Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Dealing With The Fear of Driving

By Anastasie Paquet


When I was 12 years old, I was driving with my dad back home from a classmate's birthday party. It was dark, and raining, and some driver trying to make it through the intersection when the light was turning red rammed us at 50 mph.To this day I have scars all over my body, and it took physical therapy to get me back to normal. My dad came out relatively unharmed save some minor injuries.

That is a real shame, because fear of driving phobia can be treated and indeed, it can be cured completely. Like most phobias, it's a mental state which doesn't have to be permanent. In fact, it's entirely up to the person who suffers from it to decide that he or she will get over their fear of driving a car. If you too suffer from this phobia, know that the answer lies within you. All you have to do is make a commitment to yourself.

Do not let the fear of driving control your life any longer. Do something about today so you can feel more confident while driving and have fun at the same time.I made a website to help people like YOU who have a fear of driving. Why would you want to live with a fear? If I were you I would do something to try and get over the fear. Trust me with my advice you WILL get over your fear of driving.Driving fears are far more common than you think. Having a fear of driving is dangerous because it causes you to think and act illogically on the road. It places you in harm's way and increases risks of encountering a vehicular accident. Despite these dangers, people who suffer from it fail to equip themselves with knowledge. So we're going to give you five reasons why you should learn about this fear other than the fact that it can help you get over fear of driving.

You are personally dealing with it. There's no better reason to learn more about driving fears. Gone are the days when people relied on their doctors to deal with whatever condition they have. We have moved on to a world where patients empower themselves with knowledge. In your case, knowing more about your fear of driving will help you beat it. Reading more about driving fears will also help you determine if that is what you truly have. It's possible that you have driving anxiety or phobia which exhibit similar symptoms but require different treatments. You can prevent symptoms from taking place or from worsening. That's because knowledge makes you self-aware and awareness enables you to determine whether you are experiencing fear. Upon noticing what you're going through, you can prevent your symptoms from escalating. Learning to control symptoms is also a critical step for anyone who wants to get over fear of driving.

Take deep breaths -- If you're ever driving and start to experience one of the many symptoms of your phobia (sweating, stomach aches, nausea), take a few deep breaths. Inhale and exhale slowly. Deep breaths steady the heart beat and help you to relax.Always remember that you can overcome your driving phobia. Take the first step and make a firm decision to get over your fears and start on a new road.

Are you keeping your fear of driving a secret? You're not alone. Many people who share your fear often keep it a secret, afraid of being ridiculed for something that isn't normally heard of. Perhaps this is also the reason why no one from your friends and family know about it. It must be difficult to be surrounded by people who talk about driving as a normal part of their lives when the mere thought of it makes you feel uneasy. Then again, there's really nothing to be embarrassed about. You can talk your way out when getting over the fear of driving.

Some people only have trouble driving in rush hour traffic, while others are not even able to put the key in the ignition switch. Phobias are generally caused by one of three things; how you were raised, a traumatic experience, or being in a truly terrifying situation. A phobia can trigger the body's natural fight or flight response making your symptoms even worse. No matter where or how it strikes, you can overcome your phobia through hypnosis.A driving phobia can be caused by many things, maybe you were in a car accident when you were young and it left you traumatized. Maybe you do not even know why you are afraid. Do you tell yourself that you will not be afraid, only to have the anxiety return? This is because you are dealing with your conscious mind but the fear lies within your subconscious mind, and that is where it must be addressed.

Talk to your friends.The next people to tell about your anxiety and plans of getting over the fear of driving are friends. They don't need to know the past behind your fear if sharing it makes you feel uncomfortable. What you can tell them are the symptoms you're experiencing, what factors trigger your fear, and how difficult it is to deal with it. Do you experience panic attacks when trying to drive? Do trucks trigger your fear? Do you feel anxious when friends talk about talk about driving? Tell your friends about them. By sharing these details, they'll be more sensitive to your feelings and help you with getting over the fear of driving.

Believe it or not, there are different types of fear of driving. Not all people that deal with this condition experience it in the same way, nor are they scared of the same things. For those that have a fear of driving at night, their worries are not an issue until it comes time for the sun to go down. While some may think that being scared to drive at night is the lesser of two evils and less of a problem than being scared of driving overall, this version of driving phobia has a set of problems all its own.

Within the group, you are expected to share your struggles and you can expect the same from others. Older members can motivate you with stories of getting over the fear of driving and therapists would offer advice like a psychologist would. This community-driven environment is highly supportive and ideal for people who feel more comfortable with groups.




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