New here. Made an appt with Dr, how do I get him to help me

[Bree]

Hi All.
I have been dealing with some anxiety for the last 2 years. About 2 years ago, I had a major panic attack while driving over a bridge/highway, and after that, driving on highways became a huge issue. I have dealt with it by avoiding highways, and natural stress relieving remedies, and I do ok most of the time. But I am too scared to venture out anywhere farther, like an hour or 2 away. This was NEVER, EVER a problem for me in the past.

I called my family dr. today to make an appt because I feel like I need some help. The girl on the phone scheduled me in, but said he doesn't really deal with that sort of thing, and he sends ppl to I guess shrinks, and they are 6-8 weeks out, and 2 of the 3 don't take insurance.

A lot of my anxiety seems situation specific - highways.
I know that I need help, but not really sure what kind. I don't want to be medicated all the time. I don't want to talk to anyone about my problems (that's what forums are for!), I guess I just want occasional relief from occasional, situation specific anxiety.

[Jombie]

Well, there's only so much help that you can get from a bunch of strangers online that's for sure. ;)

If he's your trusted family doctor just be honest and upfront. You have a problem and you'd simply like to find a remedy for it.

Now, this is just me, but I really don't see anything wrong in taking a little medication. My general practioner put me on Lexapro before I went into counceling for my troubles w/ general anxiety. The side effects are minimal in low dosage so it wouldn't hurt to try, eh? It helped me quite a bit.

[serenadin]

Bree,

Its common knowledge that if you replay a thought or memory... the same physiological chemical processes FIRST experienced will recur. Like if you think of biting into a whole lemon... yellow, fresh, and tangy spraying lemon, your mouth waters...

Same thing with sexual experiences.

Same thing with EVERYTHING. BUT

We rarely put one and one together and realize that all you have to do to stop the recurring physiological processes based on a mental event is to interrupt it.

In other words... you have panic driving along a freeway. Chances are EVERY FREEWAY will remind of that one freeway you FIRST on which you first had a panic attack. IN FACT.. you may not remember consciously... BUT i bet there was a car with someone in it that made you nervous. Maybe what they were doing... maybe they looked over at you... whatever!.. doesnt matter...

NOW.. if you link the experience of driving on a freeway AND the make and model or color of that car to a new experience... you have TWO unique REINFORCING stimuli that reTRIGGER your first panic attack.

So... all you have to do is interrupt the process of cognitive association.