Firstly it is important to understand why people have driving fear, and then it is easy to look at ways to cope with it. There are many reasons why people could be scared of this, some being more obvious than others. As a result, some of these fears will be easier to handle than others. Some fears are specific to certain types of driving, whereas others involve driving in general.
An example of a fear that is perhaps less obvious could be claustrophobia. Of course there are plenty more, and this is just one example. As claustrophobia is a fear of being trapped in a small space, being stuck in a fairly small space, i. E. A car, could cause many problems for people who are claustrophobic and result in them feeling less easy about driving.
One different example of a secondary fear could be motion sickness. This is probably more obvious than claustrophobia. A car is involved in motion when driven; therefore for someone that has severe motion sickness, the car being driven can cause problems making them feel nauseous and very unwell.
A traumatic incident could cause a fear of driving; an accident when the person was a young child, probably a passenger, therefore causing a fear later in life. A fear could then develop of either just driving the car, or even perhaps being in a car at all. This fear could occur instantly after a crash, but can also be brought on over many years. However, a crash does not have to occur in order for a fear to develop, perhaps a series of near misses could result in a fear developing.
How should you approach these fears in order to get over them? If it is a situation specific fear, then a gradual introduction would be recommended. For example, claustrophobia could be overcome if the person with the fear goes into a familiar and safe surrounding that is relatively small; gradually going into smaller places until they are fully happy with small places.
If the fear extends to all driving in general, you must ask the question why, and then try and realise that the fear is quite irrational. Obviously many people drive every day, generally without any problems. Even incidents that occur are generally quite minor. Driving on a freeway or a motorway is generally a little more dangerous, with collisions resulting in more fatalities. Yet, if you drive safely, then there will generally be very few problems if any. Again, people drive for many years on freeways without a single crash.
Motion sickness is difficult to self treat; however doctors can no prescribe medication for this. This should help and perhaps cure the fear of driving in this case.
Psychological problems for a fear of driving are relatively simple to treat, gradual introduction to the problem until accustomed and comfortable with it is the best cure. This is a form of CBT which is used worldwide by many psychologists and is highly recommended. Hopefully this will have helped to overcome the fear of driving.
Hodophobia is actually a driving fear. Did you know this? You would learn this in the driving fear articles that you will find on our site. Why do people have a fear of driving? How do you get over it? We are explain it to you.
Posted under depression
This post was written by Leigh Adams on August 29, 2010
