Most people experience fear and anxiety at some point in their lives. A phobia, such as the fear of driving, is a condition in which a person experiences an abnormal and irrational fear that causes the onset of extremely uncomfortable symptoms.
This irrational dread and anxiety occur when the person is confronted with the object or the situation they fear. With the fear of driving, someone can experience severe anxiety and discomfort whether they are driving themselves or if they are merely a passenger in a car.
Someone who suffers from the fear of driving can experience an assortment of symptoms. Listed below are some common symptoms of anxiety that can help specialists determine whether you may be afflicted with this disorder. It is important to discuss these symptoms with a licensed medical provider in order to establish a medical diagnosis and to seek treatment.
Symptoms to look for with the fear of driving
Someone can be diagnosed with a phobia if they exhibit certain symptoms. All individuals will have different symptoms from one another and with varying degrees from mild to severe.
A phobia causes the sufferer to react in two different ways: physiologically and behavior wise. Physiologically, phobias cause the onset of anxiety; when a person has a fear of driving their phobia also causes them to avoid the particular thing or situation they are afraid of.
Physiological Symptoms that Arise from the Fear of Driving
The fear of driving is a phobia and anxiety disorder. The physiological symptoms are those of anxiety. These physical symptoms show up in the following ways:
- Difficulty breathing: A person begins to have trouble breathing and takes shallow breaths when confronted with their fear of driving.
- Dizziness: A person begins to experience vertigo, feel light headed and unsteady.
- Heart palpitations and chest pains: A person can begin to feel their heart beating faster and feel their chest area begin to tighten.
- Sweating: People who are feeling anxious may also begin to sweat from several places such as their hands and feet.
These are some of the common physiological symptoms of anxiety. Additional symptoms can include itchiness, feeling sick, faint, weak legs, dry throat and a sense of feeling unreal.
Avoidance
A person suffering from the fear of driving will behave in a different manner than from someone who doesn’t, even though driving is a common activity. This type of behavior is called avoidance. This shows up when the person anticipates the potential distress and anxiety that arises when faced with the possibility of driving.
For people who have the fear of driving, avoidance can be manifested in a variety of ways. Some people are able to drive and experience anxiety symptoms as they drive from point A to point B, they may also postpone their drives or shorten their time behind the wheel.
For those who have more severe forms of the fear of driving, their avoidance will be acted out differently. Some people are unable to drive themselves and require others to drive for them and take them places. Some people avoid getting into an auto, even if they are not driving themselves.
When a person experiences the fear of driving this phobia can severely impact a sufferer’s quality of life and daily routine. A person who has the fear of driving can have trouble running simple errands like going to the grocery store or even commuting to work.
Because driving is a normal part of people’s lives, seeking treatment such as therapy is imperative to lead a productive and fearless life.