Does anyone know why driving becomes an issue with all this Peri/Meno stuff?

I'm OK during the day except sometimes I forget where I am going.....;-) But, I cannot see at night at all anymore. So, I try not to drive at night which stinks!

I've had that too - i'm driving a long and wonder where I am going! Or I am driving on a normally familiar road and all of a sudden I panic because I don't recognise where I am

For me it was the claustrophobia!! I seemed to do better if I could keep moving, but if I was in traffic, or felt I couldn't exit the freeway I would LOSE IT!

I've had most of my panic/anxiety on the freeway. I seem to feel much better when I exit. I guess what scares me is the feeling that I might pass out. This really stinks because I used to actually enjoy driving. It is interesting that you mention disorientation because I experienced this once not too long ago when I was in an unfamiliar area. Never used to happen

peri messed me up totally when it comes to driving i get too much anxiety and disoriented my hubby does the driving cause i freak too much.

I have problems driving too. Dont have any idea why though.
I get so scared when I look around on a road that I have been driving on for years and it is unfamiliar to me.
I am also afraid I will pass out or something equally as bad.
I love to drive and pray that this will pass with some of the other crap we deal with now.

I have always wondered this too. Actually my very first peri symptoms occurred in my car. I have always been an avid and exceptional driver. About 4 years ago I noticed that I started getting nervous driving at night. I felt like I couldnt see the edges of the road and I couldnt judge the distance of the cars in front of me. It was 10 times worse when it was raining. Then slowly over the last year or so, I feel like Im afraid to accelerate above 50 miles an hour. I stay about 100 feet behind other vehicles, and I feel like the car is going to tip over if I go around a curve. Its gotten progressively worse as my other peri symptoms started taking over my life. Its so horrible how this change in hormones changes everything, even my ability to drive. I hate this more than I can even express. I hope you get your old self back soon.
Love and hugs, Dee

I can't drive at night, have to have really loud music on! It's the thought of driving which is worse for me once I'm behind the wheel ok

I have read that if you once had anxiety/panic attack while driving, your brain associates driving with danger, so it creates neurone pathways that remember this situation, and every time you drive, you can get panic attack again and agin.
it can be also due to post car accident, definately, but also as a sign of GAD.
I have same issue, driving on freeway is huge trigger of PA, it comes and goes, now I am in the stage when it became problem again, same for driving when it is dark, driving when it is windy, and high speed, can't go more than 60mph now.
I had it soo bad today, that I have found back road just to avoid getting on freeway, took me extra 5 minutes, just could not face stressing about high speed traffic.
I have found Driving Fear website that offers a program to overcome it, haven't tried it myself, but very tempted.
Anyone interested, you can google it.
It is not only women that have issue with driving at midlife, some men also have this problem.
Every time I see a very old lady going 90mph, I think, her foot got stuck on the gas pedal...

A couple of years ago, I couldn't drive anywhere....not even to take my daughter to work which was a 5 minute drive. I used to drive alot, and loved it. Slowly, it has gotten better. But I'm still afraid to go on the highway. I recently got a job which is about 20 minutes from my house. I have taken the highway, but it's not worth the anxiety that I feel while driving, so I take a longer way.

Iradan is right, though. I had one of my worst panic attacks while driving, but I think if you completely stop driving it's harder to start again.

The major panic attack that began my panic attacks many years ago occured while driving. Altho panic while driving didn't become dibilatating, it did leave some weirdness in its wake. I too have problems judging distance peripherally. I sometimes will come close to panic in traffic or sitting at a light. The wide openness of the freeways and tollways used to be a problem, but that's subsided somewhat. Altho I did notice it coming back as my brother and I drove back from Florida last week end. I also semi-freaked out when passing large trucks on the left. I had to force myself to step on the gas and just PASS!

it sounds like it could be an issue for many reasons in peri.....my problems started when I started to get dizzy spells and the spacy/drunk feeling that comes with peri......I haven't driven in 2 years because of it.....I just never know when it is going to be a problem, it can come on very quickly at times and also gets bad before a period, which is whenever. HUGS Mikki

There was about 6 months where I could not drive at all.... depending on others to take me to run errands and to the doctor. I have slowly started back driving but only in familiar areas and fairly close to home. Remember me telling you all I had a 2 week reprieve from symptoms? Well, I hopped in that car and had no anxiety about driving at all then! I think having problems driving is from the anxiety and disorientation that is so prevalent in peri/meno.

Just hope and pray someday that this anxiety will stop as well as all the symptoms.

