Driving phobia

Savvy_Sue

across wrote:

but when i got round the corner the handbrake came off in my hand!!!!!!!!

:rotfl: I did this, many years ago, in my sister's Beetle ... driving a group of friends to a wedding!

Anyway, to be helpful, I couldn't drive post-surgery, and when I could drive again I decided to ask my son's instructor to take me out rather than just assume I could remember how to do it! I found that very helpful and reassuring, and would recommend finding a friendly supportive instructor if you can.

Thriftylady

I VERY strongly disagree with this statement.

When people have panic attacks they are far more aware of what is going on around them than anybody not having a panic attack, hence pupils dilating etc, you can actually see more.

I am not a medical person but I have been to cognitive behavioural therapy for my attacks and knowledge as to what is happening to you and understanding the basic biogical response that we can all have to certain stimuli is the first step to overcoming them.[/QUOTE]

I'm sorry, but I still don't understand what you mean. If you feel you are safer when having a panic attack, why do you want to prevent the panic attacks? I'm honestly not having a go at you, I just don't understand what you mean by saying on the one hand that you want to overcome this phobia but then on the other that you are a safer driver because of the phobia, it just seems to be a contradiction.

Debras_Angel

Felicity and everyone else with a phobia,

You can get help through a combination of hypnotherapy/NLP and EFT and all of these elements can help you to overcome any type of phobia very successfully.

Aurora Borealis: I am surpirsed at your hypnotherapist putting the prices up when you had already started sessions with her/him. Did he/she not agree the costs per session at your initial meeting?

Have you thought of making a complaint to the organisation that they are accredited to?

Or maybe they aren't...

Debs

nuttywoman

I`m another one who passed her test over 10yrs ago and is too frightened to go out in the car.I used to be ok if someone was with me, but if i was on my own - terrible! I`ve resigned myself now never too drive again.
val

L_D_N

I really sympathise with you. I only started to learn to drive two years ago and took my test last year. In the run up to the test I expeienced complete panics and mental blockages on what to do. In the end I went to a hypnotherapist and had just one session. Felt so much more confident and passed first time.

My driving instructor offered a whole day lesson where we would drive to London (from Norwich) in his dual control car. I haven't taken him up on this but would feel much more confident on motorways if I had.

The aggression of other drivers can add to the frightening experience. Can you try to practice with a friend on Sundays or quieter times to build your confidence again?

My Mum had a terrible phobia of escalators / heights. She did the 'Journey' and now quite happily travels on them. Have you heard of this? It's a meditation / regression type thing.

Good luck with it, you're not on your own.

Lorraine

Thriftylady

nuttywoman wrote:

I`m another one who passed her test over 10yrs ago and is too frightened to go out in the car.I used to be ok if someone was with me, but if i was on my own - terrible! I`ve resigned myself now never too drive again.
val

I'm so sorry to hear this, please don't resign yourself to never driving again. What about some of the therapies that other posters have suggested ? or more driving lessons? The independence you get from being able to drive is so huge that its a shame miss out on it, especially when you have already passed one of the biggest hurdles of all which is the actual test.......

across

i'm glad i'm not the only one in this position it makes you feel really silly and the time and money wasted on driving lessons is heartbraking i went with BSM for lessons but i always lacked confidence and passed third time!!! i think i might try the car again soon but i am scared- i'm rubbish at swimming too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(anyone else????!!)

nuttywoman

another one rubbish at swimming, cos i can`t do that either! but i made sure both of my kids could.
The driving thing, the thing that really used to get me was i passed first time,but nowadays the standard of driving on the roads plus the amount of traffic gets me into a right panic.
val

larmy16

As someone who was convinced they could never drive, but finally took and passed second time at the ripe old age of 46, I still have a terrible fear of motorways and complicated looking road systems. All the lanes and having to change etc send me into a panic.

Consequently I am a local driver - I enjoy driving itself - but I do not like going on dual carriage ways much either. I was actually more confident when I first passed than I am now and drove my son to a hospital which involved a lot of unfamiliar roads, dual carriageways etc. We got lost on the way back and I was convinced the car was overheating when in fact it was me panicking and boiling up with nerves and anxiety!:o

This is something I should overcome, but I don't actually need to go anywhere on a motorway in reality - that is probably an excuse. It is an excuse!:o

chika

I've just read this thread with interest. I was a very nervous driver when learning but thanks to an incredible instructor and a Pass Plus course I'm ok. The scariest thing was when I had passed my test and realised that I no longer had a driving insructor to turn to.

I think you need to get yourself a very understanding instructor and take several motorway lessons. I was told that statistically motorways are the safest roads you can drive on.

Now for my 2p's worth . . . I dont think you should even attempt to drive on a motorway without supervision if you are even slightly unhappy with taking the journey. Hesitant , nervous drivers cause accidents.

A few months ago I witnessed a three car pile up when a driver swerved. Thankfully all the people involved were fine but I'm sure they wanted to kill the first driver when she revealed that she always got panic attacks when she drove and she saw a shadow had a panic attack and swerved causing the accident.