Posts Tagged ‘driving fear’

Vital Tips In Trouncing Driving Phobia

June 20th, 2010

The fear of driving can be both very embarrassing and debilitating to the sufferer in many ways. People who suffer from this condition often feel very bad that they cannot freely go where they want to be and keep travelling to the minimum although this should not be the case. This condition bears many symptoms including the feeling of extreme terror, shaking, sweating, breathing difficulties, tunnel vision, chest and stomach pains and feeling out of control. Just like other types of fear, the fear of driving starts with being afraid of driving and when one starts avoiding and denying it, it gradually gets worse and finally escalates to a full blown anxiety attack if nothing is done about it in good time. Here are a few tips you will find beneficial in countering the fear of driving.

First, know that it is completely normal to experience fear in some circumstances, it is what keeps us safe and alive. Identify the situations that trigger your fear and know the feelings that you get just before and during a driving panic attack. This will help you know your emotions and feelings better in order to take charge of them. You have to learn to manage your thoughts and memories about driving because these are what trigger the fear of driving in most cases.

You should also minimize your stress levels by getting sufficient rest after a long day and engaging in physical activities like exercise, going out, resting and relaxation to minimize stress levels. To successfully overcome driving fear, you will need to make a move early enough to counter your fears. There are a few self-help techniques that can be used to beat this fear on the internet and at your local library. For severe cases of driving panic attacks, there are several professional treatment methods that are effective in overcoming the fear of driving.

Driving Fears in New Drivers

January 21st, 2010

So you have decided that its time to learn to drive, but you may be a little intimidated by the complexity of driving. Don’t worry though, you don’t have to learn it all in single day. You will need a friend or family member who can already drive to get you started with this program, if you don’t have anyone around that can do the job then you may need to pay for some private lessons.

Driving phobia can be tough to cope with at first, but breaking down the daunting task of learning into small manageable steps can help.

Before you begin to practice in a real vehicle you will need to get a copy of your regions driving laws and regulations, in most places you can pick one up at the local registry office or police station. Many of these handbooks are targeted at new drivers and will be well worth the read as well as any small cover price. Once you have read over the basics and have a licensed friend with you then you can start the road practice.

Try to spend around an hour per day at least three times a week practicing so that you skills improve at a steady rate and you don’t forget anything you have learned. A good first session is to drive slowly around your neighborhood, pay close attention to posted traffic signs, double back towards your home so that you don’t have to worry about getting lost. It helps to have your friend give you directions and point out any mistakes you are making. Identifying and avoiding future mistakes is a great way for overcoming fear of driving.

As your skills improve you can try longer more complex trips, and more difficult tasks like parallel parking, maneuvering in parking lots and navigating multi lane roads. A wise idea would be to hire a driving instructor for a single lesson for some professional critique, and pointers for these more complex maneuvers. Most importantly, go easy on yourself; it is perfectly fine to pull over somewhere safe and take a time out to gather your thoughts and calm down.