Anxiety While Driving Symptoms: Driving Fear Program

Driving is the most effective way to get from point A to point B across land given the cost and the convenience. For some people, driving itself is a relaxing activity that allows them to get rid of stress and enjoy those 15-30 minutes of peace and quiet. The requirements to get a driving license vary depending on the country – in Europe you first have a theory test to take, followed by practice classes before moving on to the final driving exam.

In the US though, you don’t take as many practice classes, and it is easier to get a driving license, which you can do at the age of 16 (in most other countries you can only get a license when you are 18).

While driving is a relaxing activity for some people, others see it as a burden and not something they would do by choice. But as cars are everywhere around us being the main transportation option, it is smart to have a driver’s license on you.

One of the most common problems with people that don’t enjoy being in a car is driving anxiety. Anxiety, in general, is a medical condition that can be persistent and hard to cope with, but it is not something that you can’t solve on your own. In fact, facing your fear and discussing what caused it in the first place is the most effective way to deal with it.

But what is driving anxiety and how can you know if you suffer from it? Let’s go ahead and take a look.

What Is Driving Anxiety?

While anxiety is a term that you are familiar with, driving anxiety is probably not. It can range from something as small as feeling nervous while driving all the way to paralyzing fear when climbing into a car.

Driving anxiety can be represented as a general discomfort while you are on the road, and this is a sign that you might suffer from driving anxiety. Driving anxiety can go as far as developing a serious phobia that might completely block your ability to drive – and if this happens in the middle of the road, it can be potentially life-threatening for both you and other drivers around you.

Before we can address the problem and give you advice on how to cope with it, we need to know what caused it in the first place. There are two main causes. First, people that already have problems with anxiety or panic attacks might experience that mindset behind the wheel as well, as it is a great trigger for driving anxiety. This means that to cope with driving anxiety, you will have to confront your general panic attack condition.

Secondly, some people suffering from driving anxiety developed it after a certain dangerous situation that they have experienced. This is normally from being in an accident, witnessing an accident, or losing a loved one in an accident. If you struggle with driving anxiety, taking a look at The Driving Fear Program may give you a great insight into other possible causes of driving anxiety, and the ways you can cope with such.

What Are The Common Driving Anxiety Fears?

It is clear that driving anxiety is not a thing of choice, but still, thousands of people experience it on a daily basis, even when they aren’t in a potentially dangerous situation. The main reason for experiencing anxiety is fear, and there is no better way to solve it than confronting it face to face. But before you can do that, you need to know what type of driving anxiety fears there are.

First, there is the already mentioned fear of past negative experiences happening once again. This one might be the hardest to cope with. Negative experiences usually stay deep in your memory, and it is not that easy to overcome this fear. Still, your best bet is to go ahead and talk to people who have had positive experiences driving, as well as realize that you are in control of your car, and 99% of the time, with careful and conscious driving, you are going to stay safe.

Some people don’t have a fear of driving because of negative experiences, but they rather experience driving anxiety once they are out of their comfort zone. A common example is if you aren’t used to driving during the night, or you are used to driving along a certain road and now you are taking a different route home.

One of the most stressful fears might be if you experience panic attacks in general, and you get stuck in traffic. Being in a traffic jam is not a pleasant situation for anyone, and if you are someone who struggles with panic attacks, it can be even worse for you. Still, you should be aware that there is nothing you can do about a traffic jam and do your best to stay calm.

Some people develop driving anxiety due to a fear of speed or losing control of their vehicle. This shouldn’t be the case if you drive at a slower speed. Along with that, you are in control as long as you are calm and focused and that is why dealing with driving anxiety is a must.

Lastly, some people have a fear of dying while driving which is why driving is something that makes them uncomfortable and anxious.

The Symptoms Of Driving Anxiety

Coping with driving anxiety is not as hard as it seems, and our recommendation is to invest some time in researching the Driving Fear Program; if nothing else, it will allow you to realize the true nature of anxiety, and give you a few tips on how to cope with it. But, before doing so, you need to work out if you, in fact, suffer from driving anxiety. The best way to do so is by knowing the symptoms.

• The obvious symptom that you have developed driving anxiety is avoiding driving in general
• If you find yourself avoiding certain driving times (such as night time) or routes, you probably suffer from driving anxiety
• If you feel like you are not in the control, even when you are behind the wheel, driving anxiety might be the reason for that
• Apart from these behavior symptoms, there are certain physical symptoms that are a sign of driving anxiety: dizziness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, chest pain, fainting, tingling, sweating, and trembling

Final Thoughts

Driving anxiety is not a rare occurrence – in fact, more people are developing it each year. But it is not something you should stress too much about. Why do we say that? While it might feel very serious, if you have the willpower to cope with it, you will be able to do it without any medications or long term treatments.