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Fear of motorways?

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    #32
    Speedwell
    Registered Users Posts: 3,809 ✭✭✭Speedwell


    This (warning, triggering image for phobics) beat the fear of motorways right out of me. I traveled on this thing nearly every single day. The building where I used to work is just behind the one in the extreme top left corner, and my old apartment is about three miles to the right. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bf/RF_-_Houston_West_Loop_South.1.jpeg


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    #33
    emptynest
    Registered Users Posts: 5 ✭emptynest


    magochre wrote: »
    emptynest wrote: »
    Sounds like Motorists Vestibular Disorientation Syndrome

    How do you treat this?

    Recently I've been feeling an awful urge to veer left on motorway. Suffer with migraines and had a left eye cataract op. City/urban driving is fine, even country roads. Seems related to speed. Terrifying. I need to sort it.

    Stopped using motorways till my eye was completely recovered and then two days ago I tried again, once I hit 80 km/p/hr on M50 it kicked in. I used to be fine but now I feel I'll cause an accident if I drive any motorway.
    You could ask your doctor to make you an appointment with an ENT consultant (Ear, Nose & Throat) and ask for some specialised vestibular tests. Once you explain your symptoms, they should know what to do. Beacon Hospital in Dublin has a specialised clinic for the tests required. You should check on the internet for published works on the topic by Prof Michael A. Gresty from the UK. it has similar case studies and offers some guidance on therapies.


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    #34
    magochre
    Registered Users Posts: 41 ✭magochre


    ^Thank you. :)

    I went to my gp and she checked my ears and co-ordination. Her assessment is that it isn't physical as it only happens on the motorway...so far. While she doesn't categorize it strictly as a panic attack she feels it's in that sort of area.


    She's referred me to a driving assessor who deals with people with anxiety and/or cognitive impairment (!). I won't get an appt till Oct.

    If this doesn't help I'll need to have more tests done. I want it to be physical tbh as I believe any irrational or displaced anxiety will be far harder to both confront and deal with.

    Thanks again for your suggestion.


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    #35
    emptynest
    Registered Users Posts: 5 ✭emptynest


    Any update following your appt in October?


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    #36
    magochre
    Registered Users Posts: 41 ✭magochre


    Ah, thanks for asking. Assessor reckons I've no physical difficulties or impairments and that it's stress related which has just tipped into anxiety/panic attack-like symptoms.

    He suggested avoiding motorways by getting a sat nav.

    I can do that on normal days but there are places I need to travel which involve national roads too, which I find it happens on too

    I haven't taken it further tbh till my hand is forced. I keep saying I'll try other routes but other than driving in the city and suburbs (which is just fine) I've avoided addressing it since.

    I have been thinking of hypnotherapy. Someone also suggested CBT. Not sure about that though.

    The sat nav (practicing using it on familiar routes) is not reassuring or dependable so far!

    Thanks again.


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