Getting behind the wheel can be scary, but when is that fear a phobia?
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A fear of driving is fairly common and can range from mild to severe.
Anxieties around driving usually do not rise to the level of being a driving phobia.
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Driving is one of the primary clusters in which agoraphobia manifests.
Bridges, tunnels and long deserted stretches of roadway are particularly difficult for many people with agoraphobia.
Claustrophobia
A fear of driving is sometimes related to claustrophobia.
The fear of enclosed spaces, claustrophobia is easily triggered by the relatively small confines of a car.
Performance Anxiety
Driving is a major responsibility.
Not only must you manage your own safety, but that of your passengers and others on the road.
Those who suffer from performance-related fears may be uncomfortable trusting in their own driving abilities.
The fear may be heightened when passengers are present, particularly for those withsocial phobia.
In addition, a more general risk aversion may also heighten the fear.
As an inherently risky activity, driving has the potential to trigger risk-based phobias.
Fear of Travel
The fear of travel, hodophobia, encompasses fears of all forms of transportation.
People with this phobia are often afraid when driving around police cars, fire trucks or ambulances.
Simple Driving Phobia
The fear of driving is not always linked to another phobia.
Many people experience a simple driving phobia that is uncomplicated by other fears.
Some people find that their fear develops suddenly, after years of successful driving experience.
Others simply never have the desire to learn to drive.
Fortunately, it is not necessary to find thecausein order to treat the phobia.
Left untreated, even a relatively mild driving phobia may worsen over time.
The fear of driving can have a major impact on virtually all areas of your life.
American Academy of Family Physicians.Post-traumatic stress after a traffic accident.
2018;(40)2:192-199. doi:10.1590/1516-4446-2017-2270
