Do the very thought of driving sends cold shivers down your spine? Driving anxiety is one of the most common types of anxiety that all of us have faced at some point in our life. The driving anxiety can range from hesitation while driving to a refusal to drive completely. If it is a refusal to drive at all, we can’t call that anxiety, that’s a phobia. Phobias are irrational and need to be eradicated as soon as possible to ensure a better as well as improved quality of life.
The driving phobia can arise owing to an array of reasons. It can be because you came in front of a car in your childhood, had been witness to motor racing, accompanied the very fast or rather the maniac drivers seated in the passenger seat, or met with an accident while you were behind the wheels. Regardless of the reason behind this, you need to overcome your fear of driving.
Recognize the Symptoms
If you are suffering from a phobia, you can experience an array of emotions as well as physical reactions. Some of them are mild and some, debilitating. The most common reaction is stopping the activity altogether. Here are a few other reactions that you may face.
- Physical reactions in the form of headaches, chest pains, nausea, etc
- Feeling displaced or surreal
- Planning driving trips much more elaborate than necessary
Here are a few helpful tips for you to control this phobia.
Face Fear
As already discussed, there may be several things that induced driving phobia in you. If you are in your early days trying your hands behind the wheel, a slight hesitation is absolutely normal; you need a bit of practice. If you are always frightened to drive, you will never be able to overcome it.
In case you are finding it hard to drive because you had met with a horrifying accident a few months ago, it’s time to face it.
Accidents don’t take place every day.
It is alright. That was a bad day for you.
Be careful and start driving. Even if you feel terribly anxious, you need to get behind the wheel. If you don’t, you can’t overcome the fear.
Make Yourself Easy
One of the most common reactions to driving phobia is giving up driving altogether. If you do this, it would amplify your fear substantially. When you are afraid of something, your brain supports it, asking you to stop that activity. This intensifies the trouble.
A friend of mine met with a horrifying accident a few months before. She almost got crushed under an 18 wheeler. She suffered grievous injuries and had to be in the hospital for a month. She took the aid of a Houston 18 wheeler accident lawyers, got compensated, and treated her injuries. Long after she was cured, she found it hard to drive. The grievous incident flashed in front of her eyes whenever she tried her hands at the wheel. But one fine day, she decided that she has to control this fear.
She started sitting at the wheels when the car is in the garage and then slowly started driving in the neighborhood. Slowly, she overcame her fear, and today, she is not afraid to drive on the highways either.
You can do the same. Start by sitting in the driver’s seat when the car is in the garage and slowly start driving. You will overcome fear in little time.
Manage Stress
One of the most common causes of prolonged anxiety is stress. Make sure that you take all possible measures to reduce stress as much as possible. You can do that by exercising, meditating, or doing yoga.
When you are behind the wheels, reduce tension. If you are tensed, you will find it really hard to concentrate on the task at hand. Similarly, if you are tensed while driving, there will be higher chances to meet with an accident.
Relax when you drive. If you feel getting tensed while driving, tighten up, and then release the tension. Follow this technique until you are at ease. If you are not tensed, believe me, you will be a better driver.
If you find it hard to control the panic attacks and still can’t make yourself drive, get professional help as soon as possible. This will allow you to get back to the track.
Greg Baumgartner handles truck accident lawsuits for victims of truck accidents in Texas. He is an expert Texas Truck Accident Lawyer with an exemplary track record.
