The world is full of adventures. There are many people who have to face their fears every day and try to overcome them.
Amaxophobia is the fear of driving, and it’s actually much more common than you think. About ¼ of drivers experience anxiety when performing such an activity. Although in most cases the sufferers of this phobia are women, there are also many men who do not dare to sit behind the wheel.
This fear is a bit more complicated
Amaxophobia occurs before and during driving, but it is not only about the fear caused by self-doubt, but also about the fear caused by other road users.
The mind creates multiple scenarios where something could go wrong, and when that possibility exists in the head, a terrifying fear is created.
What or who causes the fear of driving?
This fear is said to be caused after being the victim or perpetrator of an accident, but this is not necessarily the case. There are many other factors that lead to this problem, such as the simple fact that you don’t like driving. In cities, it is normal for many to prefer to use public transport instead of private cars. In the long run, this makes these drivers afraid of the car due to the suspicion that they do not know how to drive it.
Can symptoms occur?
Of course, yes, they can occur due to prior anxiety, some can be emotional and some behavioral, such as:
– Excessive sweating
– Troubled breathing
– Chest pain
– Fast heartbeat
Feeling that you have lost control of the situation, leaving aside the experience or ability to drive, to the extent that you feel unable to face any possible emergency
An uncontrollable desire to escape and be in a comfort zone
How do I overcome it?
In amaxophobia, three levels are considered: preconceived thoughts, techniques to control physiological responses, and gradual confrontation with the phobia.
The first step is to treat negative thoughts or those that prevent you from taking the wheel, such as a possible accident, horns, fear of a roundabout or an incline, among others. What makes you believe that you won’t be able to solve any of these problems or possible scenarios? Think carefully about each of the things that worry you and create potential fear in your head.
Techniques for controlling physiological responses
What needs to be done is to work on relaxation techniques to encourage taking control of the car while driving. This is achieved through a process of trust and confidence.
Gradual confrontation with the phobia
Finally, gradually encountering the problem, like when you first started driving. In this way, the fear will disappear little by little, without effort and with a lot of patience. Facing small obstacles and gradually moving to more serious steps.