Hands are sweaty and heart is racing. The head is nervously turning back and forth. That’s about how it goes for people who suffer from a fear of driving.
What is driving anxiety?
Some people are simply afraid to drive. It seems too risky for them because they are afraid of making mistakes, failing, or causing an accident. Sitting behind the wheel is simply torture for them. Driving anxiety is divided into two types: The specific and non-specific fear.
- Specific driving anxiety
The specific fear refers primarily to the fear of the car, which is difficult to see through and control, or of driving itself, for example, due to an insecurity or excessive demands in certain traffic situations. It is usually well and quickly treated.
- Nonspecific driving anxiety
In the case of nonspecific fear, it arises from other fears. It usually occurs only in certain situations related to driving, for example, the density of traffic, the narrowness in the car, the high speed and the resulting risk of accidents.
Causes
Driving anxiety has different causes and backgrounds in each person. The person affected must first become aware of these. Many of them have already been involved in an accident, witnessed one or accident reports in newspapers, television reports or similar have led to traumatization. The viewer or reader becomes aware of the risks and dangers of driving, which can cause a fear of driving. The reactions of other road users also often leads to this, for example constant honking at traffic lights or tailgating on the highways. Mocking remarks by the passenger about one’s own driving skills can also be unsettling, raise self-doubt and trigger a fear of driving. Being overwhelmed is another common reason. The car is, after all, a very complex machine. There is a great deal to consider: Steering, shifting gears, accelerating, braking, signaling, paying attention to traffic rules and other road users, all of this can be overwhelming. Lastly, there is the fear that some people have of the car. They do not manage to trust the functionality of the vehicle and therefore they are afraid of a technical failure. This can also trigger a fear of driving.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
Depending on the intensity of the driving anxiety, the symptoms also turn out differently. The physical complaints of a driving fear include moist palms to sweating, trembling, concentration problems, a jumpiness to a racing heart and sleep problems. In extreme cases, panic attacks can even occur. This leads to driving being increasingly restricted and ultimately avoided completely. The affected person is unable to get into a car because he is literally paralyzed with fear. This not only limits mobility, but is also a loss of quality of life.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis of driving anxiety is very rarely made. The reason for this is that most sufferers are ashamed to go to a doctor about it. However, if a medical professional is consulted, the diagnosis can usually be made quickly based on the symptoms described. As a general rule, the sooner the fear of driving is treated, the better. Those who suffer from panic attacks may eventually stop driving completely. This non-specific fear of driving is more successfully treatable if the sufferer has the root cause of the panic attack treated therapeutically.
Complications
Driving anxiety does not usually result in medical complications that could affect a person’s health. However, driving anxiety has a very negative impact on the patient’s life and can cause problems and difficulties in everyday life in the process. The mobility of the affected person is limited, which also decreases the quality of life. It is difficult for the person to get around without aids. This can include using public transportation. Friends and social contacts are thus negatively affected. The patient withdraws more and more and breaks off contact with other people. This can lead to depression and other psychological problems.However, a complication also arises when the driving anxiety develops without justification or is transferred to other everyday things. This can lead to the development of an anxiety disorder, which can have a strong psychological impact on the patient. Treatment is mainly directed towards therapy and talking in circles of people who also suffer from a fear of driving. Medication is not usually used. There are no complications in this process. Similarly, special driving schools can be used, which specialize in patients with driving anxiety.
When should you go to the doctor?
With a fear of driving does not always have to go to a doctor. Those who have a fear of driving but do not find it a major limitation do not necessarily need to have the phobia clarified or treated. Medical advice is required if the driving phobia significantly restricts the quality of life and well-being or is associated with other psychological problems. If the phobia grows over time and causes complications, professional advice is needed. The affected person should then talk to the family doctor or consult a therapist directly. In the case of pronounced fears, it may be useful to visit a driving school that specializes in patients with driving anxiety. Young people who suffer from acute anxiety before taking their driving test are best advised to have a mild sedative prescribed. In the case of panic attacks, however, a psychologist must be consulted, with whose help the causes of the driving anxiety can be determined and worked through. Attending a self-help group can also help overcome a phobia.
