Panic attack while driving

[german loke]

while driving a few day ago,i have a sudden feeling like dizzy,increased heart rate,difficulties in breathing,sense of terror,impending doom ,or death and feeling of a loss of control,body out of zone.i have visited a heart and neurogy specialist but the result are normal.i am now very frighting to drive and dive again. please can any one teach me how to cure it . thank you

[Al Mialkovsky]

You need to get that taken care of. If you suffer panic attacks doing ANYTHING diving isn't for you.

[DivingPrincessE]

I don't think you can "cure" panic attacks, but some medications can help. You should see a psychiatrist.

[300bar]

Or did you get narked?

[Web Monkey]

Or did you get narked?

That would depend on if this was a typo or not:

Panic attack while driving

Terry

[Teamcasa]

Panic while diving or driving is serious. However, the cure is simple (for most). Dive more often and don’t dive too deep until your confidence has returned.

Panic while driving? Buy a bigger car and slow down!

[300bar]

That would depend on if this was a typo or not:

Panic attack while driving

Terry

Ouch,misread.
Hope it was a typo.

[Aussie scuba chick]

[QUOTE=german loke;3640145]while driving a few day ago,i have a sudden feeling like dizzy,increased heart rate,difficulties in breathing,sense of terror,impending doom ,or death and feeling of a loss of control,body out of zone.

I have experienced the same thing (whilst diving, not driving) and would like to relate how I dealt with it.

I dove really really stressed (rough weather, drifting away from the anchor line etc). When I descended, the vis was bad, I lost track of my buddy and then I had a panic attack. Absolutely terrifying experience - I thought I couldn't breathe, I thought I was going to die. I started ascending quickly until I realised what was happening. I consciously made myself take slower longer breaths, talked myself through the experience (I'm getting air, there's nothing wrong with the equipment, slow down etc), stopped ascending and stabilised.

Thus, I've learnt not to dive when stressed. I'll opt out of the dive or take time out and calm down. The trigger seems to be rough weather, so I dive when the sea is calm.

My advice - identify what triggered it and figure out how to deal with it. That said, there is medication you can take that may help prevent panic attacks if they occur regularly. I also understand that cognitive behaviour therapy can assist, but you'll need to verify that. However, if it can't be controlled, then you may need to figure out alternative forms of transport until things get better.

[ScubaSimmy]

I have had a panic / anxiety attack aswell underwater... i hadnt been on a dive for 4 yrs... and before that had a horrible experience... and same thing... my heart was racing...i was dizzy.... i couldnt breathe... i was FREAKING out to say the least... lol...luckily I was with my dad (a dive master) and he kept me calm... and took me up to the surface... as soon as he grabbed my hand i was OK .... but i still needed to get onto the surface... after that i had a 20 min break.. and then we went back down and it was OK ... i think you have to be with someone you feel comfortable with and trust....i think that its something you can get over... esp if your a new diver... so i hope that you can get past this.... ! Good luck

[ocean walker]

I used to do fobia cures for people who were afraid of the water. I was an NLP practitioner at the time. It really works well on fobias. I checked on people even two years later and they were good to go and completely over their fears. My final session was always at a pool. Go find a neuro linguistic programmer. Like hypnosis but you are very awake and aware.
I would also question was your air supply OK or did you have an inner ear thing that caused a vertigo problem.