The Road To Success – Overcome Your Driving Phobia

September 7th, 2010 Posted in Mental Health

Bam! After I was hit, I began to slowly, steer, my mangled, mesh of metal, over to the side of the highway. I was shaken and sullen. Although I was perfectly fine physically, I left this accident with a phobia of driving.

In general, most people drive on a daily basis. We drive to our place of employment, or to spend time with friends. We will even drive around the corner to the grocery market. If driving is one of your phobias, how can you overcome this? What will it take to get you back on the road?

Believe it or not, a phobia of driving isn’t uncommon. Most, would rather not admit that they are suffering. After the crash, I dreaded getting behind the wheel. I’d carpool, walk, or simply stay home, if I couldn’t get to my destination by other means.

The feeling is horrible. If you live in a suburban environment, where you have to drive everywhere, this can be most crippling.

First, give yourself permission to have a phobia of driving.  The fact that you have it is  very logical. You were encased in a ton of metal, after a terrifying crash. Now if that’s not cause for a phobia of driving, what is?

Before we look at some answers to the dilemma of your phobia of driving, let’s take a look at the causes.

Maybe you are squeamish about the sound of the impact itself.

Perhaps anxiety has the best of you, for fear that another accident is inevitable.

Maybe you feel overwhelmed by the signs, lights, and maze of speeding cars.

Many things can cause a phobia of driving. You will have to discover what the precursor was. Take your time, and examine your situation.

You probably won’t get near a vehicle, so how can you overcome this phobia of driving? Once you’ve uncovered the origins, try to counteract it by trying a new approach.

If rush hour terrifies you, try a longer, but less-traveled route. Think of it as a maze that you will need to navigate. Each mile driven will be an achievement. Get ready, get set, and start your engine.

This fear of driving doesn’t have to consume you. A thoughtful, and patient, approach to driving a car, can get you back into the driver’s seat.