How to overcome your fear of driving

Driving phobias stem from overwhelming distress at the thought of driving a vehicle. The physiological response is mostly centered on the nervous system and can lead to severe panic disorder in some individuals if left untreated. Some find it extremely unnerving to ride as passengers. In contrast, others have an aversion to specific driving situations, for instance, when they have to change lanes, drive through tunnels, over bridges, or when their vehicles begin to accelerate.

A driving phobia can divulge into severe panic attacks if left unchecked during its early stages. The effects of this phobia can have negative, long-term consequences on other aspects of one’s life, not to mention the health implications.

It can be treated with exposure therapy, positive thinking, and a few other techniques, which we’ll discuss in this article.

Causes Of Driving Phobia

Fearful drivers are absolutely terrified of driving due to catastrophic assumptions. However, there are several other reasons why some people find the act of driving frightening. Some of them are as follows:

• Traumatic life experiences or emotional reasoning, perhaps once being involved in a car accident
• Catastrophic assumptions or witnessing fatal car accidents
• Getting lost or being stranded at some point in time while driving
• Having little or no trust in one’s driving skills

Tips To Help You Get Over Your Fear Of Driving

Like other phobias, getting over one’s fear of driving might not happen overnight, but it is possible. Below are some useful tips that will help rid you of the high anxiety you feel while driving:

1. Hire a Driving Instructor

A large percentage of people with driving phobia only need a little confidence in their driving skills. One of the best ways to overcome the fear of driving is by taking lessons from a qualified instructor with sufficient driving knowledge and patience to guide you properly until you can drive independently.

Ensure to attend every lesson if you intend to rid yourself of your anxiety. Some people stop driving altogether and choose to ride public transportation, which is a terrible idea because avoiding driving doesn’t solve the problem and will only make your fear worse.

2. Drive with Someone Who Can Provide You With Emotional Support

Being a little nervous when driving alone is normal, especially if you’re still a bit green. However, if you fear losing control of your vehicle and causing a car accident, you should probably consider bringing along a trusted friend, at least for the first few weeks. Make sure to carefully choose who you bring along, as you’ll need all the positivity you can get if you’re to get rid of the intense fear of driving that you feel.

3. Practice Your Driving During Daytime

Driving anxiety can happen to anyone. Attempting to free yourself of this setback is a step in the right direction. However, the time you choose to practice your driving matters just as much. It’s never a good idea to try to get over your anxiety by practicing at night since there are many more things you have to worry about when you can barely see the road.

For instance, you’d have to worry about staying on the right lane, animals running into the road, and the possibility of not seeing pedestrians about to cross. To become a confident driver, it’s best to practice during the day, at least until you can try at other times.

4. Practice Relaxation Techniques

To overcome a driving phobia, you must first learn to free your mind of worry. Being constantly paranoid will prevent you from being able to relax, which is very important when driving. Meditation is one of the most effective ways to calm the mind, and the best part is that you can do it whenever and as many times as you like within the comfort of your home.

You can also practice deep breathing exercises while listening to soothing music. Taking deep breaths regularly will help condition your mind and body to stay calm in situations where you would normally feel uncomfortable and keep you from having a panic attack when driving during rush hour.

5. Stop Your Negative Thinking And Panic Attacks With Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy will go a long way in helping you face and overcome the extreme anxiety you feel when behind the steering wheel. Start by sitting in your vehicle for a moment without touching anything or turning on the ignition. Once you’re able to relax, you can then put your hands on the steering. Remember, you don’t necessarily have to start your vehicle if you don’t feel up to it.

Repeat this process regularly if you fear driving by yourself until you feel comfortable enough to start your vehicle. It’s important that you don’t rush through this process, as pushing yourself beyond what you’re capable of can reverse any progress you’ve made. Next, add more complex tasks daily as you get comfortable with the previous one. Give it a few weeks, and before you know it, you’ll drive comfortably and worry-free.

6. Be Brutally Honest With Yourself

Honesty can be a critical step to overcoming your fears. You don’t necessarily have to confide your fears to anyone or have a phobia workbook, so long as you acknowledge it as the problem that it is. If you feel like talking to someone about it, then, by all means, do so with someone who can see the situation from your perspective and guide you on how to overcome this specific phobia or recommend viable treatment options.

7. Use Positive Affirmations

Don’t beat yourself up about your anxiety disorder or if you have panic attacks whenever you’re behind the wheel. Instead, use words of affirmation to boost your confidence. It might not seem like much at first. However, self-encouragement is a very effective tool for overcoming your driving phobia. Before turning on your vehicle’s ignition, say a few words of encouragement to yourself.

Start your engine when you feel up to it and begin to drive slowly while watching the road ahead. It helps to roll down the windows and allow fresh air in. You’ll be surprised how much this helps in calming the nerves.

8. Try Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy Or Consult A Mental Health Professional

If you experience incessant panic attacks whenever you get into the driver’s seat, and if the situation doesn’t seem to be improving, your best course of action is to consult with a licensed mental health professional for a treatment plan, try virtual reality exposure therapy, which will check for subtle safety behaviors or you can as well join a support group.

Final Words

Fear of driving, like many other mental disorders, fear of driving has a nasty habit of interfering with other aspects of one’s daily life and routine and, therefore, must be nipped in the bud. Luckily, with time you can rid yourself of this limitation by utilizing the tips listed above.