Treatment and therapy
Fear of driving should definitely be treated, because a fear of driving can be very dangerous. It causes stress and distraction, which can even result in fatal consequences. Therapy is based on the severity of the anxiety. If it is mild, it may be enough to talk oneself out of the fear with autosuggestion. A good support is to face the fear by the affected person becoming active as a driver or passenger. In the case of a more pronounced fear of driving, psychotherapy is helpful. Here, it can be determined what the fear results from and what reactions the situation evokes in order to be able to deal with it better. Accompanying this, it is equally important to confront the fear. During driving training, it is helpful to have a passenger in the car who radiates composure. It is also useful to take a few practice lessons at a driving school. In the beginning, it is advisable to drive in traffic-calmed areas and at times when there is little traffic. In this way, driving anxiety can be gradually managed. Hypnosis is another form of therapy. Usually, several sessions are required to get rid of the fears.
Outlook and prognosis
Anxiety disorder is one of the diseases of the psyche for which there is a prospect of recovery. Since anxiety is part of a natural companion and is essential for survival as a vital warning signal, permanent relief from an experience of anxiety will not and should not occur under any circumstances. However, strong fears are tormenting and stressful for humans. They can be dealt with and alleviated in targeted treatment. If no therapy is taken up with a driving fear, it can come to a steady worsening of the complaints. Short-term relief of the intensity of the anxiety is possible at any time, but in most cases the symptoms gradually increase. If further life challenges occur, a sharp increase in driving anxiety is to be expected. The prognosis improves for patients who seek help from a therapist. Provided the cooperation of the affected person is present and a good relationship of trust has been established between the patient and the therapist, there is a good chance of a significant reduction in symptoms. The duration of therapy normally depends on the intensity of the symptoms developed. If other anxiety disorders or other mental illnesses are present, complications or delays in the healing process may occur. In many cases, driving anxiety has been triggered by experiencing traumatic circumstances that have remained unprocessed.
Prevention
People with a fear of driving need to develop a routine to combat nervousness.For example, you can talk out loud while driving, as this calms the breath, brings the mind back quickly and makes you feel that the situation is easier than suspected. Thinking about pleasant experiences can also curb anxiety. Furthermore, fresh air and muscle relaxation exercises are helpful. Ultimately, the only thing that helps is to practice regularly, because only those who face up to their fear of driving can conquer it sooner or later. Insecure drivers should not sit alone in the car at first.
Aftercare
Driving anxiety represents a disease of the psyche. It can usually be successfully treated by therapy. As a result, after an initial medical follow-up, the typical symptoms are no longer present. However, it must not be assumed that anxiety per se disappears. The emotional state is vital and indispensable. Driving anxiety can reappear after recovery. There is no immunity. Certain experiences trigger the trauma. Incidents that have not been processed play a significant role. Those affected turn to a psychotherapist for treatment. The psychotherapist helps to reduce the symptoms through muscle relaxation or hypnosis. Patients bear a great deal of personal responsibility if they suffer from driving anxiety. This results not only from the high risk of injury that a car offers. Rather, they are also shown forms of exercise in therapy that they must use independently in everyday life. Only long-term training promises lasting success. After a renewed anxiety attack, the use of a traffic training center has proven effective. There, patients can get used to driving a vehicle under supervision and without endangering others. Patients also practice best in the artificial road environment how to behave during an attack. The psychotherapist or a close acquaintance should accompany such outings.
Here’s what you can do yourself
For self-help, it is important to be able to independently induce a state of relaxation. Breathing techniques, such as breathing according to a set rhythm, are suitable for this purpose and counteract the physical symptoms of anxiety. Other types of distraction while driving, such as music or conversation, are also helpful. However, danger must be ruled out here, which is why hypnosis or meditation programs should be avoided while driving. If the journey can be interrupted, short phases of movement to reduce stress are useful. In this way, cramps can also be relieved or reduced. Conversations with other sufferers help to gain a better understanding of one’s own anxiety and also to experience the understanding of others. This is particularly indicated in cases where the driving anxiety involves a worsened self-image. In the long term, it is advisable to train under safe conditions, e.g. driving on a traffic training course. In this way, the processes of driving or the sensations as a passenger can be relived over and over again until a certain tolerance sets in. The feeling of loss of control recedes, leading to a decrease in symptoms. Generally, a combination of relaxation techniques, distraction, and regular exercise is recommended for long-term success.
