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betenoire · 06-02-2010, 10:34 PM

I don't have any advice for you or anything, but I did want to let you know that I get it.

I have no idea what triggered this for me (I used to be fine) but about 2 years ago I developed a really horrible fear of being in a car. Like you I am a passenger (I sold my car like 8 years ago or something, I like to take the bus - and being on the bus does not frighten me) and my fear/reactions have gotten to the point where it is distracting to the driver. I do a great deal of gasping, clutching at the "holy shit handle", tensing up and bracing myself...and that's just in normal in-town traffic. If on the freeway for any more than 30 minutes at a time it is a guarantee that I will burst into tears.

I tend to focus on another vehicle while I'm in a moving car...and almost identify it as the "enemy" vehicle. I'm always convinced that the enemy vehicle is going to cause the vehicle that I'm in to be in an accident. My panic gets worse and worse the longer the enemy vehicle is in view - I calm down as soon as that vehicle turns onto another road or off of the highway....until a new vehicle becomes the enemy. It's INCREDIBLY stressful and I, like you, am at a loss as to what I should do to fix this problem.

(I don't suggest this, cuz it's actually a really shitty way of dealing with problems...but I often get drunk before leaving on any trip that will take more than half an hour. Especially if that trip will take us on the freeway.)

I'm pretty interested to see the responses here.

06-02-2010, 10:34 PM	#7
betenoire Senior Member How Do You Identify?: Satan in a Sunday Hat Preferred Pronoun?: Maow Relationship Status: Married Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: The Chemical Valley Posts: 4,086 My Photo Gallery Thanks: 3,312 Thanked 8,739 Times in 2,565 Posts Rep Power: 21474856	I don't have any advice for you or anything, but I did want to let you know that I get it. I have no idea what triggered this for me (I used to be fine) but about 2 years ago I developed a really horrible fear of being in a car. Like you I am a passenger (I sold my car like 8 years ago or something, I like to take the bus - and being on the bus does not frighten me) and my fear/reactions have gotten to the point where it is distracting to the driver. I do a great deal of gasping, clutching at the "holy shit handle", tensing up and bracing myself...and that's just in normal in-town traffic. If on the freeway for any more than 30 minutes at a time it is a guarantee that I will burst into tears. I tend to focus on another vehicle while I'm in a moving car...and almost identify it as the "enemy" vehicle. I'm always convinced that the enemy vehicle is going to cause the vehicle that I'm in to be in an accident. My panic gets worse and worse the longer the enemy vehicle is in view - I calm down as soon as that vehicle turns onto another road or off of the highway....until a new vehicle becomes the enemy. It's INCREDIBLY stressful and I, like you, am at a loss as to what I should do to fix this problem. (I don't suggest this, cuz it's actually a really shitty way of dealing with problems...but I often get drunk before leaving on any trip that will take more than half an hour. Especially if that trip will take us on the freeway.) I'm pretty interested to see the responses here. __________________ bête noire \bet-NWAHR\, noun: One that is particularly disliked or that is to be avoided.