Fear of driving: how do I know if I suffer from a phobia?

These are the keys to distinguish between a simple fear of driving and a phobia.

Fear of driving is a relatively common phenomenon in all types of people of driving age, and it is not in itself something that should be a problem in all cases. Sometimes it is all right to suffer from this type of discomfort simply because one has neither the desire nor the need to drive, and it may also happen that this fear is easy to overcome in a matter of hours or a few days, and that it does not hinder driving.

However, there are cases in which the anxiety caused by the fact of driving generates many problems, to the point that it is a factor that damages the quality of life of the person.

In these cases we speak of amaxophobia, or driving phobia. But... how to recognize the boundary that separates the merely unpleasant or uncomfortable, on the one hand, and the pathological, on the other?

The keys to recognize driving phobia

It is estimated that about 20% of drivers suffer to a greater or lesser extent a certain level of anxiety when driving. However, in most cases we cannot speak of a phobia. To some extent this is to be expected: the high speeds we experience in one of these vehicles, combined with the awareness that in a few seconds we could cause fatal accidents, can be interpreted as a source of anxiety, can be interpreted as a source of constant danger..

And after all, natural evolution has not molded our brains to be very good at moving so fast; we need months of practice just to start doing it without serious danger, and even with a license, accidents are frequent (we rarely see birds colliding with natural elements of their environment when flying, for example).

Normally, we reach a point where we learn to drive a car, motorcycle or any other vehicle well. But just as we can learn to stop being afraid of driving, we can also learn to earn it (involuntarily, of course, of course). (involuntarily, of course). And sometimes, this fear is so intense that it ceases to be fear and becomes a psychopathology.

Thus, phobias are a mixture of Biological predispositions (the fact that we can experience anxiety allows us to react in time to dangers) and learning (we can associate any emotion to any stimulus).

However, it is not always easy to understand what kind of emotions we are experiencing, and whether what is happening to us is a psychological disorder or not. Although diagnoses are ultimately made by mental health professionals, it is important to know some keys to detect signs and symptoms of psychopathologies. And in the case of driving phobia, the key ideas that help to know whether we are suffering from it or not are the following (it is not necessary that all of them occur in the same person).

1. When driving or trying to drive, we feel that we lose control over our body.

The feeling of loss of control over oneself is typical in phobias of all kinds. of all kinds. Tremors and respiratory agitation also appear.

2. The mere idea of driving produces anxiety

Where there is driving phobia, the fact of closing our eyes and imagining that we are driving causes our anxiety levels to rise significantly..

3. We look for excuses not to drive

Those who do not drive for economic, ecological or logistical reasons (e.g. lack of parking spaces) do not look for excuses not to choose cars and motorcycles as a means of transportation. But those who suffer from driving phobia are inclined to lie or hide their main reason.

4. Catastrophic thoughts appear when driving or going to drive.

As in all phobias, the phobic stimulus causes pessimistic forecasts of what will happen in the future. of what will happen in the next few minutes.

5. We are worried that in case of emergencies we are forced to drive.

Those who suffer from driving phobia also experience, from time to time, anxiety experience, from time to time, anxiety at the thought of circumstances in which they may have to drive for an emergency or for something that a family member or friend needs.

Are you interested in psychotherapeutic support?

If you are thinking of starting a psychotherapy process to overcome a phobia, a source of stress or any other type of emotional or behavioral discomfort, please contact our team of professionals. In Psychological Center Cepsim we have been attending adults, children and adolescents for years, and we offer our services in person, in our centers located in Madrid, and online through video call sessions.