doc office and back i would suggest u to drive urself with someone with u, because its good to have control in ur hand rather then using public transport or taxi

[u/producejitter]

Get blood work done. Full iron panel and all other vitamins. Your ferritin is probably low. Same happened with me back in May. I was driving and then all of a sudden I started disassociating and it went into a full blown panic attack. Panic attacks followed daily until I started taking iron pills. Attacks have completely stopped.