Some people cannot overcome the fear of driving and that’s ok.
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Regardless of how great they did in the road test, even after being rewarded with a driver’s license, these fearful drivers will always come up with an excuse to avoid sitting behind the wheel.
Now, the question is: Are you scared of driving?
For the most part, it’s easy to google hundred of tips that could help you feel less nervous, but they may not be powerful enough to make you feel more confident about it.
Either way, all you need is some other type of encouragement rather than focusing on driving techniques.
If you cannot stay calm before starting your car, how are you supposed to master those driving techniques on the first place?
Having said that, here you’ll learn how to get over your fear of driving.
Do you experience stress while driving?
Perhaps the reason why you cannot overcome your fear of driving is related to external aspects of life that indirectly affected your confidence while on the road.
For instance, some people refrain from driving after going through emotional adversities that are hard to assimilate, say an accident in the family or other misfortunes.
The driver would feel the pressure right away and take that concern into his or her everyday activities including driving.
A good advice is to identify what causes you feeling that way. You will start realizing that things don’t have to be that way, reducing your stress levels to an optimal point.
It’s fine to be hesitant but never stop driving
Take the bulls by the horn and confront your fear with practice and more practice.
People usually refuse to do things that pose danger or uncertainty, but the more you polish your driving skills, the better for you to overcome your fears.
From empty streets to busy roads, just drive as much as you could so you could get more confidence.
Find good music to listen to
Believe it or not, music makes an impact on our mood. When it comes to driving, certain types of music let us feel calmer and more relaxed to say the least,
Say, for example, classical music at a moderate volume is the magical formula to a pleasant drive compared to high volume loud rock music.
Find the music that makes you feel in peace and does not disrupt your concentration while on the road. You’ll find out how less fearful you are about driving.
Find a driving buddy
If you are so afraid of driving alone, ask someone you trust to be your passenger.
At times, we meet this person who makes us feel less stressed and understand our fears. If you know that person, offer them a ride and share your thoughts with them.
You could get some relevant feedback about your driving and gain confidence without noticing the transition.
Take a deep breathe before starting your vehicle
Breath in, breath out, and keep doing it as an exercise to switch off any anxiety prior to hitting the road. It may take you a little bit of time to relax but make sure that the out-breath is longer than the in-breath.
The point of this exercise is that you force your body to relax. You could do it right before driving or even at home when you close your eyes and imagine that you are about to drive.
Sooner rather than later, you will start fast-tracking from fear to calmness.
Motivation is key to overcome the fear of driving
Never forget that you are in charge of your own emotions and things cannot get any worse because you can use the power of your mind to overcome your fear of driving.
Research has shown that humans are capable of making positive changes in life by mentally motivating themselves. Of course, it takes some time and meditation, but never underestimate the power of your mind.
Whenever you find some free time, sit down, close your eyes, and imagine you are about to start your vehicle without a drop of fear.
Once you excel at motivating yourself, you’ll be unstoppable.
Have you overcome the fear of driving? If you know any other ways of reducing driving stress, please let us know in the comments below.
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2 comments
Thank your for the tips! Does anyone else have any advice for fear of driving after an accident? I had an accident a couple years ago and still cannot shake slight anxiety… I found it slightly helps to plan out exactly where I’m going so there are as few unknowns as possible. Thanks again for the article!
Hello Ann! The first thing you could do is try to talk to other people you trust about it. That will help you feel better indeed. People usually relate to stories so feel free to talk about it. Apart from sharing your experience, you could also try to find a friend, relative, or any other person who could help you get back on track. They could be your passenger and give you the support you need to sit behind the wheel one more time.