Fear of driving

Mousey · 02-01-2010, 06:53 PM

I have anxiety when it comes to driving, haven't driven since August. And it's not just fear of driving, it's just being in a car at all. I'm so worried about an accident. My anxiety has gotten much better lately, but I still can't drive. I used to drive everyday, an hour to work and an hour back. With no problem. Then when my depression worsened this past June, things just started going downhill. I don't know what I can do about it, my doc said it would only last 3-4 months but here I am 6 months later, still afraid. Any ideas? Does anyone else suffer from this too?

Xelha · 02-01-2010, 07:24 PM

I'm the same way, except I've never driven before. I don't even have my license. I'm afraid to start, though... I'm convinced that I would get in an accident. I also get really nervous when I'm in the car and feel the need to look out for traffic, as if I myself were driving.

I don't know how to get over it though, in my case I've been like this my whole life(except less anxious before about being in the car with other people).

crimson · 02-01-2010, 09:55 PM

well hun i think we need to find the right people to help you, your therapist didn't even address the problem of you and driving when i told, her solution was you could take the bus and go to work, i don't think your thearpist is working on all four cylinders, but it is a process to find the right people, look what my first doc did to me, fucked my meds all up and then i flipped out, my doctor now is good and i got lucky with my therapist you said that place was good, i think, and you were right, the place i am at was your first choice, i think maybe that came from your gut and maybe you should be there, we will get the right people, but it hasn't even been a year yet, it takes time, love you
crims

engima · 02-04-2010, 01:18 PM

I did when I first started driving, but once I got into it I found there's nothing to realistically be afraid of. Most of my fears stemmed from predicting bad things would happen even though I had no realistic basis for those fears. Mostly just seeing car accidents and thinking they would happen to me. They were mostly just guesses though sure it is possible but getting seriously harmed on the road is rare. I also kinda go by the mentality that life's too short to worry about dying all the time, the fear just holds back from having fun. Not a single thing's happened to me in my 7 years of driving.

RoWe · 03-13-2010, 04:54 AM

My anxiety has completely disabled me from driving since I had an accident in October 2009. I was driving on a 2 lane road in a semi-rural area in a rainstorm doing about 50 mph and I remember it being a good day, I was feeling pretty good (for a change). All of sudden, I dropped my glasses onto my lap and I went to pick them up, when got them on, I saw a possum in the road and I swerved to miss it (even though I know you shouldn't in a heavy rainstorm) and I hydroplaned right off the road into a ditch, launched off a raised driveway like a ramp, and slid right into a tree head on and totaled the car and I ended up with a dislocated shoulder and whiplash. Ever since then, I didn't notice until I had a car again and could drive, that every time I drive, the whole accident scenario plays over in my head and I start hyperventilating and sweating and I have to stop the car. It's been 5 months and I still haven't driven my (still new) car and get rides everywhere, just to avoid the anxiety that it brings.

blackcat99 · 04-19-2010, 06:49 AM

I remember watching an anxiety show on TV. An anxiety-stressed person would go with a trained therapist and they would do it together like going on an elevator together if the person was afraid of elevators etc. Would it be possible to get a therapist to go with you when you drive? Perhaps you could start with small drives around the block or to a nearby store?

Abomination · 04-19-2010, 07:10 AM

Yeah I haven't gotten a driving license because I don't really trust myself operating couple tons of metal on wheels. I know one day I'll get distracted by whatever, or get lost in thoughts and I'll run over some kid crossing the road.