Panic attacks
I’m a PDI with a Qualified Driver pupil of several decades standing. He’s driven intermittently over the decades, and he’s really good except for one thing: every time he goes over about 40mph only on dual carriageways and motorways, or another vehicle follows him on any high speed road, he gets panic attacks. This is due to a bad experience he had as a passenger years ago. We’ve had to pull over on a motorway-style dual carriageway once. I’ve tried the NHS site on panic attacks, and suggested a trick I’ve heard of: wear a rubber band on one wrist, and every time you feel an attack coming on, snap the band against your wrist with the other hand. We haven’t had a chance to try it yet. Do you have any other suggestions?
I am guessing your driver has panic attacks in other areas of life not just driving?
Usually panic attacks follow a specific particular pattern for an individual and it arrives in a particular order - ie tingly feelings, breathing increasing, tension of hands, loss of concentration and then the symptoms can get worse. Get the driver to work out what there own individual pattern is and then interrupt it.
It sounds like your driver might have a 'shaky' base of driving skills to start with. Work on what they see and focus on predicting what will happen next, planning, and generally all round skills at lower speeds in built up areas. The confidence has to come from knowing they (the driver) are driving within their comfort zone and are feeling safe. Remind them they are in control now and are driving safely, not like the 'out of control' driver who gave them that bad experience.
Whilst parked up watch play backs of dash cam at normal and fast forward and get your driver to monitor how they feel watching the video going slowly then faster down the same stretch of road they have just driven.
Remind them that they are safe and they are in charge. Breath in slowly and exhale for much longer. Ask them to relax their shoulders and gently pull them downwards away from their ears. When you can get to that stage without the panic, get them to repeat the same exercise moving slowly on a quiet straight road at slow speed. Find out exactly what is causing the trigger. Bring their attention back to the focus of the road, what they see in the here and now, use a quiet section of road with stopping places and just pull over if you need to.
This is not an amateur effort. You are working with a driver who has difficulty with confidence, so work with them, slowly and gently when they drive and find out what particular deficiencies within the driving skill that make them feel uncomfortable at slow speeds. Help them to control how they think about other drivers putting pressure on them. It is worth working out what is happening for them in their driving skills, and how their lack of confidence plays into the anxiety they feel. There are all kinds of drivers on the road, fast, slow, learners, ditherers, professional, aggressive etc etc and it is having the confidence to know how to deal with other drivers on the space on the road that matters. Your driver needs to get the enjoyment back so help them find that first and boost the confidence.
If your driver doesn't want to talk about the accident or maybe the events are giving them repetitive distress then advise them to seek some professional help from their GP for referral to psychotherapy or PTSD type help (private or NHS) The only downside here is that it can sometimes be many many months (12 months or more) to access what may be deemed non essential counselling or therapy services.
Usually panic attacks follow a specific particular pattern for an individual and it arrives in a particular order - ie tingly feelings, breathing increasing, tension of hands, loss of concentration and then the symptoms can get worse. Get the driver to work out what there own individual pattern is and then interrupt it.
It sounds like your driver might have a 'shaky' base of driving skills to start with. Work on what they see and focus on predicting what will happen next, planning, and generally all round skills at lower speeds in built up areas. The confidence has to come from knowing they (the driver) are driving within their comfort zone and are feeling safe. Remind them they are in control now and are driving safely, not like the 'out of control' driver who gave them that bad experience.
Whilst parked up watch play backs of dash cam at normal and fast forward and get your driver to monitor how they feel watching the video going slowly then faster down the same stretch of road they have just driven.
Remind them that they are safe and they are in charge. Breath in slowly and exhale for much longer. Ask them to relax their shoulders and gently pull them downwards away from their ears. When you can get to that stage without the panic, get them to repeat the same exercise moving slowly on a quiet straight road at slow speed. Find out exactly what is causing the trigger. Bring their attention back to the focus of the road, what they see in the here and now, use a quiet section of road with stopping places and just pull over if you need to.
This is not an amateur effort. You are working with a driver who has difficulty with confidence, so work with them, slowly and gently when they drive and find out what particular deficiencies within the driving skill that make them feel uncomfortable at slow speeds. Help them to control how they think about other drivers putting pressure on them. It is worth working out what is happening for them in their driving skills, and how their lack of confidence plays into the anxiety they feel. There are all kinds of drivers on the road, fast, slow, learners, ditherers, professional, aggressive etc etc and it is having the confidence to know how to deal with other drivers on the space on the road that matters. Your driver needs to get the enjoyment back so help them find that first and boost the confidence.
If your driver doesn't want to talk about the accident or maybe the events are giving them repetitive distress then advise them to seek some professional help from their GP for referral to psychotherapy or PTSD type help (private or NHS) The only downside here is that it can sometimes be many many months (12 months or more) to access what may be deemed non essential counselling or therapy services.
Quick Reply
Related discussions
- Panic attack or asthma attack?
- GCSEs 2024
- Panic attack?
- can i still do well in a levels?
- Driving theory test
- Mental health Advices
- Daydreaming is so comforting
- Is it okay to be late to work because of a panic attack.
- HELP! clearing
- standing at a concert tips!
- Taking a gap year?
- GCSEs
- Panic Attack
- Driving Test Anxiety
- Is it worth submitting an extenuating circumstances form for Cambridge?
- Can anyone share Politics A level notes (edexcel)
- How do I drop a GCSE subject? (Year 11)
- How to calm my anxiety
- Does anyone have notes they can share for Politics A level (edexcel).
- As level exams
Latest
Trending
Last reply 5 months ago
Where is my car parked during the day? Advice for first car insuranceLast reply 7 months ago
Will paying £1,900 a year for insurance as a new 21 year old driver be a lot?Trending
Last reply 5 months ago
Where is my car parked during the day? Advice for first car insuranceLast reply 7 months ago
Will paying £1,900 a year for insurance as a new 21 year old driver be a lot?
