For many drivers, once they get behind the wheel, they are totally calm and the act of driving is so natural, it becomes second nature. There are, however, those who get anxious about driving and every time they are behind the wheel, they experience different levels of anxiety. There are many ways to define anxiety and panic attacks. Most people define them as feelings of tension, fear or dread, in the absence of a direct threat or any clear justification. Those who get driving anxiety can not explain why they feel the way the do.
It is important to understand how phobias come about. Many people believe that most phobias can be genetic in nature. Although this is not the case with driving phobia, a child who sees the anxiety displayed in the parent can eventually get the same phobia. Many people who have experienced a traumatic event, can also develop a phobia. It develops as a way to avoid dealing with the situation or object that causes the fear. A phobia for driving can develop gradually over time, or it can occur suddenly.
A number of people who get the driving anxiety often find that getting off the road and stopping, will often help to calm them down. The minute they feel an attack coming on, they can pull over and calm down which often takes a few minutes. Once they are off the road, the obsessive thinking that comes with the anxiety attacks is diminished. It is, however, important to get back on the road after the attack has passed. Like with most fears, the best way to deal with it is by not giving in to the fear. The more you build up a negative experience, the worse it becomes.
Learn NLP.The fear of driving typically occurs because of previous car accidents or trauma while driving with one's parents growing up. The phobia occurs because the mind continues to live in the past and it creates irrational thoughts and mind movies of getting into future accidents. One way to overcoming driving phobia is to use NLP. NLP stands for neuro linguistic programming, and it is a technique that takes away the power of the negative images of your mind.Use Affirmations.The use of Affirmations has been another method for helping me conquer my fear of driving. Affirmations help to program the sub-conscious mind into accepting empowering beliefs. The best time to recite affirmations is before bed and upon waking up. It's best to set affirmations in a positive and present tense. An example would be "I am a safe driver and I have safe trips each and everyday".
Those who fail to conquer the fear are people who do not allow themselves to deal with it. They feel that they have to get it right every time, and the pressure they put on themselves causes them to fail. You must give yourself permission to deal with the anxiety by pulling over until the panic subsides.
Anxiety while driving is a mental disorder affecting both males and females. This involves feelings of immense dread, anxiety and or apprehension towards driving with no justifiable reason. Experts have shown that this condition affects about one in ten people at some point in life. Anxiety while driving falls under mental disorders known as neuroses. Neuroses are phobias that affect individuals behaviour but not their rational thinking. They may exhibit anxiety every time they sit in a car driving or not. Though it affects both men and women, women are more affected by this condition regardless of their age.
Anyone who suffers from driving phobia or any other form of driving related anxiety can easily relate to the emotional suffering and limitation brought by their phobia/anxiety. For example, you may avoid driving on high-speed freeways, hills or even bridges because they terrify you. You can also experience scary, uncontrollable thoughts that completely overwhelm you. Physical symptoms can also manifest as severe panic/anxiety attack while driving: rapid heartbeat, hyperventilation (over-breathing), feeling faint and nausea, tunnel vision, etc.Let untreated, you may stop driving altogether and be totally dependent on family members and friends to fetch you around.
A motorist may consider consulting a medical professional like a psychiatrist or a psychologist after experiencing such symptoms; he must get a proper diagnosis and know which treatment options are available. This condition is not permanent and, with help, one can overcome it. A motorist may positively affirm him or herself by thinking positively, instead of thinking about the bad experiences in the past. He can reaffirm himself by saying that he is an excellent driver and by thus doing boost his confidence on the road. He or she may also avoid hesitation as this triggers anxiety and panic while driving. If a motorist stops without knowing which way to go, he may worsen the situation causing snarl ups, and he becomes unsure. A motorist may try to relax the body and mind, and ease tension every time he sits in the car, through meditation and he may strengthen his respiration system by trying out some breathing exercises. Another therapeutic means of trying to get back to driving is taking a few minutes a day driving from home, around the neighbourhood and back.
[Driving Anxiety]
It is important to understand how phobias come about. Many people believe that most phobias can be genetic in nature. Although this is not the case with driving phobia, a child who sees the anxiety displayed in the parent can eventually get the same phobia. Many people who have experienced a traumatic event, can also develop a phobia. It develops as a way to avoid dealing with the situation or object that causes the fear. A phobia for driving can develop gradually over time, or it can occur suddenly.
A number of people who get the driving anxiety often find that getting off the road and stopping, will often help to calm them down. The minute they feel an attack coming on, they can pull over and calm down which often takes a few minutes. Once they are off the road, the obsessive thinking that comes with the anxiety attacks is diminished. It is, however, important to get back on the road after the attack has passed. Like with most fears, the best way to deal with it is by not giving in to the fear. The more you build up a negative experience, the worse it becomes.
Learn NLP.The fear of driving typically occurs because of previous car accidents or trauma while driving with one's parents growing up. The phobia occurs because the mind continues to live in the past and it creates irrational thoughts and mind movies of getting into future accidents. One way to overcoming driving phobia is to use NLP. NLP stands for neuro linguistic programming, and it is a technique that takes away the power of the negative images of your mind.Use Affirmations.The use of Affirmations has been another method for helping me conquer my fear of driving. Affirmations help to program the sub-conscious mind into accepting empowering beliefs. The best time to recite affirmations is before bed and upon waking up. It's best to set affirmations in a positive and present tense. An example would be "I am a safe driver and I have safe trips each and everyday".
Those who fail to conquer the fear are people who do not allow themselves to deal with it. They feel that they have to get it right every time, and the pressure they put on themselves causes them to fail. You must give yourself permission to deal with the anxiety by pulling over until the panic subsides.
Anxiety while driving is a mental disorder affecting both males and females. This involves feelings of immense dread, anxiety and or apprehension towards driving with no justifiable reason. Experts have shown that this condition affects about one in ten people at some point in life. Anxiety while driving falls under mental disorders known as neuroses. Neuroses are phobias that affect individuals behaviour but not their rational thinking. They may exhibit anxiety every time they sit in a car driving or not. Though it affects both men and women, women are more affected by this condition regardless of their age.
Anyone who suffers from driving phobia or any other form of driving related anxiety can easily relate to the emotional suffering and limitation brought by their phobia/anxiety. For example, you may avoid driving on high-speed freeways, hills or even bridges because they terrify you. You can also experience scary, uncontrollable thoughts that completely overwhelm you. Physical symptoms can also manifest as severe panic/anxiety attack while driving: rapid heartbeat, hyperventilation (over-breathing), feeling faint and nausea, tunnel vision, etc.Let untreated, you may stop driving altogether and be totally dependent on family members and friends to fetch you around.
A motorist may consider consulting a medical professional like a psychiatrist or a psychologist after experiencing such symptoms; he must get a proper diagnosis and know which treatment options are available. This condition is not permanent and, with help, one can overcome it. A motorist may positively affirm him or herself by thinking positively, instead of thinking about the bad experiences in the past. He can reaffirm himself by saying that he is an excellent driver and by thus doing boost his confidence on the road. He or she may also avoid hesitation as this triggers anxiety and panic while driving. If a motorist stops without knowing which way to go, he may worsen the situation causing snarl ups, and he becomes unsure. A motorist may try to relax the body and mind, and ease tension every time he sits in the car, through meditation and he may strengthen his respiration system by trying out some breathing exercises. Another therapeutic means of trying to get back to driving is taking a few minutes a day driving from home, around the neighbourhood and back.
No comments:
Post a Comment