What are the ways to control anxiety while driving?

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand you experience OCD symptoms, general anxiety symptoms and specific driving anxiety and some anxiety-related physical problems. What is your current profession? Your job timings? How many family members are there in your house? For how many years have you been having OCD symptoms, GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) symptoms, and stress? Do you do any exercise, relaxation, or therapy? Do you have family support? Are any other anxiety-triggering factors present other than driving? Do you have normal sleep? Are you engaged in physical intimacy?

Thank you.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I am astonished as well as very happy to know that you are experiencing OCD symptoms for the last 20 years and for the time being you are managing those symptoms without the help of medicines. Managing yourself. You have got the courage and attitude. Salute for that. According to you, your present problem is mainly driving anxiety. Such anxiety, though specific, comes under GAD. So, the treatment should be based on the trigger. Your trigger is your vehicle or any other vehicle, traveling or thinking about driving or traveling. You already know the vehicle is not at all the factor that triggers your apprehension or anxiety. Whereas it is your thought pattern and the fear arising out of your thought pattern. So, therapy aims at cognitive restructuring. Change the thought pattern so that the thought does not give rise to anxiety or apprehension. For this, you have to start writing a cognitive diary. On the left side of the diary, you will write the trigger, reason, anxiety symptoms, timing, etc., in detail. On the right-hand side, you will logically conclude it as it is not at all a botheration for you. For example, for the driving anxiety, on the right-hand side, you will write "driving was never a trouble for me and I being a good driver, I enjoy driving. These anxiety symptoms are triggered by my mind and not because I actually fear my vehicle or my driving. I have confidence in my driving and I am confident in handling the vehicle. So I am not going to worry about the anxiety at all." I hope you already know that anxiety is your body's defense mechanism. This diary writing will help convincing your unconscious mind. You will have to write different fears and convincing logical conclusions for that for about two weeks every day. Please do not take this lightly. You are only 41 and therefore, please start some rigorous exercises or outdoor games which make you sweat. Such exercises trigger the production of feel-good hormones such as endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin. Long term they help you overcome whole anxiety. You should learn and try mindfulness. Such techniques teach you how to be engaged mentally in whatever task you are doing and thereby helping manage anxiety.

Thank you.