Dear Amy: I have been married to my husband for more than 30 years. Our relationship is loving but challenging.
I have always done most of the changing, adapting and forgiving. Apologizing is not his forte, but he is a good, kindhearted man.
We’re both professionally successful and supportive of each other. Our adult children all live nearby. We’re a close and loving family.
I’ve recently developed a condition called amaxophobia, a specific phobia about riding in a vehicle.
Symptoms include extreme anxiety, shortness of breath, nausea and a racing heart. I have all of these symptoms — but only when I am a passenger in the car that my husband is driving. It does not affect me when I am the driver or riding with other people.
My husband has always been a fast driver, speeding and tailgating other cars.
In the last few years, I have had to hold onto the seat or side door and press my feet into the floor to feel safe, and recently, my anxiety has increased.
The last time we rode together I was in tears: sweating, having difficulty breathing, teeth grinding, and terrified about having an accident.
We’ve had long discussions about this. He has agreed to drive more slowly, but doesn’t.
I suggested that he drive locally, and I drive on highways. He is unwilling to make this change, so I’ve been going to the city (45 minutes away) with friends for the past several months, while agreeing to ride as a passenger with him when we’re in town.
He now blames me for ruining our future retirement. He’s unwilling to go to therapy.
I have no other anxiety or fear issues.
Any suggestions I’m overlooking?
Wife Looking for Answers
Dear Looking: Your husband’s career of dangerous driving, speeding and tailgating is more likely to lead to an accident as he ages and his reaction time slows.
I doubt that he would allow a neutral person to assess his driving, but the AARP does offer an online driving course (aarpdriversafety.org); I assume that successfully passing this course could lower insurance rates, in addition to coaching your husband toward safer driving.
He has staked his position, and you should be very matter of fact about your options and choices.
Your body’s extreme anxiety response is a distinct signal telling you what you need to do. This is your “fight or flight” response in high gear.
I suggest that you buy, borrow or rent a second car — or use other transportation — when you and he are traveling a far distance, so that you can safely arrive at your destination and (fingers crossed) see your husband there when you arrive.
Arriving safely at a destination does not ruin your retirement; it saves it.
Please, seek therapy for yourself, both to manage your anxiety and to discuss your response to your husband’s rigidity and lack of respect.
Dear Amy: I’ve been with my partner for 22 years. We have lived together for most of that time.
We talked about getting married when our respective children graduated from high school. That was 10 years ago.
My partner’s son, who is now almost 30, still lives with us.
He pays absolutely nothing, does nothing for the house, and works when he feels like it. His mom still does his laundry and changes his sheets for him.
He is now bringing home a bunch of stuff and believes it’s OK to do so.
I totally disagree with the whole scenario. I think he should be told to leave.
I’m confused because it’s been 22 years, and this is putting a lot of strain on the home front.
I feel like the hints I’ve thrown out there don’t seem to faze anyone or make any difference.
What should I do?
Feeling Used
Dear Used: Your patience and passivity have reached pathological proportions. I assume that you believe you don’t have any power or say in this relationship. But this is your life and your home, and you have the right (and responsibility) to stake your own claim regarding what you want.
It’s time to stop hinting, and to start talking.
Dear Amy: I have to admit, I was quite surprised — and happy — to see you advocating for some fun and shame-free “hot sex” in your normally very staid column, in your response to “The Older Woman.”
New Fan
Dear Fan: It must be a result of this summer’s heat wave.
(To clarify: All of this hot sex should be between available and consenting adults.)
You can email Amy Dickinson at [email protected] or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.
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