Conquer The Fear Of Driving Successfully

Posted on March 8th, 2010

If you drive a car then you know how much of a convenience it can be getting from one place to another. There is no need to wait in line for your turn on a ride and you can also get a whole lot of privacy since you don’t need to share a seat with someone that you do not know. There are very few people who would rather ride public transportation than drive themselves around.

Among the few people who would rather ride public transportation are elderly people who may no longer be able to drive, minors without a permit to drive, those trying to save on gas, people who don’t know how to drive and people who are scared to drive. You might think that the first four people all have valid excuses not to drive, but to be scared of driving doesn’t really seem very right.

This kind of condition is actually very real and it is no laughing matter. There are those individuals who are truly frightened at the thought of driving. No they simply do not get cold feet or butterflies on their stomachs because it is their first time or they might not own the car they are driving. Their fear is greater than this and it stems from much bigger problems.

More often than not the fear of driving is also considered a phobia under the umbrella of anxiety disorders. People who experience this kind of phobia may have had a very traumatic event that gives them constant tension with driving. Perhaps they were involved in an accident or watched an accident happen.

Commonly they experience the same symptoms as people with anxiety when they need to drive a car or even think about driving. Yes, the mere thought of getting into a car can already cause them to feel sick. Sweating, increased heart beats, nausea, the thought of losing control, blacking out, extreme fear, being scared of dying and  the thought of losing one’s mind are only some symptoms that can be experienced. These are also known as panic attacks and this is what take place when the fear of driving sets in.

Going through panic attacks on account of being afraid to drive can be very difficult and embarrassing for those suffering from it. Since it is classified as a type of anxiety disorder it can also be coupled with depression. A lot of individuals with this condition will tend to fell depressed because of what they cannot do or how people view them.

It is a good thing that it is possible to conquer the fear of driving. It can be done with the help of a professional such as a physician who can prescribe medications to help ease the anxiety and panic attacks. Medication can also be given to get rid of depression. For others they turn to therapy to be able to get over this fear. Psychotherapy may be used in order to deal with the problem. Therapists will often make sufferers realize what the problem is and how they can turn this negative experience into something more positive. Different approaches and methods can also be employed to help get the best results.

For those who may not be able to afford these types of treatment or are wary about them, self help can also be done. It is important to realize the root of the problems and why it occurs. Acceptance of what has happened in the past causing the fear is also vital. Once this has been done it will be good to learn some relaxation techniques that can be used to calm the body down when facing the fear of driving.

Successfully being able to conquer the fear of driving is best done by confronting the fear and trying to drive. There’s no need to hurry and jump into things immediately. A simple start can be done just by visualizing oneself in the car. Eventually actually sitting in the driver’s seat should be done followed by a series of other small steps. In the end the sufferer should not experience any panic attacks or symptoms as they drive.

It may not seem like an easy task. Whether you choose to seek help from a physician or help yourself out, conquering the fear of driving is important. Don’t give up and be patient you will eventually get the results that you want and be able to live a better and more convenient life.


John Hoyner has gained extensive knowledge on anxiety and topics like how to conquer fear of driving. Find out his advice on other topics through his other articles.
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