CBT For Driving Phobias
Phobias are a debilitating condition that can develop when a person has an unrealistic fear about a particular situation. Driving phobias are quite common, and motorists can lose their confidence behind the wheel for a variety of reasons. A fear of driving can be caused by a car accident, a near miss or a bad experience with another motorist. Some people have specific driving phobias such as travelling on a motorway, driving at night or using a roundabout.
If the fear of driving becomes severe, the individual may start to avoid using their car altogether or asking a friend to drive instead.
This can be very restricting as many people rely on their cars to get to work, take the kids to school or visit family. A driving phobia can cause distress, anxiety and a reluctance to travel which negatively impacts on all aspects of a person’s life.
A driving phobia is a form of agoraphobia, which is a more complex disorder than simply a fear of being outside and covers a wide range of phobias where the person feels that are not in control of a specific situation.
Help is available to treat driving phobias and give individuals the confidence to get back behind the steering wheel.
How CBT can help to overcome a driving phobia
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment that has allowed many fearful drivers to rebuild their confidence and think more positively about their driving skills.
Jamie Dempsey M.A. BABCP accredited CBT therapist (About me link) will help you to understand the worrying thoughts or unhelpful behaviours they display when they are faced with a situation where they need to drive a vehicle.
By exploring unhelpful thought patterns such as ‘I am going to have a crash if I drive on the motorway’ and understanding how behaviours such as avoidance or escape contribute to the issue, the client can begin to make positive changes in their attitude towards driving.
The next step to overcoming a fear of driving is to develop healthy coping strategies to adapt the negative behaviours. By working with a therapist, a client will learn new skills to guide them through their anxiety and reduce their stress levels to help them effectively manage their driving phobia.
Effective CBT will help a person make positive changes to the way they live. Through talking therapy, gradual and controlled exposure to their fears and the tools to challenge and adapt their negative behaviours, clients will learn that driving is not something to be feared and can open up new doors for socialising, work and travel.
A driving phobia can drastically shrink a person’s world, but with professional help, it can be managed and overcome to help open the doors to a wider world.
