posted
In the last couple of months I've developed a sort of "paranoia" on the road.
I have to drive slowly even in familiar places. The scariest part for me is passing somebody on the highway. I start to sweat like crazy, my heart pounds, my face flushes, I grip the wheel tightly, and I expect that EVERY PERSON I'm passing is going to move over and hit me. I get really quite terrified and sometimes ALMOST jerk my car into the next lane over. I get similar feelings when I go around a tight corner, especially if somebody is behind me. Even just HAVING a car driving behind me makes me nervous.
What's making matters worse now is a bout of conjunctivitis and not-so-pleasant light sensitivity.
I've been driving safely for years! I know these feelings are totally ungrounded, and I thought I'd just get over it, but I haven't yet and it's starting to worry me. I have to drive an hour to get to school each week (and then back for the weekend).
Has anybody felt like this? Could this be a Lyme symptom? Or am I just crazy?!
Posts: 20 | From Frederick, MD | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
Yikes, You are not crazy....this happens to us lymies!!
I started getting panic attacks only while driving 10 years ago(when I didn't know I had lyme)....especially if I had to pass someone or it was too much traffic and lots of tractor trailers passing me or driving to close to me...just wigged me right out!!
Then I also noticed bridges, cattel chutes, and tunnels were a problem.....then it got to the point even as a passenger if I felt unsafe in all those places, I'd have panic attacks as a passenger.
As I got treated they have gotten lots better! Xanax has helped me the most. Have you talked to your doctor yet about it?
Good luck.....
Gail
-------------------- Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will ~ Gandhi Posts: 562 | From Wellsville, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2004
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Now that I look at the description of a panic attack, it sounds right, but I never actually considered that for some reason...
Thanks so much for your input. I was just diagnosed Friday by my GP and am in the process of trying to find a LLMD. I haven't started treatment yet (soon!) but I'm definitely looking forward to the results Posts: 20 | From Frederick, MD | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
I've experienced this. You're not crazy. It does get better with treatment.
Posts: 925 | From California | Registered: Sep 2004
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troutscout
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 3121
posted
Your poor braijn is simply overwhelmed with the task at hand...yes it should get better as treatment continues.
Get some help for it.
Trout
-------------------- Now is the time in your life to find the "tiger" within. Let the claws be bared, and Lyme BEWARE!!! www.iowalymedisease.com [/URL] Posts: 5262 | From North East Iowa | Registered: Sep 2002
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posted
I just had to respondto this - been there also. I was really bad for a time. after 4 months of treatment it only happen once and awhile.
Posts: 582 | From milwaukee wi | Registered: May 2005
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Andie333
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 7370
posted
Yikes, I had this same thing happened. I realized I was completely overwhelmed when I was driving, and I also became aware that people were constantly honking at me.
In addition, I would become overwhelmed not just by situations but also by locations. One time I had to pull off the road and call someone for directions home.
It got really bad for awhile after I was first dx.
I did what I could to concentrate -- keeping my cell phone off at all time in the car. Not listening to the radio or to music. I also made a decision that I would stop driving completely if things got any worse.
Instead, after several months of abx, they began to improve. Now, like everyone else has said, it almost never ahppens any more.
Andie
Posts: 2549 | From never never land | Registered: May 2005
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bg2711
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1865
posted
HI,
I had this as well. I was unable to drive for almost a year. It was pretty bad. It definately got better after aggressive treatmemt.
Good luck with this symptom, I know there are many on this board that at diferrent points in time they were unable or didn't feel comfortable behind the wheel of a car because of the lyme panic/anxiety/brain fog etc.
posted
Dear Yikes44, Tell me about it, at first I didn't know what was happening. Then I found out it's pretty common among us Lymies.The movement of of things as I'm driving or even when I'm the one that's riding ,someone else is driving & the light ,what a combo. Anyhow I only drive when I have to. Things will get better, it helped just knowing why this happens.Hang in there. Robin
Posts: 139 | From Panama City, FL., USA | Registered: Jun 2005
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map1131
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 2022
posted
Now adays I just seem to have driving problems at night. It's like there's too much for my brain to comprehend in the dark. I get very anxious. Also I've noticed that vision wise, something just isn't right with on coming lights. It's like I've been drinking and trying to avoid the cops. No, I don't drink & drive.
It's a very strange feeling. Prior to improvement I got very anxious driving anytime because my brain fog was so bad, that I felt like a 90 yr old trying to drive.
Where oh where did my little brain go?
Pam
-------------------- "Never, never, never, never, never give up" Winston Churchill Posts: 6495 | From Louisville, Ky | Registered: Jan 2002
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HEATHERKISS
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6789
posted
Driving can be a real hassle especially with panic attacks. Or how about when you forget where you are going??? Major panic!
I keep a lot of map quest directions in the glove compartement so I can get to where I've gone before.
-------------------- HEATHER
Posts: 1974 | From ABERDEEN, NJ 07747 | Registered: Jan 2005
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I didn't read all of the responses which I usually do before posting but I just had to say this one thing.
Prior to Lyme diagnosis, when I started having this, I was seeing a therapist. When I mentioned that I was fearful while driving and kept thinking that someone was going to swerve and hit me or get in some big wreck somehow, she diagnosed me as suicidal.
She said that seeing my own demise was suicidal thinking!!! Argh!!!
I still have this on and off while driving. Sometimes driving to see my parents 60 miles from my home can be downright exhausting. It gets better though.
Take care and good luck with your treatment,
Corgilla
-------------------- "I'll never forget good old Whatsisname." Posts: 694 | From PA | Registered: Jun 2003
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