5 Things You Can Do to Overcome Your Fear of Driving

June 28, 2021 By Carol

Some people claim that they dislike driving or are scared to get behind the wheel. You may have a driving phobia if you are terrified to the point that it is causing you anxiety. This fear may make you feel like your life is in danger while driving or riding in a car. Panic attacks, racing heart, fast breathing, or sensations of dread are all possible. If your nervousness behind the wheel is taking hold of you and stopping you from driving comfortably or even at all, it's time to confront the issue. This way, you'll be able to go back behind the wheel and reclaim control of your life.

Narrow Your Focus

Driving anxiety frequently causes you to plan out your entire journey. You may plan the trip ahead of time, looking for bridges along the way. As you drive, you may find yourself picturing terrifying portions of the journey ahead. It becomes difficult to handle not only the road in front of you but your whole drive.

We can't plan an entire trip in our thoughts, so we have to take the road as it comes. But we can handle the stretch of road we're on, which is all we ever have to do.

Replace Catastrophic Assumptions with Sound Reason

Our anxiety is adept at frightening us with the possibility that "the next time it will be awful"—that you will panic and "go crazy" or "lose control." Panic might cause you to believe that a calamity is waiting for you on the road, even though it has never happened on all of your prior journeys. And yet, in every case thus far, your darkest worries have not come true.

This is not to suggest that none of your fears will come true. If you ride enough elevators, one of them may become stuck between floors. If you drive over bridges, there will be traffic congestion on the bridge one day. When you're in the middle of a long tunnel, traffic may come to a halt.

Ride a Car in the Company of Trustworthy Drivers

Follow the exposure therapy procedures to discover that you can't even handle being a passenger in a car. Instead of driving, you may tackle your anxiety gradually by riding in a car with a driver you trust. Choose someone you know will drive with extreme caution. Once you're comfortable traveling with that individual, consider riding with other drivers or accompanying them on more difficult drives (like on the highway).

Make a Doctor's Appointment

If your fear of driving is interfering with your life, you should seek medical or psychiatric help. If you're not half sure what clinic to visit, speak with any doctor, who should be able to connect you with the right specialists. You can work with your doctor, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, or a phobia counselor.

Commit to the Discomfort of Learning

The majority of individuals are terrified of getting behind the wheel for the first time. Choose a skilled driving teacher who has a lot of experience teaching new drivers to alleviate your anxiety. A professional driving instructor can reassure you and make you feel at ease behind the wheel.

Conclusion

Overcoming a phobia is never an overnight process. People have to realize that it's not a linear process and that there will be days when everything regresses and you're back to square one. But hey, the tiniest step is still a step, right?

Here at Drivewise London, we help you overcome your fears with our professional and patient driving instructors who have years of experience with aspirant drivers of all ages. If you're searching for "the best driving school near me", Drivewise offers one of the most realistic and hands-on car simulators in Canada so you can begin conquering your fears safely and without pressure!