In this article, we explain what vehophobia is, explore what causes it and describe some strategies for overcoming it.
What Is Vehophobia?
Vehophobia is an extremely common anxiety disorder that people typically experience after being involved in a motor vehicle accident. This is usually due to the fact that they’re suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can cause flashbacks of the event. These intrusive thoughts often cause an increase in blood pressure and bring about a panic attack. Though accident victims commonly suffer from vehophobia, it also affects those that have witnessed a terrible accident, either in person, in a movie or on the news.
Symptoms Of Vehophobia
If you are suffering from vehophobia, you might experience symptoms when driving or even preparing for a drive. These symptoms could include things like:
- Nausea
- Chest pain
- Muscle tension
- Increased heart rate
- Shallow breathing
- Sweating
- Trembling
Those suffering from this intense fear of driving often experience an excessive fear of getting in a car accident and desperately look for excuses to avoid driving.
Common Causes Of Vehophobia
Though being involved in a bad crash, especially one where someone was seriously injured or killed, is the most common cause of vehophobia, it can be the result of many things. Some of the other causes include:
- Witnessing an accident
- Watching or reading about a bad accident in a movie, on TV or in the news
- Being around aggressive drivers
- Having a driving instructor that was overly strict
- Traveling in dangerous conditions, like intense wind, snow or rain
- Growing up around adults that were constantly anxious in vehicles
- Driving in congested traffic
Vehophobia can be triggered from any of the above factors, but sufferers may become anxious even when they’re driving in calm and safe conditions.
Related Fears
Those suffering from an extreme fear of driving may also have:
- Amaxophobia: The fear of being in a vehicle
- Claustrophobia: The fear of confined places that lack a clear and accessible exit
- Hodophobia: The general fear of traveling in any capacity
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Techniques For Overcoming Vehophobia
Those with vehophobia often find ways to avoid confronting their fear of driving by using ride-sharing services or public transportation. That is certainly one way to deal with it, but there are things you can do to protect your mental health, overcome your fears and start driving again. Some of the most popular strategies include:
Therapy Options
Enrolling in therapy is a great way to gain insight about the root cause of your anxieties, develop coping strategies and address your fears. There are several types of therapy that are often used to treat vehophobia, including:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy: Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of psychotherapy, and it’s probably one of the most common types of therapy for treating PTSD and/or vehophobia. This form of therapy aims to make a person’s behaviors and thought patterns more manageable so that they can move past their trauma and anxiety. In other words, patients learn to recognize and change things that contribute to their anxieties.
- Prolonged exposure therapy (PE): Exposure therapy is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy that is used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder. In PE, a patient confronts their fear by reliving or experiencing the thing that is causing them fear and anxiety. For example, they might recount the details of their accident or work toward driving on their own by driving in a parking lot, then traveling on a backroad and eventually working their way to driving on busier roads and highways.
- Hypnotherapy: Also known as hypnosis, hypnotherapy helps patients process specific tasks and thoughts through intense concentration and guided relaxation. Hypnotherapy is especially effective when paired with psychotherapy because it allows patients to explore painful memories, feelings and thoughts in a more relaxed state.
Medication
Medication helps reduce the intensity and impact of driving anxiety. Though it can be helpful on its own, it has more lasting and beneficial results when paired with cognitive behavioral therapies. Therapists usually prefer attempting other solutions first, but medication is used in cases when anxiety is debilitating, extreme or infrequent. The two most common types of drugs that therapists prescribe for vehophobia are:
- Beta-blockers: When people experience anxiety, their body releases adrenaline. This results in things like shaking, increased heart rate and high blood pressure. Beta-blockers work by blocking adrenaline’s stimulating effects.
- Sedatives: Sedatives reduce a patient’s feelings of anxiety and help them relax. Though they can be helpful, sedatives have many adverse side effects, such as drowsiness and a high risk of dependence.
Defensive Driving Course
Many people overcome their fears about driving and combat post-accident anxiety by learning defensive driving strategies. In defensive driving classes, the driving instructor equips students with skills and strategies that help students avoid and react to various situations on the road. As a result, students feel that they have more control and confidence.
Joining a support group for vehophobia gives members a community of individuals that understand and support them as they work to overcome their anxiety. Support groups can meet in-person or online, giving you plenty of options to find something that works for you.
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Contact Florin|Roebig If You’re Experiencing The Fear Of Driving After A Car Accident
For most, driving is a part of daily life, which is why it can be extremely disruptive if you or a family member experience anxiety about driving. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to work past your fears. The law firm of Florin|Roebig understands that one accident can have a huge impact on everyone involved.
If you have developed vehophobia due to a car accident, you should seek legal advice immediately. Treating vehophobia can be expensive, but you could be eligible for compensation to cover the medical expenses. A personal injury lawyer can fight to get you fair compensation, allowing you to focus on recovering emotionally, physically and financially. Call Florin|Roebig today for your free case review.
