Millions of people suffer from panic attacks each year. Quite a few of them have panic attacks while driving. Panic attacks can be very frightening all by themselves, but when you have a panic attack while driving, this can be very scary indeed. But first, what are the symptoms of a panic attack?

When someone has a panic attack, there are quite a few common symtoms. Here is a short list:

• Palpitations (racing or pounding heartbeat)
• Dizziness, feeling light headed, nausea
• Difficulty Breathing, chest pains (feeling that you are being smothered)
• Tingling or numbness in your hands
• Feeling a need to escape the situation
• Fear of losing control because you may do something embarrassing.
• Fear of dying.

There are some common fears that people suffer from when having a panic attack that is connected to driving.

• Fear of having an accident while driving
• Fear when driving over a bridge or overpass
• Fear of being caught in a traffic jam over a bridge or overpass
• Fear of being trapped in a traffic jam.
• Fear of losing control while driving

These are very common fears that many people have as related to driving and panic attacks. Let's analyze two common fears, and how to combat them: Having an accident while driving and being trapped in the car.

Many people's worst fear is having a panic attack while driving. They fear that when they have a panic attack, they will either cause or become involved in an accident. Why? Because they fear that all the distractions that accompany a panic attack will be so great that an accident will be inevitable.

What Kind Of Driver Are You?

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Are you normally a safe driver?
  
• How many accidents have you been involved in?
  
• Were any of those accidents your fault?
  

If you are a safe driver and have had few if any accidents at all, then you can start to put this fear out of your mind. Why? Although being anxious is not the most comfortable way of driving, it is not dangerous. In fact, because all your senses are heightened, you are more alert that most other drivers.

Some Other Points To Remember

Another point is that you will not pass out if you do have a panic attack. Normally, when a person passes out it is due to low blood pressure. This is not happening during a panic attack. In fact, just the opposite is happening. Your heart rate and blood pressure are increased.

To Combat This Fear

Remind yourself that you have a good driving record. Tell yourself, "I am a safe driver. I have a good driving record." Tell yourself this over and over again. Also, remind yourself that even if you have a panic attack, it is not fatal in and of itself. You will survive this! You will not pass out nor will you die right then and there. You need to tell yourself the truth and repeat it to yourself over and over.

Another concern for those who have panic attacks while driving is being trapped with no way out. Some people will start to be anxious and panic if they are driving and get stuck in traffic. When this happens many people suffering from this will imagine all kinds of deadly scenarios. You may have anxious thoughts when you are stopped in traffic on a bridge, highway, or even at a stop light. You feel cornered and trapped thinking that you will not have any assistance if you should have a panic attack.

To Combat This Fear

To overcome this type of fear, you need to tell yourself the truth before these ideas take root. This is very important. Ask yourself:

• Is there really no way out of this situation?
• Is being stuck in traffic, terrible, awful, or horrible?
• Are you sure that you will never arrive at your intended destination?
• Are you sure that the traffic jam you are in will never move again?
  

I would guess that the answer to these questions is no.

• There always a way out.
• It is not horrible, terrible or awful to be stuck in traffic.
• You will eventually arrive at your destination. It maybe later than you planned, but you will get there.
• All traffic jams end. They do eventually break up and traffic moves again.

Before you get in the car, go over these and any other irrational fears and combat them with the truth. By telling yourself the truth about this and any other fears you have, you can overcome them.

There are things that you can do to try and prevent a panic attack:

• Take a snack with you, and enjoy it. This will give your body something else to do, instead of pumping out adrenaline.
• Take your favorite CD's with you and listen to them while driving.
  
• Try and avoid thinking about driving. You need to pay attention to what you are doing. That is, you need to monitor the traffic around you. Focus on that or briefly look at the scenery. The idea is not to focus on all those many scenarios that you have imagined will happen. They won't! 
• If you have one, take your cell phone with you. This will give you some measure of security.
  

If you find yourself having a panic attack while you are driving you can:

• Pull over, if you can, and get out of the car. Start taking slow, deep breaths. If you cannot pull over, open the window and do the same thing. Take slow deep breaths until you calm down.
• Take a bottle of water with you, and drink. Just be careful!
• Again, take some CD's along or tune to your favorite radio station that features soothing music.
  
• Take slow, deep breaths. This will prevent you from hyperventilating.
• Do not try and fight it! Remind yourself that this is only temporary. It will pass.
  

If you are still having trouble with panic attacks while driving in certain situations, here are some other suggestions:

• Take a friend with you and take some practice runs during non-peak driving times.
  
• If you are having trouble driving over a bridge, again, take a friend with you and drive over the bridge during non-peak driving times. If you start to have panic symptoms, pull over and get out and take some slow, deep breaths.
• Do not try and take on all your fears at once. Try to take on one at at time. Realize that you are a competent driver.
  
• Tell yourself the truth about those fearful situations. More often than not, your fears have no basis in fact. Tell yourself this truth. You will be amazed how freeing it is.
• Finally, if you need to, consult a mental health professional who specializes in anxiety, panic attacks and driving phobias. This will be more expensive, but do not deny yourself the help that you need.