Fear of driving

Fear of driving

Fear of driving restricts the lives of many people. People who fear driving begin to curtail their normal activities and avoid using their cars. Fear of driving can cause folks to cancel job interviews, decline social invitations, and avoid family events just so they don't need to use the automobile.

Fear of driving is also referred to as a driving phobia. Phobias were often rational fears at one time however over time they become irrational fears. For example, being afraid to drive after a bad auto accident starts out as a rational fear. Over a period of time, the understandable fear of driving becomes dysfunctional.

Occasionally a phobia can seem to come at a person out of nowhere. Severe phobias will progress to a more serious panic disorder.

Untreated panic disorders will become very constrictive and crippling. Fear of the next attacks plagues victims of panic disorder. Panic disorder symptoms are frightening and dramatic and include the following:

• Rapid pulse.
• Feeling of tightness in chest, chest pain.
• Feeling dizzy or about to faint.
• Nausea and indigestion.
• Shortness of breath.
• Feelings of tingling or numbness in the extremities.
• Feeling disconnected from reality.
• Bouts of terror and irrational fear.
• Fear of the next attack.

Fear of driving is typically a displaced version of another fear. Fear of driving may be a easier fear for the sufferer to handle than the real underlying fear. Fear of driving in put in place of the original fear.

Recovery from fear of driving is easier than might be expected. A terrific self-help program for fear of driving is available online. The Driving Fear Program is a easy program that cures fear of driving in four quick steps. The Driving Fear Program is available in download format for only sixty seven dollars. A full year of free on-line support is included in the program.

Self-help programs are very helpful for treating fear of driving. Stubborn or more complicate cases can usually be managed with a short course of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. CBT is a short, results-focused therapy that helps patients understand their thoughts and perceptions in a new way so that panic does not occur. Prescription drugs could be prescribed while the client is in therapy. Prescription medication eases symptoms so CBT can progress more rapidly.

Medicine are usually discontinued once therapy is complete and symptoms have been alleviated. Medications most commonly prescribed for phobias are part of the SSRI category of antidepressant medicine.

SSRI is short for Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor. SSRI medication keeps serotonin circulating in the bloodstream longer. SSRI medications keep serotonin from being removed from the bloodstream too soon. Serotonin is created by the human body and creates feelings of calm and wellbeing.

Individuals with panic and anxiety disorders usually recover completely. Short course of therapy is usually all that is required for complete recovery from panic or anxiety, unlike some chronic disorders (like OCD) which require ongoing treatment.

Just a reminder - See Fear of Driving here: Fear of Driving

Julia Hanson website: Panic-anxiety-attack-help.com