Dear Eric: I am a 63-year-old female who has been married for 45 years to a wonderful man. We’ve been blessed with a great relationship but the last two years I’ve developed a phobia about riding or driving a car on the highway. I’m fine on city streets and residential streets, but when getting on the highways I have started to have extreme fear and anxiety to the point of full-blown panic attacks.
This angers my husband immensely. He tells me “I’m crazy” and that I need to “pull up my big girl panties”. He’s also called me some vile names which I can’t repeat here.
I know it’s irrational and I can’t understand why it is happening. He’s now threatening to sell my car, even though I have no trouble driving to the store, doctor’s office, hair salon, etc. I don’t have insurance that covers mental health issues, and I’ve priced counselors, but frankly we can’t afford it as we are retired and on a very limited budget.
My doctor doesn’t want to put me on anxiety meds as she believes they are addictive and suggests I “just breathe” to combat this. I’m at a loss what to do. Any suggestions? – Rough Road Dear Road: It’s possible your husband’s abusive language and behavior is making your anxiety worse.
Anxiety latches on to anything that it can, so perhaps there’s something else you’re struggling with and it’s showing up in the car. Regardless, your husband should be supporting you, not calling you names. The National Domestic Viol.