Driving Anxiety: Treating Anxiety Behind The Wheel

The fear of getting behind the wheel is more common than you think. Anxiety can manifest itself in many ways, including driving. Over 40 million Americans live with a phobia or anxiety, and one of the most commonly cited instances is driving anxiety. Around 25-33 percent of people that are involved in a car accident end up experiencing a driving phobia, while millions of others develop their fear either from past bad experiences, performance anxiety, a fear of accidents or claustrophobia. Overcoming is, however, quite possible. While it can take some time and work on your part, millions of drivers successfully move past their fears about driving every day.

How Do I Know I Have Driving Anxiety?

Driving phobia is one of the forms of agoraphobia, an anxiety disorder that can cause you to panic or avoid situations where you fear the loss of control or the feeling of helplessness and embarrassment. For many of those with driving anxiety, it is the loss of control that triggers their fear. The physical symptoms of driving anxiety are quite similar to any other panic attack – i.e. heart palpitations, sweating, shortness of breath or even disorientation. Another way to identify driving fears is to pinpoint any negative memories or experiences that you may not be able to move past. If you find yourself constantly reliving these memories or flashbacks, and the feeling of getting behind the wheel fills you with dread, you may have driving anxiety.

Identify The Triggers Behind Your Anxiety

Identifying your anxiety triggers is a large part of moving past your fear of driving. Once you know what is driving your apprehension, you can identify the correct ways to address them. For most people, it is the fear of an accident or memories of being in a car accident. If you find it difficult to be in a car after an accident, this can be classified as a form of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Common treatment options include speaking to a therapist and receiving cognitive or behavioral therapy for your fears.

Practice Relaxation Techniques

Another option to help you move past your anxiety about being behind the wheel is the practice of relaxation techniques such as meditation or hypnotherapy. If you are behind the wheel and suddenly feel overwhelmed, try pulling over to a safe location and practicing the deep breathing technique. Alternatively, you can get out of the car for a few minutes and have a short break.

If you are at home, meditation tapes or practicing a driving anxiety meditation program can help you relax and confront your worries rationally. Also, you can download calming songs for the drive. Start with slow or quiet roads (or parking lots) to practice your relaxation techniques and slowly venture out on longer drives or busy roadways.

Choose A Highly Rated Car Before Getting Behind the Wheel

Sometimes, feeling more in control is all we need to overcome our fear of a situation – and it’s no different when it comes to driving anxiety. Investing in a car known for its safety features can reassure you and soothe any fears of crashing. Many cars now come with safety features such as braking and proximity sensors, cameras or stability control. Spending some time reviewing expert and driver ratings for vehicles can help you choose a car that is known for its reliability and safety features.

Explore The Use of Virtual Reality in Role Play

The market is flooded with virtual reality gaming and simulation equipment that can help you confront your fears about driving. In fact, using virtual reality to create safer drivers is not an uncommon practice. If you are too fearful of getting behind the wheel, try downloading virtual reality driving software and practicing until you feel more comfortable.

Finally, make it a habit to conduct car checks before heading out on a journey. Knowing your car is in optimal condition will help you feel more confident. The more you practice these steps, you better your driving anxiety will get. Before you know it, driving will be nothing but a routine task in your day.