Fear Of Driving: A Common Phobia?

by Dr. Craig April, Director of The April Center for Anxiety Attack Management - Los Angeles
www.KickFear.com

Fear of driving is a more common phobia than some might think! Although it might be more prevalent in the big cities where there are a lot of highways and freeways (like my city Los Angeles), it can strike anyone from anywhere.

Here are some common ways in which a fear of driving develops:

- A panic attack that occurred while driving, then leads to a fear of having more panic attacks while driving, along with a quickly developing driving anxiety (this is called a panic-induced phobia)

- A traffic accident can lead to a driving phobia due to the nature of the trauma. A phobia can develop following a scary or threatening experience where one felt endangered.

- An experience in a car where one felt out of control or uncomfortable. Most who struggle with anxiety can have an underlying difficulty in dealing with uncertainty or lack of control.

So, if you have a fear of driving, know that you are not alone. And thankfully, it can be treated effectively with cognitive-behavioral therapy provided by an expert anxiety treatment therapist!

Stay tuned for my next post on symptoms that arise with a fear of driving.
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