Fear of driving losing control while driving

[wanttobecured46]

I get nervous when I am behind the wheel. Instead of having my foot steadily on the accelerator I keep taking my feet and start tapping on the acelerator. sometime when I am coming down from a high road to a low road I feel like I am losing control of the car. Also I got a ticket for running through a yellow right that turned red. Now at every green light intersection I pause waiting to see whether the light would change then drive on I know all this is dangerous but I am afraid If I totally stop driving I will not drive at all. I just want to drive relaxed and normal

[Cuchculan]

Maybe go back to basics and drive a few laps of your local area. Places you know like the back of your hand. Just until your feel comfortable in the car again. People can get nervous in a car. I know many. They gave up driving because of it. Which you don't want to do. So don't stop the driving. Maybe just change the route for a while. Less traffic and the likes. No idea if you are driving for pleasure or work purposes. But if just for pleasure there is always a way around it. Just a case of taken it easy and going places you know well enough to know you won't make any mistakes at all. Soon you will feel safe enough again to take on the bigger roads.

[constantmover]

I'm no who gave up driving for about a year.  Something happened that precipitated this and I simply couldn't drive at all.  Then one day I made a decision that I was going to beat this problem down and I started extremely slowly, but I did get back to driving again.  I still don't highway drive, mind you, but I do drive all over the city. 

What I am hearing from you is that you are so fearful, that in a way, by being super cautious because of fear of getting in an accident, you are becoming a dangerous driver...one who stops at green lights and goes on a yellow can cause more problems because others would perceive your driving style as unpredictable or reckless.  Sounds like you could truly us some CBT with a therapist who is willing to get in the car with you. 

My therapist didn't get in the car with me but gave me homework...One thing was I had to drive to my appointments with him and not get driven or take public transportation...I had to drive.  By doing this, it took me through a part of town I hadn't been familiar with at first at least.  After a while, it became an easy drive for me.  But your problem is a little different than mine because you are driving but you keep tapping the accelerator...that is something that needs to be addressed and I don't know if it could without someone in the car with you who is well versed in CBT.  Having said that, I had plenty of panic attacks for the first few times going down to my psychiatrist's office.  Honestly, that was the hardest thing I had to do all week. 

I think that Cuch's idea is a sound one, but if that doesn't work, CBT with a person who is willing to work mainly on the driving could very well be the help you require.  Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.

[Lunabell]

 I know how you feel. I am scared to drive too. A Psychologist once told me to start in the driveway and just try backing up and going forward. You shouldn't stop driving though because it will be hard to start up again. I know because I gave up and feel like I will never drive again.

[the-secret]

I actually stopped driving as well. I'm really upset about this because driving used to be one of my favourite things to do. But now it seems that I can't drive any more without getting a massive panic attack and this makes me feel like I am gonna lose COMPLETE control of the car. It's worse at night. I really wanna get back into it, though. I reallllllyyyyyyyyyy enjoy(ed) driving !

[Lunabell]

I agree but,I just don't think I can do it. It's so weird when in the back of your mind you know a fear or phobia is irrational but,the thought is so overpowering that you listen to it.

[peepo23]

Interesting, I have a recurring dream about this, but not a conscious fear of it.

Paging Dr Freud!