Fear of driving. PERIOD

[LadyBunnie]

I am 31 years old and terrified of being behind the wheel of a car. Not really sure why. I think it dates back to seeing a car crash when I was 15 but not totally certain. Both of my grandmothers were had the same phobia and my mom struggles with it. I also have a sister with the phobia. Genetic? Perhaps.

I have overcome Agoraphobia, speaking in public and have made HUGE strides in conquering panic disorder... so why is this one so hard to deal with? Any suggestions on how to approach it? Even getting in the drivers seat, car off, makes me panic.

thanks!

[Cuchculan]

Much like you beat the other conditions you use a much similar method with this fear too. Nothing major to begin with. Would it sound silly to suggest that you just sit in a car in your driveway. A non moving car. You say you have trouble even doing this. But tell yourself that you are not going anywhere at all. If you can get somebody to go out that far with you. You open the car. Give them the keys. So in your mind all you are going to do is just sit in the car. No fear or it taken off and having to even drive it. Maybe bring along a relaxtion cd. I know. Odd place to close your eyes and listen to a relaxation cd. But not when you are trying to overcome such a fear. Just allow those feelings to come on. As they will be no different that the feelings that agoraphobia would of brought on once. And you know you beat that. So that alone should be able to tell you that you are a strong willed person. Somebody who does not give in. You can sit in your car for 15 minutes to begin with. On the second attempt maybe a bit longer. But again we are not even asking you to drive anywhere at all. In a sense it is exactly like how you would have approached beating agoraphobia. One step at a time. Until you feel relaxed in the driver's seat of that car. As time passes you can act out driving. Still without going nowhere. Just get used to the feel of everything in the car. As if you were to drive. It does boil down to proving to yourself that really there is no fear to doing this. But we don't just jump in and go for a drive. That would be setting us up for a harder fall. Driving in any sense of the word would be a long way away. Getting used to the car would be my first step. If I knew I was used to the car I would them move on to turning the car on. But still with no plans of going anywhere at all. The same as the first step. Only this time we are getting used to a car that is turned on. Slow process. May seem boring. But most things take time. I think we have a lot of time. Once you are used to the second stage you can have somebody else drive at first. On the way back maybe you can take over for the last 1/2 mile of the journey. Not talking main roads or highways. Probably just more in your local estate / area. Just get used to this. Then build it up further and further each time. You have beating a few disorders in your time. This is no different at all. Use the exact same methods. And you will get there.

[tinam7]

This is one of my phobias and will always creep back and is always a hurdle. I accept that reality and move on. Cuch has great advice. It is a desensitization process. A process, as he says.

In the end I have found the phobia is worse before I get going. Once I'm in and even on the road, I'm better. I keep trips short, closeby, and the same. That helps me. I force myself to drive every other day. If too much time goes by it is that much harder. I reward myself by playing calming music.