Driving phobia

Spendless

I used to fear motorway driving. There is a lot of motorway near me so what I did (friends suggestion) was to go on one of the quieter motorways and come off at the next junction and then work my way back home on the usual roads, then built that up so I could go on to 2 junction stops or off at 1 junction and back home via the motorway. Eventually it didn't bother me and I went on to take a job that involved a 50 mile round motorway trip each day.

sinizterguy

Prozac and similar medications take a minimum of three weeks to even begin working. Deciding its useless after 1 week is .....

But good luck with getting it cracked. Just take it step by step, each time take it just a little bit further than what you are comfortable with.

Counting_Pennies_2

Felicity wrote:

You obviously don't know about phobias / panic attacks.

In the situation that a person is in panic they have a fight/flight instinct.

Their pupils dilate massively which makes them see so much more around them (this is a really weird sensation but it actually makes them far more proactive then other driver).

Their legs go wobbly and they feel like they are going to faint (this actually makes them more proactive on the brakes or gas peddles in the event that they need to get to get out of an accident).

Their heart beat increases rapidly and blood rushes around their body, into their limbs so the limbs are far more proactive.

This is only the basics ….

A person having a panic attack is a far safer driver than one not having one, they are massively more aware of what is happening around them.

Thank you for saying these words, you describe my panic attacks to the letter! I had a car crash at the beginning of the year and since then my world has come crashing down, previously confident for the last 15 years at driving, I now experience all these feelings as soon as there is more than one lane of traffic. My life has become some amazing hell now as I drive.

I completely disagree with ThriftyLady. I feel I am a safer driver in that I stay in the inside lane of a dual carriage way and ensure I am completely happy when I come to overtake on the rare occasion that a lorry is going too slow. I may take 15 minutes longer to get to my destination, but I don't hold anyone up, the hell is mine, but I don't feel I am to other road users due to the extra care I take. The panic attacks are like an internal argument I have with myself as to whether I can do it or not, the steps I take are not irrational to roadusers around me, just the internal frustration that my mind won't allow me to do something I could very happily do before, overtake at any time, drive for a period of time in a lane that isnt the inside lane, etc. ThriftyLady, I hope you never experience this as it is horrid, but I would ask you not to make rash comments that these panic attacks are a danger to the road, I would say our danger are those who are inexperienced drivers thinking they can do whatever speeds they choose, or those who don't hold a licence thinking they have a right to drive on our roads without the proper skills

needmoney

Felicity, you have my sympathy.
I have a driving phobia too I hate motorways and I hate unfamiliar places. This stops me going lots of places because I just panic if i'm not familiar with the route. I'm not QUITE as bad as I used to be but still not good.

I use a bit of 'self talk' as in 'I can do this, don't panic, if I take a wrong turn I can go back' etc, etc.
Best of luck and I hope you overcome it.:beer:

Pobby

Had the same problem after 35 years of driving.Not too clever if you are a sales rep like me.I used to plan journeys that would add so much more time just to avoid certain junctions or lane changes.The worst one was on the way home and sometimes I would add an extra hour or so to my journey by going across Dartmoor!!!!!!!!

Thankfully I am 80% better now and I used the techniqe of just negotiating the easiest of the difficult bits of road and working my way up to the hardest.Just one more to conquer,the M5 junction at Bristol to go east on the M4!

Thriftylady

I'm sorry if my earlier post caused offence, I didn't mean it to sound like I was judging anyone with a driving phobia or who suffers from panic attacks. (I have suffered from panic attacks myself, and its a terrible experience)

The point I was really trying to make is that this seems too big to overcome on your own, thats why I suggested a driving instructor. With all the best intentions in the world, you can't control what goes on when you get behind the wheel of a car. I was thinking of a relative when I wrote it, she has a driving phobia and when she panics she just slams on the brakes and stops, regardless of where she is. To be honest, I thought this was the type of reaction the OP was talking about when she said that she suffered panic attacks - the feeling of completely closing in on yourself.

EasilyAggravated - its a bit harsh to say I didn't take the time to read your post, I read it carefully, but what I was trying to say was that driving somewhere familiar might not be the answer, you never know when there will be a diversion or an accident or whatever, and then you're outside your comfort zone.....and Counting Pennies, I agree 100% that a bigger danger on our roads is inexperienced drivers using excessive speeds. Having said that, excessively slow driving is inappropriate and dangerous on a busy road too....

I didn't mean to accuse all phobia sufferers of being a menace on the roads, and I'm sorry if this is how it sounded, really what I wanted to say was that maybe professional help was needed e.g. a driving instructor, rather than just trying to overcome it on your own.

But I'm afraid I can't agree that someone having a panic attack is a safer driver than someone who's not - if that were the case then there would be no reason to want to overcome this phobia, and people would be striving to have panic attacks when they get behind the wheel.

moggins

I don't do motorways either, I did take a lesson with a driving instructor last year but then had to sell my car and didn't want to run risks with DH's. the instructor was very good though and I really feel that if I had continued I would have been able to do it alone.

Which is incredible as the nearest motorway to us (on the doorstep) is the M5!!

aurora_borealis_2

I have a driving phobia too I've always had it.

It severely affects my life and job and costs me money. £15 today on taxi fares to a meeting :rolleyes:

My boss is very understanding but I'm about to take a new job with a UK wide remit. I can't even drive out of my own town.

I was having hypnotherapy... and it was working. Sadly, the therapist raised the fees after three sessions by 30% :eek:

She actually posted on here not so long back offering free phobia therapy!!! Unscrupulous!

I fully empathise - it's like a disablement, not too mention extremely embarrassing.

across

i understand how you feel as well i passed my test over a decade ago and absolutely hate driving i never liked the lessons either i dreaded it but now i wish i could just get out on my own and go for it! i have two small children and would love to be able to get out with them on my own but it isnt possible i dont know why if it is because i used to stall and loose confidence in the beginning or what causes this anxiety, when i was getting married i decided to drive the car and go for dresses but when i got round the corner the handbrake came off in my hand!!!!!!!! all down hill again from there you can guess it was unlucky but now i am even more nervous! my problem is any road not just motorway and especially getting in at the front of our house feeling everyone is watching me i have tried again to build my confidence up but just cant keep it up! does anyone else have my problem?

Peakma

I understand where your coming from completely.I wasn't mature enough for the responsibility of driving when I was 17,and I think a lot of 17 year old drivers aren't either,but it's not something a lot of them don't even consider.Driving is very dangerous,and a slight lack of concerntration,or mistake can have devasting consequences,it is a huge responsability and you are right to be aware of this.( some people have phobias of spiders,most of which in this country can do know harm to anyone).I have stared learning to drive properly with blocks of driving lessons twice before,I am learning again now,and have been doing the family driving for the past few months,and have slowly over come the over whelming fear of driiving,and am actualy beginning to enjoy it,my test is booked for a month today and I cant wait to oneday(hopefuly that day!) pass and drive all on my own-although the thought of actually doing that is petrifying,but not as petrifying as driving on my own on a motor way I will have to get a lot more used to normal driving before I brave that one.Just the thought fills me with fear.I'm 29 with 3 kids and driving will enhance my life so much,I live in the countryside about 20 miles from my home city and getting there and back on public transport takes so long,driving is going to free me,and I can't wait.But I do acknowledge it is dangerous it's not just a means of getting from A toB ,and to be honest it's the thiought of all the nutters on the road that worry me more than myself!!
My driving instructer is very good ,someone else suggested you going out with an instructor again,I think this might be a good idea for you,I loath paying the money though!!Good luck take little steps and just push your self a little at a time,Good luck.