I did drive downtown to a dr. appt. a couple of weeks ago, but drove the back roads (still cannot get on our busy interstates). This was the first time I have driven downtown by myself in over a year! It was to my therapist appt. and my husband could not take me that day... When I got there and told my therapist, she got up and said "I am going to do the happy dance!!!!"

mood_swinger

hi lil
driving has been one of my biggest obstacles also, i constantly feel like i'm going to cause a wreck and somedays, a 10 minute drive feels like 1/2 hour to me. I have to keep driving or i'll give up completely (which i wish i could). It's a shame, i used to be a fearless driver, those were the good ol times.
hugs
boo

I know what your all saying I just keep pushing, I just went for take out about a half hr ride I was trembling felt weird in the head but DID IT and that,s all that counts, got home trembly head spacey and of course I cried my release, I feel like such a wimp but I keep saying it,s the hormones or lack of and not me!! We will all beat this !!!!!!! Your all in my thoughts and prayers. Thank you !!!

Oh man, it can be awful. I had several awful anxiety attacks over the last two years while driving and it took a long time to feel better. I can proudly say I drove my daughter to college five hours away in Sept. round trip in a day and did fine. Of course, a xanax before the trip started both ways helped me. I never felt tired, just calm. I didnt' get the muscle tension I usually get either. My head felt good too, and I had my period one hour into the driver that was the heaviest I can remember. I had to stop every hour to change everything, but felt really calm. I believe the xanax did the trick, but whatever works, is good for me, it got me over the hump. Hang in there girls, it does get better, I NEVER thought it would, but it has.

if it helps any of you at all..... i used to have issues with driving.. not so much panic attacks, i've never really had a panic attack for any reason.. but i used to be driving from point A to point B, both points, and the way in between, well known to me, and suddenly realise i did not know where i was, or where i was going.. of course, i also knew that i would not be on the road without reason, so would just drive till i remembered.. disconcerting certainly, but nothing to panic over.

it passes. i haven't had that happen to me for a long time now. (i am well over two years post)

and a note on the night driving thing. it could be your eyes. i did not need glasses for any reason till i was 48, and the optometrist told me i was lucky, as it usually happens to most women sooner. the lack of depth, or inability to judge distance at night while driving is a known thing as we age apparently. i still try to not drive much at night, but i do not have the same problem with it, knowing it for what it is, and adjusting to it. i could get glasses to help with this if i had to drive at night regularly.

i do think attitude is a big thing, not just with driving, but with life in general. a good positive 'I can do this!' approach has helped me in all things throughout this meno process, and there have been some nightmares.. but i am through to the other side, and apart from these awful, pesky, annoying, inconvenient, rotten, uncomfortable, (see a theme here? i could go on.....) hot flushes!!!!! i think things are much better now..

I would love to know the answer to the ? why at Peri do we get this. And does it get better Post, I sure hope so as I have not drove on the freeways here in Toronto for 5yrs and am tired of taking back roads. Anyone notice a difference and when did it happen. Also I have done the Fear of Driving thing and I still can't go on the highway, but I do drive all over, it just me longer on the back roads.
Wishing everyone smooth roads
Queen Bee

Me too, leanne! I would begin to feel as though I was LOSING my mind and I had to GET OUTA THERE!!!!

If I was riding with someone else, I could hardly contain myself and sometimes I didn't!!

I could not drive for almost 1.5 years, only in the city, but not on freeways, then I sort of eased into it and was doing ok for few years, now I believe it is getting bad again, I have no problem until I hit 60mph, this is when I get all panicky. I have SUV so I believe it is the car also that causing additional stress, although I had it for long time and never had this problem.
Now I now why older folks love Cadillac so much, LOL, I would love to have one myself .

Of all the threads I’ve read on the PS boards in my first 48 hours here, this one just rattled my cage to the core.
It kind of put things in focus for me as to what is going on inside my head and my fear of driving.

I am becoming a recluse and reading this thread clued me into to why I am becoming a recluse……the idea of driving now days just sends me into a tail spin.
I don’t trust my driving skills any more.

To make matters worse…..I just moved “up north” after living in South FL for four years….I am in an absolute panic about the idea that soon, I’ll have to drive in winter conditions. I grew up driving in the stuff…cripes..I took my driver’s test in the middle of Dec. in KS…..so ice/snow isn’t new to me as a driving hazard.

My husband grew up in the south and knew very little about driving in such condition…I taught HIM how to drive in the stuff and now I can’t even drive on dry back roads.
It’s just downright scary how far reaching the tentacles of this “health issue” truly are.

