What is terror as opposed to anxiety? When my husbands drives us on the freeway at night, I cry.
After my father's recent death and finding out that my brother is mentally ill (he allowed my father to go into a diabetic coma) and he made a lot of threats afterward to destroy our parents belongings and ashes, I felt a lot of grief and became stressed. I can't drive much now and I won't drive the freeway at night. Now, when my husband drives me at night, I cry and sometimes even scream. It was horrible when we were driving down the side of the hills at night. It doesn't feel like a panic attack but terror. Like a nightmare or a horror movie. I was prescribed Lorazepam 1 mg to take before we drive to stop the "terror." What is terror?
Dear Jenifer,
I am so sorry about the loss of your father, and the way it happened sounds very traumatic.
You can read about the symptoms of a panic attack at the Anxiety Disorders Association of America's website (ADAA) and compare them to what you experience while driving.
There's no offical diagnosis known as "terror." I'm guessing that your doctor used this word to empathize with how scared you are feeling while driving.
I really want to encourage you to seek the help of a therapist. The medication may help you with your symptoms, but as you know, you have a lot of grief over what has happened. You may find a lot more relief from the fear of driving if you address your grief and ongoing stress that you have with your brother.
You can find some referrals for therapists on the ADAA website.
Best wishes,
Dr. Jennifer Fee
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