Sunday, March 13, 2016

Preventing A Driving Phobia From Controlling Your Life

By Richard Thomas


Anxieties are real, and many people struggle with them from day to day. One that is very common simply deals with getting behind a steering wheel. It can simply start with a small hesitation to drive, to a full out refusal. When one refuses to drive it is considered a driving phobia. A phobia is defined as being an irrational fear that can be paralyzing.

Agoraphobia is often associated with driving with fear, and simply means fearing any type of open space. The fear is not brought upon by the open space itself, but the fear of losing control. Oftentimes individuals think about whether or not they will be stuck in a traffic jam without any way of escape. Even being next to a large truck and having to merge into another lane can bring about the same uneasiness. The mind begins to create situations that have not even manifested as a protective measure.

Fears when operating a vehicle can be very similar to other anxiety forms. This can include heart palpitations, dizziness, confusion, increased sweating, shortness of breath and the list goes on. They can help initiate the feelings of doom or even death. One may find it hard to function in a society that is heavily driven on transportation; especially when the individual has nobody else to rely on except themselves.

The way that phobias come about is different for every individual. For example, a person who has had a near death experience when involved in a car accident, may subconsciously want to prevent similar situations from occurring by not driving. The evidence of the anxiety can be random. It can show up at odd times, and may do so when an individual is operating a motor vehicle.

Low blood sugar can be instrumental in bringing about anxiety. Having low blood sugar and trying to operate a vehicle can evolve into a dangerous situation. A drop in sugar levels usually occurs when a person has not had enough to eat, or consumes too much sugar. Those that live with diabetes need to be extra cautious.

However, a phobia can develop when a person not only avoids driving, but simply stops altogether. The more an individual avoids it the harder it is to get back to it. It is true that the fear of driving is something that is learned, but it can also be overcome. There are a few ways for an individual to get back to feeling comfortable when out on the road.

Never drive on an empty stomach, especially if the person has diabetes as a diagnosis. One should learn which foods cause unwanted reactions after consuming. Caffeine is also something that needs to be avoided. It has been known to be an anxiety trigger. Carpooling is a good option when dealing with anxieties. Usually, people are more distracted and not focused on the situation at hand whereby prohibiting anxieties from taking over.

It is true that anxiety doesn't feel good, but it definitely does not kill. It's manageability depends on how a person manages it, as well as react towards it. The fear of driving is not something a person has to live with, but something they can definitely triumph over.




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