u/Background-Sample-68

I have driving anxiety due to a few car accidents I have been in. They were not little fender benders either. My mom and I rolled in one, a car t-boned my friend and I, and my Honda was totaled when we ran into the back of another car due to the sun blinding us. Everybody slammed on their breaks and we didn’t react fast enough. Funny enough, the anxiety didn’t hit until about a year later.
For a very long time, every time I got into the car, I would have the worst anxiety. I would disassociate and my whole body would go numb. It has gotten a lot better. While I still get anxious to the point I don’t want to go, it is not as intense.
I’ve learned that my anxiety now is not necessarily another car crash, it is the car itself. I am scared of my brakes failing, a tire going flat, a tire popping off, etc. I sometimes have to pull over to check my tires, I check them multiple times before driving and I still sometimes think they are flat.
Anyway, I got a new job and it will require me to drive into the city. Realistically, the drive is not too bad. It is 97% freeway and 3% city. 40 minutes in total. I start next Monday.
I am terrified to drive into the city and am not sure how to calm myself down.
Any tips?
Thanks!

my girl has always had teeth issues. she had to have multiple removed a year or two ago due to becoming loose.

the last time i took her in about 5-6 months ago, i went to get her teeth cleaned but they had to instead extract a rotten tooth. they asked me to bring her back in within a few months to get her teeth cleaned due to gum hyperplasia.

well…took her into the vet today and the vet called and told me her hyperplasia has gotten much worse. my poor girls mouth was very inflamed. i had no idea as she has been running and eating just fine. vet was shocked she was still eating and running and within a normal weight range.

they are wondering if it is possibly cancer due to how severe it has gotten. if it is cancer and gets worse, they told me i might need to consider euthanasia down the road.

if not, either way, we are going to need to extract all her teeth.

i am devastated. we had a biopsy sent and will go pick her up soon. she will be on pain medication and antibiotics.

i am praying it is not cancer as i am not ready to even consider parting with her yet.

wish us both luck <3