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Driving anxiety is more common than some people may realize. It’s often a fear of driving or even a fear of certain parts of driving. This anxiety can cause physical symptoms, such as a racing heartbeat and sweating, and it may cause someone to believe they will lose control of their vehicle, causing a collision. They may also feel extremely stressed and uncomfortable while driving and begin to worry about what other drivers may be thinking.
There are ways to cope and adjust to help you get over this anxiety. You don’t have to deal with these feelings alone. Here are a few tips to help.
Identifying the fears
Sit down and identify what fears you have. Speaking with family or close friends about which fears you may have helps to open up about what is causing your anxiety. Once you have each one opened up, you are well on your way to help alleviate those fears and reduce that anxiety.
Speak with a professional
A professional driving instructor can help put a plan together to help you get over your fears. Many driving fears that cause anxiety are common with many people. Solutions have already been in place to help them and those same solutions can help you as well.
Be aware of what causes this anxiety
Keep a written journal of what may be causing this anxiety. After a feeling of anxiety has been triggered while driving, pull over to a safe place, secure the vehicle, and write a list of the current causes. It is best to make that list as soon as possible while the information is fresh. This helps to remember as much as possible.
After a few episodes have happened, you would see a trend of the causes and what has triggered the driving anxiety. This may be an opportunity to reduce or eliminate those causes which would help to reduce some anxiety.
Set realistic goals
While learning how to adjust to driving anxiety, you will need to be deliberate with the goal you hope to achieve while driving and what your plan is to help you achieve it. Always consider the long-term and short-term outcomes of your goals.
Conclusion
It can be common for driving to trigger a form of anxiety in people. For some individuals, the thought of having to drive can make them feel extremely anxious. There is no quick fix. Be patient with yourself and look to others for help. A medical professional is always an option.