Monday, June 24, 2013

On the road to Roanoke

The road is narrow and curvy and hilly, but the canopy of green trees over it makes it seem safer than it did when I drove it every day.
Larry and I are on our way to Roanoke, and we are driving on first one road then another that used to be familiar to me.
Some of that sense of familiarity returns as we go further along the roads and we start passing landmarks.
The garage with its collection of old Volkswagens. The church at the intersection. The place I ran out of the road in the rain one dark morning. The convenience store exactly 20 miles from home. The hill I tried to make it down in the ice. I had to turn around and try again the third time.
On this Saturday trip, I’m talking with Larry about this and that, but I’m feeling the anxiety of years ago.


Nearly six years ago in late September, I took a job with a newspaper in Roanoke. I thought I would enjoy the job enough that the long commute on lonely roads would make up for it.
I edited letters to the editor and commentaries, and I worked in the newspaper library.
Every morning I left the house by 6:15 to get to work by 7:30. I worked until 4 p.m., and then drove home. If I hit the lights right in the city and didn’t get behind a line of traffic on the two-lane roads, I could get home a little after 5.
Late that fall into the winter, I started having what I found out later were panic attacks and severe anxiety. I became afraid to drive. I clenched the wheel all the way to Roanoke and all the way back home, afraid I was going to wreck.
I did wreck in late October. I wasn’t speeding, but I was going too fast for the wet roads one morning, and my car whirled around and off the road. I thought I was going to flip and actually gave myself over to that idea. I didn’t flip but stopped a few feet away from a utility pole. I wasn’t hurt and I was able to drive away from the accident.
But that just heightened my fears of driving and my anxiety in general.
I went to my family doctor and he tried me on different medications. They just seemed to make things worse. I couldn’t focus. I couldn’t sit still.
I sat at my computer at work and had to will myself to open up a file and edit. I was so afraid of not doing a good job.
I was so afraid.
I finally turned in my resignation and left the job in February, feeling unable to continue the long drive and the work.


But that was years ago. I eventually got help from a specialist, a psychiatrist. I got on the right medication. I received therapy. I was in a much better place now.
I remind myself of that as I ride along with Larry in his truck on Saturday. I have an opportunity to enjoy the day with my husband. And I’m going to do that.
We chat about things, comment on the scenery, the houses and horses and farmland we pass. Then we concentrate on finding our way around a city that we’re not as familiar with as cities closer to where we live.


Our first stop is a parts store to pick up a lawn mower guard which Larry couldn’t find in Lynchburg or Danville.
Then we ride around and find a restaurant to eat. I had found Wildflour Café on the Internet, and I want to eat there because they have a variety of foods available, including vegetarian selections.

Centerpiece on the table.

The food is great, and the atmosphere is relaxed. I eat a burger made of black beans and corn, along with sweet potato fries. Larry gets a regular burger and fries. We share an appetizer of fried green tomatoes with a chipotle-like sauce.
Then we drive home. We talk about what we see. We ride in silence. We talk some more. It is peaceful. It is OK.

Have you ever revisited a place or situation that used to cause you anxiety?

26 comments:

  1. Hi Tina, your photos are lovely. It is fantastic that you realize that you are in a better place now, I am really proud of you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Linda. I appreciate your comment. Yes, I am in a much better place.

      Delete
  2. Oh I see you are no longer suffering from writers block. I love this piece it makes me feel like I am experiencing the ride and the anxiety of memories of the past and the silence and relaxation of the peaceful drive home. Welcome back. My answer to your question most every day:) Hugs B

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. B, thank you. I was glad to get past the writer's block or whatever that was. :-) I have anxiety connected to a lot of places, too, so every day presents me with some kind of challenge. But that's OK--I need the challenge!

      Delete
  3. What gorgeous photos and lovely scenery. I am glad you were able to enjoy it anxiety-free. There is still a place I have yet to visit due to the anxiety I associate with it. I probably need to do that...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Keith. It helped me to have someone with me as I traveled those roads again. Perhaps that would help you.

      Delete
  4. a very nice memory to 'pave over' the old ones. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Theresa. Yes, the old road led to new peace. :-)

      Delete
  5. Glad you were able to enjoy the day and being in the moment. Keep riding on that road and maybe soon you will only associate it with good memories!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Janet. That was key--being in the moment. I had to steer clear of the bad memories and focus on what was going on in the moment.

      Delete
  6. You were really brave to revisit something that caused you so much anxiety in the past. Kudos for your courage!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Nadine. There was a lot of anxiety involved, including anxiety and guilt over leaving that job BECAUSE of the anxiety. Visiting the city again helped.

      Delete
  7. I'm glad you were able to have a good time with Larry, and lunch sounds delicious. :). It couldn't have been easy riding over those roads again, but you did it, and good for you.

    And yes, just last week, in fact, i went to lunch alone at a place where i'd had a bad panic attack a few years back. I had a nice relaxing time, and i was proud of myself! You have a great Monday, Tina!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Mary. And good for you! That's great that you went back to a place where you experienced a lot of anxiety and was able to relax. That's great!

      Delete
  8. Beautiful photos - and sounds like a lovely trip! It's always difficult to revisit places associated with not so pleasant memories. You deserve pats on the back that you were able to do it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Becky. It's surprising to me how much anxiety can be connected to a place, even a road.

      Delete
  9. I have just put on the Fried Green Tomatoes sound track, and I've never had fried sweet potatoes, maybe time to try making some. I think it is great that you had Larry with you, it can't of been easy to retrace that path.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Lynn. It was nice to have Larry along.

      I enjoyed the movied Fried Green Tomatoes. I thought of that as I ate the appetizer! Sweet potato fries are delicious!

      Delete
  10. I'm so glad you were able to find some medicine that helps.

    I adore Wildflour. I'm not crazy about the menu at the one at Towers, but I adore the one on 4th street! One of my favorites on the menu is the smoked salmon salad. Divine :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Lisa. I wasn't sure which one to go to, and Larry preferred driving to the one at Towers. You and I will have to meet and have lunch together at the one on 4th someday! :-)

      Delete
  11. It's great that you've been able to put, new, good memories over some of the older, anxious memories. I like it when I feel like I can 'reclaim' a place from anxiety or depression, and remember it more fondly instead. I admire your tenacity regarding writing and work. It is tough to know when to say 'no more' and leave a difficult situation, and it is tough to keep on writing, with blogs or whatever afterwards. I wish you much luck!
    Adventures in Anxiety Land

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you. I appreciate your kind words. I like the idea of replacing anxious memories with more pleasant ones.

      Delete
  12. I have never suffered from anxiety and I have never experienced the things that you write about. This sounded like a fun "ride in the car", pretty pictures!! I often use soda bottles as a vase, I love that look!! They are also wonderful to use if you want to send a few blooms from the garden, home with a friend!!

    I hope you having a great week!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Debbie. I like the soda bottle look, too. And I liked that the flowers in the bottles in the restaurant were live flowers.

      Delete
  13. There are many places I choose not to go because I know it will cause me some anxiety or social issues. Crowds are not my thing -- I tend to avoid them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nancy, I am with you on the crowds. I don't like to be in them either. Part of it is the noise factor. Thanks for your comment.

      Delete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.