Same with me 'T.W.
I am fairly o.k. about driving but am always getting lost!This is o.k. but if I have a passenger or am a passenger myself I too can feel like I am losing control.
I often have to ask the driver to slow down and then take a small dose of Xanax to calm down
I cannot stand fast drivers or trucks coming towards me and also keep night driving down to a minimum.
So sounds like a lot of us are not as crazy about driving as we were when younger!
Warm Wishes
Elizabeth

Amen to that Sister!
However ,it is comforting that we are not alone and all facing the same issues.These Hormones are Nuts!Who would ever guess that they could cause so much distress.
I think it does get better slowly as some ladies I know drive all around the place with little fear.Unless they are using some anti-anxiety medicine or have had therapy, or have 'breezed' through Menopause.
Hopefully you will be able to slowly overcome your fear by taking short drives and gradually increasing the distance.
All the Best
Elizabeth

The AD has helped me tremendously, but I still cannot ride with my son.

I came here and still havent got a US license...i still have my austalian one...now my hubby has bad eye probs caused by his diabetes and everyone is telling me to get my license before the worst happens and he can no longer drive....im scared to death of the anxiety and when i get panicky i tend to drift back to the other side of the road and its embarrasing when you get in the wrong side of the car not thinking what your doing.. just another joy of this stage of life...what else can we expect on this meno journey. I also use to love driving back home and would go everywhere but since this stuff has started i just dont want to drive anymore.

It's amazing how something so mundane and taken for granted, has become such an issue for so many of us.

I feel every bit of the frustrations every women has posted about in this thread. HOW did something so much a pat of our lives..become such a huge hurrdle to get over?
One day we could do it...then poof..could do it no more.

Thanks Elizabeth
You are so right:



Stumbling into the PS boards has me feeling positive about myself for the first time in ages.
Without a doubt knowing we aren’t alone dealing with all the grisly tentacles of this stuff…..helps much!

There’s no comfort in knowing that others are trying to walk thru this mine field also….. but…..reading how others are coping with all this…….. and reading about their “small victories” makes me want to get back the “ crazy fearless gal” I used to be.

After reading this thread and doing some more pondering……..I realized I’d let this nonsense rob me of a passion for a hobby I share with my husband: “Mopar-Horsepower” modification on our vehicles.
I just had a good “girly type cathartic” cry over the fact it’s been months since DH and I tore into our “rides” and tinkered with them….and that’s because I’ve been avoiding it.
So…..


Baby steps here….I may not be up to driving the beast in the driveway just yet…but I can still enjoy just tinkering with it.

It needs an oil change…and I can do that with my eyes closed, one hand tied behind my back.
I guess I might as well make us of the testosterone surges I seem to be having these days.
Who knows...maybe once I get the oil changed......maybe I'll work up the nerve to drive the beast to the car wash....not a long drive....but at least it's a drive.

What is it with driving? I'm the same way....I used to LOVE to drive. Now I do good just to drive two miles away to the grocery store. I don't do freeways at all anymore (hubby has to drive me). And neither one of us can see well enough to drive very far at night.

[quote name='Texasgirl' date='Oct 29 2009, 10:32 AM' post='316315']
What is it with driving? I'm the same way....I used to LOVE to drive. Now I do good just to drive two miles away to the grocery store.


I have been thinking the same thing lately. You know this was actually my FIRST peri symptom come to think of it. I was 36-37ish and all of a sudden I was scared to drive. My car used to be my constant companion up until that time. I took 1,000 mile road trips just for fun and I was the sole driver in my house. In fact I felt more comfortable in the driver's seat than anywhere else, especially in rain/snow/bad conditions. I actually felt proud of that fact. It started with night driving. I suddenly felt like I couldnt see the edges of the roads, couldnt judge the distance of the other cars, then it was driving during the day, I felt like if I rounded a corner, even at slow speeds that the car was going to tip over. Then it progressed to not being able to judge the distance of the car in front of me even on a bright sunny day. After that i noticed I was scared to death driving others around in my car, and especially being a passenger myself, because I keep thinking the driver is not going to stop in time and we are going to crash. Does anyone else get that feeling? I noticed these issues get very bad at certain times of my cycle, but after they started I have never regained my confidence being in a car and its just awful! When my anxiety was at my worst I had a panic attack every single night in my car on the way home from work. It was awful. And if you suffer from Derealization, for some reason driving brings it on full force! I remember driving at night and thinking how beautiful the city looks, the lights, the shops along the highway, the trees....now everything is a nightmarish blur until i am in the safety of my home. Please tell me that this will pass one day!

Dee

Dee I know what your saying sometimes driving things look I guess you can say more prnounced almost like when your Looking in a mirror does that make sense to any one?