It might also help to take a trusted friend or family member with you when you drive. Many people feel fearful or anxious when driving. If you find yourself feeling extreme fear and having physical symptoms, you may be having a panic attack.

Therapy can help prevent panic attacks while driving and help you develop strategies for coping with your fear about driving.

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Shadow work is a concept developed by Swiss psychoanalysis Carl Jung in the 20th century. Here's how to get started. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Mental Well-Being. What You Need to Know If You Have Panic Attacks While Driving.

Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD — By Crystal Raypole on July 31, Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Tips Treatment Outlook Takeaway Share on Pinterest. What causes panic attacks while driving?

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While everybody is different and has their own experiences, there are some commonalities when it comes to identifying causes of driving anxiety. Some of the most common causes of driving anxiety include:. Even just getting into a car can trigger several anxiety-related episodes including panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc.

Driving outside of your comfort zone, such as in a new location, can be overwhelming to some, especially to new drivers. No matter the situation, driving outside of our comfort zones can leave room for anxiety to creep in. General anxiety is no laughing matter because it seeps into every aspect of your life.

Being anxious, especially in the car, can leave you feeling overwhelmed and create unwanted feelings such as restlessness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, tension in the neck and back, or being overall irritable and worried while on the road.

Anxious people tend to think about the worst aspects of driving at all times — fatalities, concern of hitting someone or something, etc. And it can impact their emotional wellbeing and could even adversely affect their driving habits. Note: if you ever feel that you are having a panic attack or other form of anxious episode, pull over immediately until the fear subsides.

Anxiety attacks can cause blurred vision and other physical symptoms that put you at risk of harming yourself or others while on the road. She has worked in critical care, community health, and as a retail health provider.

She received her undergraduate degree in nursing from the University of Delaware and her master's degree from Thomas Jefferson University. You can find Katelyn on Doximity for more information. Start your mental wellness journey today.

Hair Regrowth Anxiety Depression Weight Loss More. Mental Health. Anxiety With Driving: Symptoms and How to Overcome. online mental health assessment your mental health journey starts here. explore services start evaluation. psych meds online psychiatrist-backed care, all from your couch.

explore medication get evaluated. Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. Cleveland Clinic. Factors contributing to anxious driving behavior: the role of stress history and accident severity.

Journal of anxiety disorders, 25 4 , — American Psychological Association. Cognitive Behavior Therapy. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island FL : StatPearls Publishing; Jan-. Virtual reality exposure therapy for fear of driving: analysis of clinical characteristics, physiological response, and sense of presence.

Revista brasileira de psiquiatria Sao Paulo, Brazil : , 40 2 , — National Institute on Drug Abuse. Essential oil of lavender in anxiety disorders: Ready for prime time? Mental Health Clinician, 7 4 , Psychology Today. Katelyn Hagerty, FNP Kate Hagerty is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with over a decade of healthcare experience.

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Next, he may practice going to the gas station and back. Then, he may practice circling around his neighborhood. With each exercise, he tries to progress a little more. Recent research shows that virtual reality VR therapy can help those with driving anxiety.

There are many driving video games or driving simulations available. They will be able to guide you through the process and help you manage your symptoms along the way.

Depending on the severity of your driving anxiety, your doctor may recommend antidepressant medications to help you manage your symptoms. They may also suggest anti-anxiety medications for occasional, short-term use. Some medications, like benzodiazepines Valium or Xanax , may cause drowsiness behind the wheel, so be sure to only use them as advised by a professional.

Driving anxiety exists on a spectrum, from mild to severe. Depending on your particular case, self-care strategies may help. You may find it useful to make a list of what parts of driving are the most frightening to you, in order from most intense to neutral or even enjoyable.

You may find it helpful to clear your car from distracting clutter, turn on soothing music, and use calming scents. Research shows that lavender essential oil, in particular, can soothe anxiety.

Would you get up tomorrow morning and run 26 miles? Not a chance. Driving anxiety is no different. While ambition can be a beautiful thing, it may do more harm than good if you set a goal to drive across the country, like, tomorrow.

