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Dp/dr while driving

1603 Views 4 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  brizia2093
Hi everyone,

I have less and less dp/dr attacks, even to the point where I thought I was 'cured', but lately I'm taking driving lessons and now I suddenly get dp/dr attacks while I'm driving. I'm not only disappointed that I still get them, but I'm also worrying bc when I'm driving is the last situation where I want to have an attack. When I start dissociating, I feel like the hole situation is not real and just a dream, I try to get more consciousness again or to 'wake up' but I only get more nervous bc the feeling is so scary and all I want is to stop the car and get in a more calm situation so that ugly feeling can get away. But that's impossible while I'm driving, especially at huge speed, and I can't just tell it to my driving instructor bc I don't know what to explain again. And I don't want to quit just bc I have that stupid feeling again, I want to conquer it bc I don't want to run away from it for the rest of my life. I get it that I probably get attacks now bc driving, especially with a strange driving instructor, gives a lot of stress and I probably dissociate to cope with that stress. When I sometimes drive with my mom I never dissociate. But it is intended that I learn to drive with the riding school and do my driving exam with them, bc my mom doesn't know how to teach me good. This situation will go on still for a month, and then I have to do my driving exam. I'm pretty sure that I'll go dissociate during my exam, but then I'll never be able to pass it.

So I wonder if anyone has advice for this sort of situation, even if it's just to reduce stress or how to behave with dp/dr in dangerous situations like driving. Oh and I went to therapy and doctors and psychologists and all that before, but none of them helped, they didn't even understand what I had. I'm not a fan of medication either, I want to cope with dissociation all by myself for good, unless it's Xanax to reduce stress in really risky situations and I really have no other options.
I hope someone can help.
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Not a fan of medication but will use a Benzo... interesting. You only have this stance because you never found a medication you liked/worked I am guessing. If you were anti medication you would not be pro Xanax, considering for one it's highly addictive. Not saying this to I dunno argue for the use of a better term, It's like saying... I am anti drink, but when i do drink, i drink moonshine.

As to your question, i think you kinda know the deal, you are anxious with this other person in the car or the situation, more anxiety brings back the DP/DR you mention, you either have to find a way to cope/lower the anxiety/reduce your anxiety in general or medication, there really isn't much else to it.

You can do more dissociated than you think, I know that to be true, taking instructions though can be difficult so I get your worry.

Also if you haven't found a doctor that understood what you had, then you may as well count that as 0 doctors seen. My advice is get treated for anxiety and depression separately, one for each, see how you stand, or just anxiety if you don't have depression
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