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Scared To Drive After Accident
Fear Of Driving After Accident
Driving PTSD
It is understandable to be afraid to drive if you had a serious car accident in the recent past. The fear of driving is called vehophobia. But just like any phobia, it is possible to overcome the fear of driving. You should talk to an experienced personal injury attorney if your accident caused you to develop a fear of driving.
Understanding Vehophobia
Fear Of Car Accidents
Vehophobia is an anxiety disorder that people involved in traumatic car accidents sometimes develop. People who develop post-traumatic disorder often get flashbacks of the car crash they experienced, which makes them anxious when driving. These intrusive thoughts can cause panic attacks and even raise your blood pressure.
Even people who witness car crashes are likely to develop vehophobia.
How To Tell You Suffer From Vehophobia
Anxiety Driving After Car Accident
The thing with anxiety is that it presents symptoms of certain illnesses. That means many people think they are sick when they are actually experiencing anxiety symptoms. These symptoms include chest pains, muscle tension, nausea, trembling, increased heart rate, and sweating.
People who suffer from vehophobia often don’t want to drive because they are extremely scared of being involved in a car crash.
What Causes Vehophobia?
Afraid To Drive After Car Accident
People can develop vehophobia after getting involved in a serious crash that resulted in severe injuries or death. But there are other causes of vehophobia. They include:
- Being trained by an overly strict driving instructor
- Witnessing a serious motor vehicle accident
- Driving in busy or congested traffic
- Driving in rush hour traffic
- Being exposed during childhood to adults with vehophobia
- Encountering aggressive drivers
- Watching movies, TV, or news about grisly car accidents
People experience vehophobia symptoms even when they are driving in calm conditions.
Overcoming The Fear Of Driving
What Is The Fear Of Driving Called
A person that has an extreme fear of driving may also be afraid of being in a vehicle (Amaxophobia), the fear of confined spaces (claustrophobia), and the fear of traveling in capacity (hodophobia). That means confronting vehophobia may also help you overcome the fears related to the condition.
- You have to confront your fear of driving. Enrolling in therapy can help you identify the root cause of your fear and what triggers your fears. It also helps you address your fears. The following therapy options can help treat vehophobia:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy: This psychotherapy method focuses on managing your behavior and thought patterns to help you overcome trauma and anxiety. It helps you understand your anxiety and deal with it.
- Hypnosis: A healthcare provider specializing in hypnotherapy will help you reach a state of calm and relaxation using verbal repetition and mental images. The goal is to help you explore painful memories in a safe environment. Hypnosis is often paired with psychotherapy.
- Prolonged exposure therapy (PE): Exposure therapy attempts to treat patients by making them confront their fear by reliving or experiencing what causes them fear and anxiety. For example, a patient suffering from vehophobia may start driving alone in the parking lot and progress gradually to driving on the back road and then eventually on a busy highway.
Patients can also get prescribed medication to help with the anxiety.