Instead, think of this as a long game. Be patient and pace yourself with more realistic milestones. It can be helpful to have someone in the car with you in case you want emotional support or you need to pull over. When you start to feel that panicky feeling, consider trying some strategies that may help you to calm down in the moment.

Some techniques that may help include deep breathing and meditation. This can build up your self-esteem and motivate you to keep going.

Even though phobias are fairly common, not many people seek help or support for them. Learn about the types of phobias and what treatments could help. A specific phobia is an excessive fear of a certain object or situation that lasts at least 6 months. Learn about their symptoms and treatments here.

Having a phobia can be exhausting and scary at times. But there are many ways you can help ease your anxiety and fear. Living with anxiety may be overwhelming, but these tips will help you calm down quickly if you're having a difficult time at the moment.

Learning that you have an anxiety disorder may bring relief, more questions, and more worry. The good news? That is, trauma has been lingering that affects confidence of driving. Driving requires a certain level of control, and the fear of losing control can trigger driving anxiety.

As irrational as it can be, this fear can be related to the fear of crashing, hitting another car or object, or even fear of driving off a bridge or into water. From time to time, we all could have some fears; however, when such fears persist while driving, it could directly lead to driving phobia.

Say hello to endless fun reliable place of chance casino, filled with bonuses and top-tier security. People with generalized anxiety disorder GAD may experience anxiety in many different situations. Apparently, it is not uncommon to have fear of driving, or even panic while driving.

Some people may have specific phobias related to driving, such as fear of bridges, tunnels, or driving on highways. OCD can cause someone to have intrusive thoughts about horrible scenarios.

Often, while driving, people will have intrusive thoughts about hitting people with their car. They could second-guess their decisions and be unable to exert themselves on the road due to these feelings of inadequacy.

As a result, individuals might practice passive driving, which is risky and raises the possibility of collisions. As the saying goes, practice makes better no need to be perfect!

Driving can be intimidating, but the more you go out in the car and practice, the less scary it will become. Many people who fear driving tend to avoid doing so, similar to how many people cope with OCD. Exposure therapy is incredibly beneficial for people with OCD and driving anxiety.

Have patience with yourself, and be proud of any progress you make! Any steps you make when driving is something that should be appreciated. As mentioned before, try to drive in areas that you are comfortable in first, then as your anxiety starts to lessen, venture out to new areas.

If your fear of driving is very intense, even try sitting behind the wheel each day. Show yourself that it is possible to be in a car and that you will be okay. Wear clothes that you are comfortable in when driving.

Especially ensure that your shoes are functional to drive in; if you are wearing heels or shoes that might be harder to drive in, keep a comfy pair of sneakers you can switch into while driving. Meanwhile, bring a comfort object may be another practical strategy for managing driving anxiety.

A comfort object can be anything that helps to calm and soothe driving phobia. For example, a stress ball, a fidget toy, or a favorite playlist of music. In particular, if you experience physical symptoms of anxiety while driving, such as sweating or rapid heart rate.

By having a tangible object to focus on, it can help to redirect attention away from anxious thoughts and physical sensations.

Of course, it could help to provide a sense of comfort and control during the drive. Planning ahead can involve mapping out a route in advance, checking traffic and weather conditions, and driving during less busy times of day. By planning ahead, you can feel more in control and prepared for the drive, which can help to reduce anxiety.

Driving during less busy times can also be helpful if you experience anxiety related to traffic or being around other drivers. By avoiding rush hour, you may have less pressure to keep up with the flow of traffic and maneuver around other cars. Whatever anxiety symptoms you have, one thing is clear — you can overcome driving anxiety or avoid panic attacks in one of these 9 simple steps below:.

The following steps you can take while you are behind the wheels to help relieve your panic attack,. Doctors may prescribe drugs to help you. Ensure you understand the side effects of these drugs and their use as some can be addictive while others can react dangerously with some food types or prescription drugs.

Stressing situations always cause anxiety disorder, and driving can be very stressful. However, above steps will help you overcome your driving anxiety and regain your independence behind the wheel. Why cant everyone else be like this?

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