Fear of Driving – How Do You Get Over It?

Have you ever tried to explain to someone why you have a fear of driving?  Whether you have or not, the chances are that the reaction you receive won’t be the one you’re looking for.  Instead of a sympathetic ear, you will often get a response telling you to forget about it or to just get over it.

But it is not that easy to turn off your fears like a tap.  Fears are ingrained in our conscious and subconscious mind. 

Coping with a fear like driving doesn’t necessarily mean it will ever be totally erased from your mind, but you can find ways of relieving the panic and anxiety you feel when faced by your fears.

Confronting fears is clearly a very difficult thing to do, because the natural instinct is to avoid those things that worry us or that we fear will do us harm in some way, either physically or emotionally.

The first thing you have to do is examine the fear of driving to see if it is credible or irrational.  Even if it is deemed irrational, you will still need to find a way to deal with it.  But examining it realistically will aid in finding a solution to your anxieties.

For example, you might fear that you will get lost and have to stop for directions.  When studying the evidence, you discover that there have been previous times when you have got lost. This is a valid fear that would be overcome by taking the action of ensuring the availability of a map, mobile or GPS system.

An example of an irrational fear might be having a panic attack every time you drive more than 10 miles from home.  When examining this fear, you discover that the act of driving is the same wherever you may be, and the fear is therefore not justified.

Either way, you will need to deal with your fear in a responsible manner. For irrational fears, you will need to find a way of reducing stress levels, calming yourself and not allowing panic to take over. 

Some options to achieve this may include using breathing techniques, self-hypnosis, or prescribed anti-anxiety medications. 

You do not have to let your fear of driving take over and rule your life. Just remember , YOU have the power within you to take control and eliminate the effect it can have over you and your life.

You may find this FREE report, Your Anxious Brain, will provide some useful hints and advice.

You Can Download Your FREE Copy Here


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Overcoming Fear Of Flying

Overcoming fear of flying is not that easy for many people. The origins of this fear differ greatly from person to person. They could range from personal experiences to watching some form of news broadcast. Examples of these bad episodes could be weather driven turbulence or mechanical problems with the aircraft concerned. Too much exposure to tragic air accidents obviously will not help in preventing or overcoming fear of flying.

However, there are a few tips to follow that will greatly help in the prevention and elimination of the fear of flying.

Extensive Research
Gain more knowledge about the fundamentals of flight, aircraft, and air travel. As with anything, the more educated you can become about aviation technicalities, the more evident it becomes that many of the anxieties and fears are unfounded and irrational.

Relaxation
Perform relaxation techniques both before and during flights to clear the mind of any negative thoughts. These could be breathing exercises, reading or listening to music.

Desensitization
Gradual exposure to the problems that cause the fear of flying in the first place. The theory here is that being able to face your fears on a regular basis will eventually lead to overcoming fear of flying. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ( CBT), is the traditional vehicle used to achieve these results.

Professional Assistance

In some cases, this phobia is extremely deep seated and professional advice and diagnosis is clearly advisable. Symptoms will vary greatly so psychiatric or psychological checks may be needed.

These steps are a good start, but there is more that can be learnt and put into practice. More comprehensive and advanced strategies can be found in this free report:

The 10 Steps To Overcoming Your Fear of Flying

Click Here For Your FREE Download

Vomit Phobia- How To Treat Your Fear Of Sick

Do you fear vomiting? If so, you may be suffering from Emetophobia or Vomit Phobia, a debilitating anxiety disorder that can totally destroy daily life. Emetophobia is the name given to the condition of people who fear vomiting, fear sick itself or fear being near to people who are vomiting.

It is so serious that it can cause panic attacks and the need to be isolated socially, because the fear totally takes over life. How the sufferer deals with the situation may  vary from stopping going out, stop eating or eating tiny portions, avoiding hospitals or those who might be sick.

You may recognise some of the following signs of an emetophobia sufferer:

-          panic attacks when close to someone that is ill

-          being anxious when using public transport

-          avoiding events when meals are involved

-          staying away from medical centres and hospitals

What causes emetophobia is not known, but the majority of medical practicioners have concluded that it originates from some form of traumatic experience involving vomiting at an early age.

The treatment may consist of trauma therapy, hypnosis and anxiety therapy, all with the intention of altering the sufferers thinking relating to vomiting. Anti-anxiety medication may also be used.

Emetophobia is a serious condition, ruining almost every day for those that fear vomiting. But these fears can be faced and altered.

Emetophobia can be beaten given the right treatment.

With the combination of effort and the appropriate therapy, the fear of sick and to fear vomiting will be overcome.

Weird Phobias and Fears

From time to time, everybody will feel anxious, fearful or uneasy. It may be your first day in a new job, going on a long trip or maybe visiting the dentist. It may mean sweaty palms, feeling shaky or your heart pounding, but some anxiety can be good for you in that it will help you maintain focus. However, when your anxiety becomes so serious that work becomes affected, leads to avoidance of specific situations or prevents enjoyment of life, then you may be suffering from a full blown anxiety disorder.

Now, anxiety disorders cannot be classified as just an example of “nerves.” It is impossible to overcome an anxiety disorder simply by using willpower alone, nor can the symptoms be ignored. Anxiety will be apparent for most of the time, causing normal everyday tasks to be unbearable or in some cases avoided altogether. Some situations may cause so much intense anxiety that fear will render you immobile, rigid with trepidation. Although these instances will be terrifying, it is important to remember that help should be sought because the condition is TREATABLE.

These phobias, the most common mental illnesses amongst women, and in second place amongst men over 25, fall into three main sections.

Specific or Simple Phobias. The most common, focussed upon specific objects.

Social Phobia. Extreme anxiety when socialising or in public situations.

Agoraphobia. Fear of being alone in public places, with perceived no way out.

Specific or Simple Phobias induce a strong and intense dread of a specific thing or situation, which is, in fact relatively safe. Although the sufferer is fully aware that it is an irrational feeling, the very idea of confronting the situation can often lead to a panic attack or severe anxiety. Examples of this type of phobia include fear of dogs, insects or snakes, driving a car, heights or fear of flying.

Social Phobia can produce a fear of being embarrassed in company, and can be related to feelings of low self esteem and the development of an inferiority complex, creating an environment where social and work interaction becomes impossible. This should not be confused with shyness, as shy people do not necessarily feel anxious or fearful in social gatherings, nor do they go out of their way to avoid them.

Other ways that Social Phobia may manifest itself may be:

• finding blushing as extremely embarrassing

• fear of public speaking

• fear of eating out

• fear of talking on the phone

• exaggeration of minor errors

Agoraphobia causes great anxiety in people when in situations or places that are difficult to escape from, such as a lift. In extreme case, a sufferer may be so panic stricken that they are unable to leave home.

There Is Hope however, and the following should be remembered.

• With proper treatment, phobias can be overcome • A phobia is a diagnosable illness that is taken seriously by professionals

• Accurate diagnosis vital to eliminate other illness possibilities • Comply with laid down treatment

• Behavioural therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy are very effective

Behavioural Therapy majors on changing particular actions,using various techniques such as deep breathing and exposure therapy which involves the sufferer being exposed to the situation that causes the problem, so that coping skills can be attained.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) teaches the sufferer to react differently to the triggers of their anxiety attacks, and to change their way of thinking to prevent or reduce their symptoms