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Should I get a drivers license in my condition?
I'm 28 years old, I have anxiety disorder and panic attacks for five years. My family is really conservative in their religious views and because of it I wasn't able to get psychologist help for all these years. I also have sleeping disorder and night paralysis with nightmares. Before my disease I used to be independent woman, I would work, study in college. In big city I was able to get to college and job by bus. But we have moved and right now we live in small city and there are no buses.I was able to find job only in big city, because there are no jobs. Last year I took driving classes for few months and have passed all driving lessons successfully. But I have serious panic attacks during driving that I start to loose concentration that I can't even read signs well. Also during panic attacks I can't keep up with speeding on the road. This new year my dad takes me to work each morning. He has some emotional problems because he is old and it's hard for him to drive. He used to scream at me while I was driving him to his medical appointments so I would get panic attacks every time. I have drove with panic attacks already for one year, I had no choice because my dad started to have physical pain so I had to take him to doctor. I have tried passing driving exam, but I get so worried about upcoming exam that I would fail it each single time. Back ago my friend have told me that I will kill myself in car while I drive with panic attacks, so these words always echoes in my mind whenever I want to get out on the road. I'm really scared to drive on my own now because there are high speeds on road and you will have time to calm down. My family told me that I should get license this year or to get married and move out because dad won't be able to drive me to work any longer. I feel stuck and lonely in my situation, I have no idea what to do. Do you think I should proceed with trying to pass driving exam and getting out on road, or should I move out next year?
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Maybe give some free advice about: Families?
I have a quick answer to offer you: do NOT attempt to drive , as long as you continue risk having a panic attack while behind the wheel,and unless you can sense it coming on and pull over in time to avoid any accidents.
You need to get into therapy, regardless of your family's religious objections. There, you can receive both guidance and medication that will help you resolve these panic attacks, so you can look forward to an attack-free life from now on.
But look into public transport and moving out. Your family situation doesn't sound healthy for you .
Delay applying for your driver's license until you have successfully overcome the risk of having an attack while driving. But do NOT delay becoming independent of your family, they appear to be an unhealthy environment for you.
Good luck and good wishes, Dr. Stephanie
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You should not be driving until you no longer have a bad case of anxiety disorder. I know of people without the disorder who upon receiving bad news were very emotional and distracted and that caused them to get into accidents on regular city streets. I have also heard that one shouldn't drive if upset to the point of grieving or unable to focus or sleep well. If people are advised not to drive in this condition, then driving while having panic attacks would be the same thing, being distracted, unable to concentrate, senses not as sharp so you only make the chances of having an accident, rise if you drive under those conditions. As for moving out, I would think that too would cause you anxiety. You can't depend on parents forever. What if your parents were both gone right now, think about where you would turn to for help. I am answering for what I know in the U.S. so if you are in another country, check what the laws and even the cautions mentioned are for your area. Never once did you ask for some pointers in how to be rid of this anxiety. Imagine being anxiety free,(about 90 % or more. likely) without medications, and solving all the worries of your situation. You could move and get a drivers license and be independant, not needing help from parents. I don't understand reason to marry to move out, unless you feel you can not totally afford it on your own in which case you simply advertise for another female to be roommate and share the paying for the place. Now I don't know what is available in medical systems of other countries, but there are a specific group of mental health doctors who instead of prescribing medications to help mask the symptoms, will go after the root of the problem in your mind, and work with you on excercises, homework to practice getting better. I had severe social anxiety as a child long before the Medical field was calling it an anxiety. When I got close to graduating school and would be an adult, I was worried I would not be able to navigate the adult world on my own so I prayed. This is not what I am telling you to do, but my story. I got the answer of what to do in steps at my own pace so I was not ever overwhelmed. And I was cured. About 10 years ago, I came across a book in library written by a psychologist who had turned writer and teacher of new psychologists to train them in a help method called CBT or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Cognitive means the thoughts, and how your mind thinks. Behavior is in the title since its proven that thoughts will lead our behavior, so its a matter of replacing bad thoughts and learning how to have more positive thoughts and thats what makes up the Therapy part of this. I would suggest you find the equivalent of CBT in your medical system. I am attaching a link to an article about CBT. It has a downloadable book mentioned, and no cost mentioned, so perhaps that will help some. I would suggest seeing a Dr. immediately and get a schedule with work on your anxieties going. I truly believe that your panic attacks seem to mimic a condition called PTSD, Post traumatic Stress Disorder in that the conditions while driving Dad for example were traumatic for you. I understand. For a couple of years after someone rear ended the car my family was traveling in, I would jump into panic mode every time we had to brake hard or when I heard tires screeching but eventually that faded away as nothing else bad happened. But when you can't get away from toxic behavior that is causing you to have panic attacks it will continue. It is best if you see a Dr. soon. [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
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