I am 24, married and have a baby, and I have a HORRIBLE fear of driving. I just freeze when I get in the car, start sweating, my heart starts pounding in my ears and I'll even cry. What is the PROBLEM? It's so embarrassing. My husband is completely understanding and doesn't make me drive, but I feel crippled in that I have to wait for him to do things such as pick up the groceries if Im home with the baby or take us places. I'm so sick of this, but I don't know what to do to fix it. For one thing, I'm horribly clumsy. I do good to walk straight, so I feel my driving abilities are just as bad. I have 'two left feet' as the say, and worry that when I drive I'm going to hurt myself or someone else. This is getting rediculous..
2007-01-24 20:16:12 · 10 answers · asked by ... 1 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
I think you need Shock therapy it where you confront your fears. Like first you would just sit in the driver seat in the drive way and do that at least everyday. Then after a while sit in the driver seat with the car running, again everyday. Then drive up and down the drive way and that may take some time but be determined to conquer your fears. Once you got that down just drive slowly up and down the street or maybe your husband can take just you and him to an empty parking lot and just drive at your own pace, but you need to do this often too. Slowley just work yourself into driving regularly but i don't think you should take your child for a while due to the fact that the kid will cause more stress on you and you should just concentrate on the road. If that doesn't work maybe you should think about talking to a doctor. GOOD LUCK!
2007-01-24 20:22:01 · answer #1 · answered by THE 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1
2016-09-15 19:05:44 · answer #2 · answered by Dustin 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all you must look back in time and remember if you had a terrible accident, or did see something that you disliked a lot, maybe that is the reason why your unconscience is resisting and not letting you drive so "it doesn't hapen to you too".
There is another way to do it if it looks like it about fear. Dp pick your best cd, i recommand something soft, wait untill a time where there are barely no cars on the street, feed ur cd player, and go like if it was a routine drive. Just think about it, you can overcome your fear now, or you can surrender to it.
Good luck
2007-01-24 20:30:28 · answer #3 · answered by troubadour 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Like getting into a freezing body of water, I wouldn't go in slowly, I'd jump in and take it all at once. Go down to the nearest race track on a day that they don't have any practices or races and pay to drive on the track. If there are no other cars on the track then take it at a pace that is outside of your comfort zone, but still safe, go around the track a couple times at that speed, and when/if you start to get comfortable with that speed, the go faster, just stay right outside of your comfort zone until you feel as if you are ready to go out on the street. This way you eliminate ALL other distractions so that you can focus on just driving. Sure it is expensive, but if you can afford it, that's what I would do...
I'm no expert in psychology, in fact I'm not studied in it at all, but that's how I plan on getting over my fear of heights... skydiving
2007-01-24 20:32:16 · answer #4 · answered by dewaddictman 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An anti-anxiety drug would probably help you a lot. My suggestion though is to get in the car and drive 5 feet. Get out for a while, then get back in and drive a little further. Take baby steps and you should be able to overcome your fear of driving.
2007-01-24 20:27:33 · answer #5 · answered by cupidtoo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dont go to a clinic they dont care about you they want money but maybe try this find a way where you can go to an empty parking lot late at night so no one is around and try to dive just practice being in the car . and it sounds like you have a phobia not a fear. try sitting in the car with no intetion of going any place just sit !!!
and try anything you can think of and if you have to lock your self in your car and cry it out but im really sorry that you have that problem look on the bright side theres always motorcycles lol...good luck
2007-01-24 20:33:33 · answer #6 · answered by no one 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just remember that the car can only do the things you tell it to. Think of it like a PC you give the PC commands and it does exactly that and nothing else. It is the exact same thing with a car. They do exactly what you tell them to do and nothing else. Just take your time and do it at your own pace.
Hope it all goes well x
2007-01-25 23:17:03 · answer #7 · answered by Angels are everywhere! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the best way (I think) would be to slowly get used to driving and desensitize yourself to the fear. (for example... one week, just sit in the car and start it up, and get used to that everyday.... the next week--move the car forward and backwards in the drive way and get comfortable doing that... .then the next week, drive it around the block... and eventually just build yourself up to drive normally by taking baby steps like the ones mentioned)
to be honest, it'll prob. be hard to do this on your own so it may be wise to seek the help of a counselor or other professional in the field of psychology to aid you in overcoming your fear.
seeing a counselor may cost you, but overcoming a life-altering fear would def. be worth every penny, in my opinion
good luck to you!
2007-01-24 20:29:16 · answer #8 · answered by caiten 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm assuming you have a driver's license and that you can drive, you're just scared to drive. No big deal. Lot's of people are scared of lots of things. You just have to make up your mind to get over it. Do it for your baby.
2007-01-24 20:25:05 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
if not then try to drive car slowly, not to fast. you can do yoga for concentrating your mind. if is problem of less self confidance, think that you can do, you can drive well, i saw several woman they drive very well you can do also.
2007-01-24 20:23:46 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