Little is said about it, but amaxophobia is a real fear , a phobia like any other. It is defined as ” a specific phobia of a situational nature that occurs before and during driving, and that can affect other levels “, as explained by the psychologist Ignacio Calvo to the Motor media . He added, in addition, that ” it is not only a question of mistrust of one’s own driving, but may be motivated by fear of the behavior of other drivers .” With which this phobia goes beyond being simply fear of taking a car, and is also related to how others drive their own vehicles.
Amaxophobia is not only a real phobia but also, according to the study ‘ Anxiety and its influence on Spanish drivers ‘, it affects a greater percentage of the population than we could imagine. 22% of drivers in our country feel anxious at the wheel, and there is even 19% who stop driving because fear overwhelms them. Is this your case? You have not even been able to get your driving license because your fear of controlling a car is too much? Do not worry: when you are talking about a phobia, this, like most of them, also has a solution.
Analyze the reason for your phobia
The first thing you should do is understand why you have that phobia, that fear . Probably the first thing you think is that you have not experienced any traumatic event with a car, and that this fear is irrational; If that is your situation, remember that all fears are usually irrational, and that they can be due to hundreds of other causes. However, if you have suffered an accident, the best thing you can do is go to a specialist, a psychologist , to analyze if you may have generated a trauma as well as a phobia. Nobody like an expert in the field to help you with your problems.
However, it may be due, as we have pointed out, to totally different causes. There may be those who believe that it is much easier to opt for public transport, or to whom driving does not appeal to them at all. In the long run, all this can lead to a situation of fear, and a flight from the action of driving . It is important to find out the cause, because only in this way can you proceed to overcome this fear. If at this point you are not sure of your answer, go to a psychologist who will help you to go, little by little, facing the situation of driving without fear. Remember that going to the psychologist should never be a taboo, and that he is a health professional like any other. If you go to the GP when your head hurts, go to the psychologist if you don’t feel good emotionally!
How to overcome amaxophobia
In addition to the fact that it is advisable to have the help of a professional, there are also certain things you can do at home in order to make getting your car license cost less and less. You must begin by accepting that you are afraid, and assimilating that this fear does not have to be something negative and insurmountable; Once you have understood this, the next step is to gradually banish all fears . Yes, you might be whistled, you might crash into a column at some point when parking … But none of this may also never happen! And, if it happens, you would surely be able to find an efficient solution to the problem. With which, the first step is to value yourself and understand that you are capable of driving a car, like anyone else.
At this point, it is positive that you perform relaxation techniques so that, little by little, this stress generated by driving will disappear. The anxiety can be controlled with effort but it can be done, so you can get it !
Last but not least: You must face your fear gradually. Start the driving process little by little: first go to driving school, start with the theoretical part, gain confidence with all the technical aspects of the car. When you have already passed the test, talk to your instructor, and explain the situation, because surely he will know how to be understanding or understanding with you. You will see how all fears disappear.
