2018-10-01_Reader_s_Digest_AUNZ

THE

FEAR

FACTOR

My panic attacks came out of nowhere

and were utterly terrifying

I

t was 6pm, September 2001,

and I was driving our van on an

intercity highway. I was 36 and

heading to dinner at my par-

ents’ house. My husband was

in Bermuda where he’d just landed

a two-year contract and was looking

for an apartment so I can join him. So

it was just me making the half-hour

drive I’d made hundreds of times.

The news on the radio was the

recent September 11 terrorist attacks.

It seemed I couldn’t get away from the

shocking news and images; I hadn’t

been sleeping well. As I approached

a bridge my heart suddenly started

beating rapidly.hen my legs turned

to jelly.You’re going to drive off the

bridge, a voice in my head warned.

Then my arms went numb.You’re

abouttolosecontrolanddie.Iwaster-

riied. My hands gripped the wheel; I

just wanted to make it over the bridge

and to the exit. I did, then I pulled

BY BONNIE MUNDAY

October• 2018 | 71